Results 1,981-2,000 of 6,045 for speaker:Frank Feighan

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...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (22 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 Department has set up a working...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug Treatment Programmes (22 Sep 2020)

Frank Feighan: 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: Drug Treatment Programmes (22 Sep 2020)

Frank Feighan: I propose to take Questions No. 768 to 7070, inclusive, together. The granting of planning permission for the location of a rehabilitation centre is a matter for the local authority. As the other issues raised by the Deputy relate to service matters, 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 (22 Sep 2020)

Frank Feighan: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Garda Stations (17 Sep 2020)

Frank Feighan: On behalf of the Minister, I thank Deputy Ó Ríordáin for raising this matter. As the Deputy will appreciate, the Office of Public Works has responsibility for the provision and maintenance of Garda accommodation. Works in respect of Garda accommodation are progressed by the Garda authorities working in close co-operation with the OPW. The current Garda building and...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Garda Stations (17 Sep 2020)

Frank Feighan: On behalf of the Minister, I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I will bring his comments on establishing a commission to look into these very difficult areas to the Minister. The Deputy will be aware that the Garda Commissioner is, by law, responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including personnel matters and the deployment of resources. As...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Ambulance Service (17 Sep 2020)

Frank Feighan: I welcome the opportunity to address the House on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, in respect of the ambulance service in the south-east region and in Thurles in particular. The National Ambulance Service makes use of historical data and future projections of service volumes in determining the allocation of resources and deployment locations within an area. Therefore,...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Ambulance Service (17 Sep 2020)

Frank Feighan: I thank Deputy Cahill for raising this important issue. I assure the House that the National Ambulance Service is focused on continually improving the ambulance service in the south-east region and throughout the country. The improvement of the service is being implemented through a multi-annual reform programme, Vision 2020, which prioritises investment in new developments, increased...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Garda Stations (17 Sep 2020)

Frank Feighan: I will take it.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Abortion Services Provision (17 Sep 2020)

Frank Feighan: The incident that occurred at the National Maternity Hospital in March 2019 was tragic and the Minister and I are very conscious of the distress it has caused for the couple involved. Our overriding concern is that the couple's questions are answered appropriately and that any patient safety learning identified from the case can be implemented at the hospital concerned and across all...