Results 1-20 of 5,024 for speaker:Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

Decriminalisation of People Who Use Drugs: Motion [Private Members] (5 Nov 2025)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I am delighted to inform the House on recent developments and achievements on drug policy. The Government will not oppose the motion. It is not helpful to get into a political dispute about drugs policy. It is important not to argue over something that affects the lives of so many. As new Minister of State, I assure Members that I am very mindful that we are talking about families and...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Drug and Alcohol Task Forces (5 Nov 2025)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I am very much aware of the excellent work the task forces do. They are very much part of what we see when we look at what services are needed within the communities. The Department and I are working with the HSE to include the 24 task forces in everything. We have an all-together group. All of us working together is not about being excluded. I am making sure everyone is included....

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Drug and Alcohol Task Forces (5 Nov 2025)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I will be working with the different groups. The reference group has been set up, but I will continue to meet the chairs of the task forces. This needs to go back to the task force groups that the Deputy is working with. I can assure the Deputy that I appreciate the work they do. Auto-enrolment is a whole-of-government approach, working through the Department. It is something the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Dental Services (5 Nov 2025)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I have taken the Deputy's points on board. She also spoke about Cavan, which was the one over the one-year period. I will bring that back to the Minister. The Government is committed to addressing immediate difficulties patients are experiencing in accessing oral healthcare services as well as fundamentally reforming dental services through the implementation of the Smile agus Sláinte...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Drug and Alcohol Task Forces (5 Nov 2025)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I thank the Deputy for raising this very important issue. The national drugs strategy, Reducing Harm Supporting Recovery, sets out the Government’s strategy to address the harm caused by substance misuse in Ireland up to 2025. Work is ongoing in the development of a successor strategy. We are working on that and it is to do with everybody. I am making sure that everybody is...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Dental Services (5 Nov 2025)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I thank the Deputy. This is a very serious issue for children who are waiting for public dental assessment in the Deputy's county of Monaghan. The HSE oral healthcare service aims to provide an oral examination and necessary treatment for children between second and sixth class and, in some cases, fourth class. Emergency care is provided for children of all ages up to 16 and for those with...

Men's Health: Statements (22 Oct 2025)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I am delighted to have the opportunity to speak about men's health and describe some of the initiatives that my Department and the HSE have in place to improve men's health. As a society, we are living longer and Ireland has one of the highest life expectancies in the EU. This should be celebrated, but it also brings challenges. We need to help people to enjoy good health and well-being...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Programmes (22 Oct 2025)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: The Department of Health is aware of the publication of Coimisiún na Meán’s 2025 work plan and is aware that there is no commitment to introduce regulation of infant and follow-on formula advertising. The Health & Wellbeing Unit will continue to engage with An Coimisiún with regards to their commitment to explore matters relating to the advertising of high fat,...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Budget 2026 (22 Oct 2025)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: In Budget 2026, the Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drug Strategy, Jennifer Murnane O’Connor, TD, secured an additional €11 million in recurring funding for drugs and inclusion health services. Highlights for Drugs services include €0.75m to improve access to Buprenorphine in OAT services, €0.2m to enhance strategic workforce planning for...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Irish Blood Transfusion Service (21 Oct 2025)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I thank the Senator for raising this important issue, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Carroll McNeill. I have taken all of her concerns on board and I will definitely come back at the end on what she has brought up. The Irish Blood Transfusion Service is a non-commercial State agency responsible for collecting, processing, testing and distributing blood and blood...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Irish Blood Transfusion Service (21 Oct 2025)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I totally agree with the Senator. The increase in demand is driven in part by the success of the recent investment in expanding the surgical and health system capacity by delivering better access to care for people. To ensure this demand is met, donor attendance figures are up by 10,283 in the year to date. This is an increase of 8.9% on target. There has been an increase. With the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Addiction Treatment Services (21 Oct 2025)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: The Government is committed to a health-led approach to drug addiction. A supervised injecting facility (SIF) offers a compassionate, person-centred service that reduces the harms associated with injecting drugs. The Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injecting Facilities) Act 2017 allows for the establishment, licensing, operation and regulation of supervised injecting facilities. The...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Strategies (21 Oct 2025)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Addiction Treatment Services (21 Oct 2025)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Budget 2026 Recently, Minister Murnane O’Connor announced an additional €11 million in recurring funding for drugs and inclusion health services in Budget 2026. Highlights include €0.75m to improve access to Buprenorphine in OAT services, €0.2m to enhance strategic workforce planning for drug services, €0.33m to increase treatment capacity for...

Confidence in the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade: Motion (15 Oct 2025)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Yesterday, I attended the briefing in the audiovisual room and listened to the parents and families of children on the waiting list. My heart goes out to them. I welcome that the Government has committed to an inquiry and I urge that this happens as soon as possible. It is right to acknowledge that we are not where we need to be in addressing urgent problems in spinal care, despite the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (15 Oct 2025)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: 181. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on an application for emergency works to address structural problems with a roof (details supplied). [55988/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (15 Oct 2025)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: 182. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on a request for funding to equip two modular SEN classrooms, as currently, the school cannot fully equip the classroom for full operation (details supplied). [55989/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Refurbishment (15 Oct 2025)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: 183. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on an application for emergency works funding to repair a collapsed roof that contains asbestos (details supplied). [55990/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (15 Oct 2025)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: 184. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a new build for a school will proceed (details supplied). [55991/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (15 Oct 2025)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: 185. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on an application by a school (details supplied) for repurposing of existing space to accommodate two special classes. [55992/25]