Results 2,321-2,340 of 5,659 for speaker:Thomas Gould

Council Development Levies: Motion [Private Members] (1 Feb 2023)

Thomas Gould: Right across Cork city, new communities are being welcomed with new neighbours. These expanded areas see their communities being built up without services being put in place. Why is it that when housing estates are being built the services are not put in either beforehand or at the same time as the development? Since the boundary extension of 2019, which saw large parts of the county...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Cancer Treatment Services: Discussion (1 Feb 2023)

Thomas Gould: I thank the Irish Cancer Society for its submission. There is no doubt that what they have spoken about is really serious. I want to start off on a positive. This touches on what was said at the start. I know this from my own family experience and that of my friends. If people are caught at stage 1 the success rate is 95%. I know family and friends who have been very lucky. They have...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Cancer Treatment Services: Discussion (1 Feb 2023)

Thomas Gould: When one looks at it, if cancer is diagnosed early and people are treated early, they are actually being kept out of the hospitals. Would it be correct to say that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Cancer Treatment Services: Discussion (1 Feb 2023)

Thomas Gould: By investing in hospitals, and staff and technologies, time will be freed up so that more people can be treated. There is then a positive domino effect, where people are being treated earlier, quicker and are freeing up more space for people to come in. I also want to note Ms Morrogh's point relating to the message. When they saw the crisis in the hospitals, most people with an ache or...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Cancer Treatment Services: Discussion (1 Feb 2023)

Thomas Gould: I was unfortunately in Cork University Hospital with my father over Christmas. Thankfully he was fine, but we were there for ten hours. My Dad, who is 81 years old, was saying to me, "come on we'll go home." I said, No. I understand people not going. Who would want to sit in an accident and emergency room for ten, 12, 24 hours or longer? One can understand why people would either not...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Cancer Treatment Services: Discussion (1 Feb 2023)

Thomas Gould: I have two more questions. If the Irish Cancer Society representatives do not have the time to respond now, they will get back in later. I know a lady who has had an issue with skin cancer. We are not sure how bad it is. She has had a number of serious operations on her face. This lady has been looking for a medical card for years. I think she is something like €20 a week over...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Cancer Treatment Services: Discussion (1 Feb 2023)

Thomas Gould: I thank the witnesses. I have to go to the Chamber but I will be back shortly after I speak.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Cancer Treatment Services: Discussion (1 Feb 2023)

Thomas Gould: I was reading through the HSE report and listened to its submission earlier. It highlighted how as a result of Covid-19 there were 10% to 11% fewer diagnoses in 2020. Are figures available for 2021 or 2022? Is there any way to calculate how many people lost their lives prematurely during Covid-19 or will do so as a result of restrictions and lockdowns as a result of Covid-19? There are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Cancer Treatment Services: Discussion (1 Feb 2023)

Thomas Gould: Have we caught up at this stage?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Cancer Treatment Services: Discussion (1 Feb 2023)

Thomas Gould: That is concerning. The Irish Cancer Society was before the committee earlier and it outlined the issues with any delays in early detection. It said that when people are diagnosed at stage 1 they have a 95% success rate but that is less when it is later and that we have not caught up with screenings and diagnosis and what that means. The data should tell us that there is a certain number...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Cancer Treatment Services: Discussion (1 Feb 2023)

Thomas Gould: Is that a direct consequence of not diagnosing in 2020?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Cancer Treatment Services: Discussion (1 Feb 2023)

Thomas Gould: I understand that and I respect the point Dr. Faul is making but it is unfortunate, whether we reduced services in 2020 or people had a fear factor. I think Covid is starting to fade into our memories but when we were at the heart of it, there was fear among people of going into any congregated setting. The HSE's figures show a 10% increase in diagnosis in 2022, so then it could be possible...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Cancer Treatment Services: Discussion (1 Feb 2023)

Thomas Gould: The Irish Cancer Society made the point that in January 2023 research showed that three people in ten were put off going to their GP or hospital because of the pressure that hospitals were under in the last three months. Different hospitals have called on people not to present to hospitals or emergency departments because of the trolley crisis or staff shortages. That is very concerning.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Cancer Treatment Services: Discussion (1 Feb 2023)

Thomas Gould: The Chair made the point earlier to the Irish Cancer Society was that now our problem is that people cannot get access to GPs. There is a huge problem with GP services in the State. It is probably not for today's discussion but we know people who cannot even get an appointment with their GP and there are others who cannot even get a GP. One of the GP services in my constituency, in...

Post-European Council Meeting: Statements (31 Jan 2023)

Thomas Gould: Sinn Féin remains the only political party on this island that has produced a comprehensive policy on the rights of people in recovery. The Government has no strategic vision for those in recovery from addiction. There are countries right across Europe that have credible policies that recognise the human rights to which those who are in recovery are entitled. There is an opportunity...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Reports (31 Jan 2023)

Thomas Gould: 569. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to urgently release the report into the death of a person (details supplied) to their family given the pending inquest on 1 February 2023. [4795/23]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services (31 Jan 2023)

Thomas Gould: 708. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on staffing at a facility (details supplied); and whether there will be a reduction in bed numbers in the facility. [4531/23]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Briefing on Current and Future Plans for the School Building Unit: Department of Education (31 Jan 2023)

Thomas Gould: That is not the case in-----