Results 20,901-20,920 of 49,836 for speaker:Stephen Donnelly

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (17 May 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: Firstly I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this most challenging period. To recognise their unique role during the pandemic, the Government announced a COVID-19 recognition payment for front-line public sector healthcare workers. Eligibility guidelines for this payment, as applies in HSE and Section 38 organisations, were published...

National Maternity Hospital: Statements (12 May 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Deputy for his contribution and questions. The golden share is a name attaching to ministerial powers. The golden share from many years ago was a name attaching to different powers. They just happen to have been called the same thing. What matters to us is what the ministerial powers here are. There are two very significant powers. The first is that the reserved powers of...

National Maternity Hospital: Statements (12 May 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: The Deputy has made a lot of accusations. She and I have worked together on the Joint Committee on Health for many years and I hold her in high esteem. Just for clarity, can I ask if her comments about being "gaslit by men in suits" pertain to me?

National Maternity Hospital: Statements (12 May 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: Not only do I acknowledge it, but I acknowledged it clearly in my opening statement, in many interviews I have given and at the health committee yesterday. I ask the Deputy to accept that in good faith.

National Maternity Hospital: Statements (12 May 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: I apologise, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

National Maternity Hospital: Statements (12 May 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: That is a very fair question, and one that is being asked repeatedly. The advice I have from the legal team, to which I posed exactly the same question, is that for lawyers and clinicians, the phrase “clinically appropriate” is a normal phrase used all the time. It is used in every hospital, on every ward and by every clinician. The legal team told me that in the same way...

National Maternity Hospital: Statements (12 May 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: I just want to clarify this point. The Deputy said I am not prepared to provide a definition. I am, through debate and also very clearly in writing to the health committee.

National Maternity Hospital: Statements (12 May 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: I accept that point and Deputy Shortall asked a reasonable question. I want to listen carefully to the contributions of the Deputy and all colleagues. I will then reflect on those. I agree with the Deputy and other colleagues. Deputy Cullinane and others have said it and Deputy Duncan Smith may have said it as well. For people watching this debate who are coming from a baseline of...

National Maternity Hospital: Statements (12 May 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: I am not a lawyer but I would not regard that as a substantial change.

National Maternity Hospital: Statements (12 May 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: I do not believe adding a definition would be a substantial change at all. On the Deputy’s first question as to why I could commit now and yesterday to write to the health committee, it is because that is immediately within my gift. However, any changes to legal documents that have multiple parties involved would require consultation and other conversation. I am not in a position...

National Maternity Hospital: Statements (12 May 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: I do not, but there may be lawyers who do.

National Maternity Hospital: Statements (12 May 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: Do I have time to respond?

National Maternity Hospital: Statements (12 May 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: I am not only seeking to be pleasant. I absolutely accept the validity of the concerns that are being raised.

National Maternity Hospital: Statements (12 May 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: What I have said is that I cannot commit to changes to legal documents here. I know the Deputy appreciates that. What I can commit to is reflecting on exactly this and seeing if there is more to be done, including exactly what the Deputy has laid out. I am, of course, already reflecting on this, what was said at the health committee yesterday-----

National Maternity Hospital: Statements (12 May 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: ----and on the wider public debate.

National Maternity Hospital: Statements (12 May 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: It is not just a reflection. I am just saying, and I know the Deputy appreciates this, that I cannot commit to any specific changes-----

National Maternity Hospital: Statements (12 May 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: -----to the legal documents here.

National Maternity Hospital: Statements (12 May 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: What is not a good starting point?

National Maternity Hospital: Statements (12 May 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: It is certainly relevant. For example, there is very close co-operation between the Rotunda Hospital and the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital and between the Coombe Women and Infant University Hospital and St. James's Hospital and, potentially, Tallaght University Hospital as well. It is quite regular for there to be co-operation between major adult teaching hospitals and maternity...

National Maternity Hospital: Statements (12 May 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: No, I think cases could be made. For example, the Rotunda Hospital has a very close working relationship with the Mater Hospital and, in the same way that critically ill women are moved from Holles Street to Elm Park, critically ill women are moved under blue light from the Rotunda Hospital to the Mater Hospital, yet the proposal that has been in place for many years for the Rotunda Hospital...