Results 1,981-2,000 of 6,055 for speaker:Frank Feighan

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla -Topical Issue Debates: Speech and Language Therapy (29 Sep 2020)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. The Minister acknowledges the significant contribution of health and social care professionals to the Covid response, in particular, the urgent requirement for testing in the community services. I am aware that in the Department of Health, many of the various teams are still working on Covid. The HSE has put a plan in place to stabilise the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla -Topical Issue Debates: Speech and Language Therapy (29 Sep 2020)

Frank Feighan: There are, however, a significant number of measures being put in place to manage such competing priorities, for example, a national requirement campaign for dedicated testing and tracing resources. We expect that such measures coming in place will assist in our ability to meet both Covid and non-Covid service demands. HR in community operations has been in dialogue with trade union...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla -Topical Issue Debates: Alcohol Pricing (29 Sep 2020)

Frank Feighan: Early analysis of the introduction of minimum unit pricing in Scotland shows that the policy is successful in targeting harmful drinking. Scotland introduced minimum pricing in May 2018. Subsequent to its introduction, alcohol consumption figures there were at their lowest rate for 25 years. We have an alcohol issue in this country. Alcohol consumption in Ireland almost trebled over the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla -Topical Issue Debates: Speech and Language Therapy (29 Sep 2020)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. In preparing for and responding to Covid-19 and to fully align with public health guidance as recommended by NPHET, the HSE and its partner service providers put in place a range of measures. These included the prioritisation of vital residential and home support services, while curtailing or closing certain services, such as day services...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla -Topical Issue Debates: Alcohol Pricing (29 Sep 2020)

Frank Feighan: I want to begin by welcoming the raising of this very important topic by Deputy Ó Cuív. The programme for Government promises to honour our long-standing commitment to the introduction of minimum unit pricing of alcohol products in consultation with Northern Ireland. As Minister of State with responsibility for this issue, I want to assure the House from the outset that there is...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (29 Sep 2020)

Frank Feighan: The Covid-19 pandemic has created a time of uncertainty and anxiety for everyone and particularly for those who are affected by drug and alcohol addiction. The restructuring of services, social distancing measures and self-isolation can be particularly difficult for those who are trying to remain drug or alcohol free and for those who are in recovery. The Government...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug and Alcohol Task Forces (29 Sep 2020)

Frank Feighan: Drug and Alcohol Task Forces play a key role in assessing the extent and nature of the drug problem in local communities. They ensure that a coordinated approach is taken across all sectors to address substance misuse based on the identified needs and priorities in their areas. The Department of Health and the HSE provide total annual funding of €28 million to task forces for local...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (29 Sep 2020)

Frank Feighan: The Covid-19 pandemic has created uncertainty and anxiety for everyone and particularly for those affected by drug and alcohol addiction. At the onset of Covid-29, the Department and the HSE developed harm reduction posters for people with substance use issues. Key harm reduction messages were included in both posters to keep people as safe as possible during Covid-19 and reminding...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Addiction Treatment Services (29 Sep 2020)

Frank Feighan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 926 to 929, inclusive, and 931 together. The Covid-19 pandemic has created a time of uncertainty and anxiety for everyone and particularly for those who are affected by drug and alcohol addiction. The restructuring of services, social distancing measures and self-isolation can be particularly difficult for those who are trying to remain...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Addiction Treatment Services (29 Sep 2020)

Frank Feighan: The Covid-19 pandemic has created a time of uncertainty and anxiety for everyone and particularly for those who are affected by drug and alcohol addiction. The restructuring of services, social distancing measures and self-isolation can be particularly difficult for those who are trying to remain drug or alcohol free and for those who are in recovery. The Government plan...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Vaccination Programme (25 Sep 2020)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach for his kind remarks. It is always good to be back in the Upper House, even if it is sitting in the Dáil Chamber today. I thank Senator Ruane for affording me the opportunity to speak on this very important matter. The immunisation programme is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee, NIAC. The committee's recommendations...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Vaccination Programme (25 Sep 2020)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Senator. Vaccines are one of the most successful health interventions of all time. They have saved thousands of lives in this country and have helped make diseases like polio and smallpox, which previously caused devastation to families and communities, largely a thing of the past. Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women worldwide and one woman dies of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health Services Provision (25 Sep 2020)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Senator for raising what is an important issue — increasing access to contraception. The Government understands the need to promote women's health and equality and, as such, the new programme for Government includes a commitment to expand access to free contraception for women aged between 17 and 25, as outlined by the Senator. The Senator has made me aware of the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health Services Provision (25 Sep 2020)

Frank Feighan: I appreciate the Senator's concern about this very complex issue. The working group highlighted that the majority of people in Ireland can and do access contraception without difficulty. Contraception use in Ireland is high and stable. This is a fact that we welcome but there are issues we need to address. At the same time, the Government is supportive of the need to expand access to...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Medical Cards (25 Sep 2020)

Frank Feighan: I thank Senator Conway for his kind remarks. It is great to be back here in the Seanad. I am delighted to see Senator Wall here. I serve with his dad in the Oireachtas so it is great to see him back here as well. Before addressing the medical card limits for the over-70s, which both Senators have raised today, it is important to acknowledge the difficult year that older persons in our...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Medical Cards (25 Sep 2020)

Frank Feighan: Senator Conway mentioned savings being achieved and obviously that has not occurred, due to Covid. As was said, currently 75% of people aged 70 and over have a medical card and if the potential beneficiaries of this measure - an estimated 56,000 people - materialise then an increase in the income thresholds will result in over 88% of this cohort now being eligible for a medical card. The...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Drug Treatment Programmes (22 Sep 2020)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Deputy for her views. We have found ourselves in a complex and difficult situation and I take this opportunity to update the House on the holding of drug and alcohol support group meetings in Dublin. Last week, the Government published Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with Covid-19. The framework states that no organised indoor gatherings should take place...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Drug Treatment Programmes (22 Sep 2020)

Frank Feighan: I reiterate that it is my full intention, as Minister of State with responsibility for this area, to do all I can to ensure we can achieve the restoration of these essential addiction treatment services in Dublin. We all have compassion; it is not only the preserve of one party. Every Deputy, Minister and Senator in the Oireachtas and people across the country have compassion and we are...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Covid-19 Tests (22 Sep 2020)

Frank Feighan: I thank Deputies Nash and O'Dowd for their commitment to trying to get a pop-up centre to Drogheda. They have made a very powerful case. As I said, the HSE advises that we are meeting all testing demand nationally across the end-to-end testing and tracing process, with adequate swabbing and laboratory capacity. I understand that these issues will be reviewed, and I will bring the Deputies'...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Covid-19 Tests (22 Sep 2020)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Deputies for raising this important issue. A comprehensive, reliable and responsive testing and tracing operation is central to our public health strategy for containing and slowing the spread of Covid-19. Capacity has been in place since early summer to test 15,000 people a day. While the system did come under pressure in recent weeks, overall the system is working well and...