Results 2,241-2,260 of 3,241 for speaker:Brian Ó Domhnaill

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Jan 2012)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: While I welcome in general terms the publication yesterday of the heads of a Bill to deal with the personal and mortgage debt crisis that is gripping the country, unfortunately the proposed legislation does not go far enough. This is particularly the case when one considers the point raised by Senator MacSharry concerning individuals who are in difficulty due to mortgages and other forms of...

Seanad: Education (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (25 Jan 2012)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: Tá lúcháir orm go bhfuil deis agam labhairt faoin Bhille seo atá os comhair an tSeanaid inniu don Dara Léamh. Bille tábhachtach é ó thaobh cúrsaí oideachais de, go háirithe i dtaca le múinteoirí, an fhoirm teagaisc agus an ról atá ag múinteoirí agus na deiseanna a bheidh ag múinteoirí postanna a fháil amach anseo. Tá cuid mhór cainte agus plé faoi láthair faoi seo....

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (18 Jan 2012)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I want to add to what has been said about the publication of the HSE service plan on Monday, and the ramifications and consequences that publication and acceptance of the plan last Friday by the Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly, will have around the country. The plan will reduce spending in the health service by €750 million this year and 3,200 staff will leave the Health Service...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (18 Jan 2012)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I appeal to the Leader to bring the Minister for Health before the Seanad as quickly as possible to allay fears in our elderly population around the country. He is attacking nursing homes and cutting home help hours by 5% this year. It is a totally unacceptable blatant attack on elderly people. We will not stand for it.

Seanad: Hospital Services (12 Jan 2012)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: The issue I raise is community hospitals, specifically Lifford Community Hospital in my locality. Built in 1789, the hospital is old but effective and efficient. It has 20 patients at present with a capacity to accommodate 40 patients. Most of those who stay in the hospital are elderly. The reduction in patient numbers in recent years arose from the implementation of HIQA standards which...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (15 Dec 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: Senator Byrne has touched on a point. Whatever way it is to be dressed up, the changes being introduced are cuts through the back door to child benefit payments. There is no question about that. These cuts will have major impacts on very many families, particularly those with three or more children. In our pre-election submission to the Department of Finance, Fianna Fáil proposed no cuts...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (15 Dec 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: They are from the child benefit section. They might have been made 20 or 30 years ago, but in fact they came from earlier this year. The Labour Party leader, now Tánaiste in the new Government said: Things like not cutting child benefit any further. Enough is enough. Families can take no more. He also stated that it would be a pre-requirement for entering Government with Fine Gael that...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (15 Dec 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: It is factual.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Dec 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: Persons with a yearly average of between 20 and 47 PRSI contributions during their working lives receive a weekly State pension that is only €4.50 less than that paid to those with a yearly average of 48 or more contributions. If I read this provision correctly, the changes proposed mean that a lower pension will be payable to new applicants for a State pension with a yearly average of...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Dec 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: If this measure is contained in a different section, Members can deal with it then.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Dec 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: Very well. However, I seek clarity from the Minister on the reductions for new applicants for State pensions based on the changes in respect of PRSI contributions contained in this section.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Dec 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: This section increases the widow's, widower's and surviving civil partner's contribution from three years to five years and takes effect from July 2012, if I am correct.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Dec 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: Obviously the explanatory notes have changed. There have been a few changes since the budget announcement. I understand there are 115,000 individuals in receipt of a widower's contributory pension. Is it correct to say that those in receipt of a contributory pension will not be affected by these changes?

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Dec 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: Therefore, we are only looking at new applicants. Because people have lost a partner, husband or wife, they will find it more difficult to obtain a contributory pension. This is the wrong group of people to target. There are other areas within the social welfare budget where savings could be made without going after surviving spouses. In many cases these people, young mothers and young...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Dec 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: They will just keep signing on. While there are many other headline items in the budget that get far more prominence, what provision is made for public information in regard to the eligibility changes? We all have met people in our constituencies who are working from the home who do not continue to sign on. Obviously this Bill will be passed and become an Act of the Oireachtas. Given the...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Dec 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I refer to health matters, concerning community nursing units. I attended a meeting in my constituency on Friday night, attended by more than 600 people about the potential closure of Lifford community hospital. The Minister for Health has earmarked 850 beds across the community hospitals for closure. I commend Senator Mary White on the work she has done in representing the needs of older...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Dec 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: The amendment is that the Minister for Health come to the House to discuss the nursing home fiasco facing many communities and attacking the elderly. I support Senator Noone in respect of the banking issue. What the banks are doing is a disgrace and the Government is not tackling the issue. It is glossing over it.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Dec 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: Yes, because we need the Minister in the House.

Seanad: Diabetes Services (13 Dec 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I raise the issue of diabetes facilities in Letterkenny General Hospital. In Ireland, there are approximately 4,000 children and young adults under the age of 16 with diabetes. Approximately 90% of patients under the age of 16 have type 1 diabetes but, unfortunately, an increasing number of young patients are developing type 2 diabetes. The incidence of type 1 diabetes is also increasing,...

Seanad: Diabetes Services (13 Dec 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I welcome what the Minister of State has said, particularly with regard to the endocrinologist who will be appointed in January and the fact there are no plans to remove or downgrade the existing services. She has stated that the work of the expert group is continuing and will determine the final shape of any model for service delivery. I hope that whatever decision or recommendation is...