Results 2,341-2,360 of 3,645 for speaker:Michael Collins

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Travel Restrictions (2 Jun 2020)

Michael Collins: I thank the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the NTA. I have questions that could go on for an hour but I only have five minutes. There may have to be correspondence at a later stage. I pay tribute to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the staff in the Tánaiste's office and the people who helped my staff and myself. These people were on the phone 24-7 following...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Travel Restrictions (2 Jun 2020)

Michael Collins: To the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The HSE might also answer the question on same day testing.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Travel Restrictions (2 Jun 2020)

Michael Collins: Yes, if it is possible to get that answer.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Travel Restrictions (2 Jun 2020)

Michael Collins: I thank Mr. Breslin. Time is running very tight. My next question is for the NTA. Private bus and coach operators are facing ruination and that will have major implications for us down the line. Are there any plans to get direct Government support or will there be a continuation of the wage subsidy scheme until the tourism transport sector returns to normal? Is it intended to provide...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Congregated Settings: Nursing Homes (26 May 2020)

Michael Collins: I welcome Mr. Daly and Mr. Taylor who are giving evidence today. It has been a very difficult time, especially for those who have lost loved ones in nursing homes. I pay tribute to the staff in nursing homes who have worked incredibly hard. I know of their hard work because I contacted many nursing homes in west Cork, such as Cramers Court in Belgooly, CareChoice Clonakilty, Bushmount...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Congregated Settings: Nursing Homes (26 May 2020)

Michael Collins: Is there a tracking system in place to identify nursing home staff who are working in more than one nursing home?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Congregated Settings: Nursing Homes (26 May 2020)

Michael Collins: Mr. Paul Reid stated that the mass testing of nursing home residents and staff at facilities is complete. Is there a plan to ensure the safety of residents in every residential nursing home?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Congregated Settings: Nursing Homes (26 May 2020)

Michael Collins: Do nursing homes plan to test and monitor the variables within those settings, such as the testing of staff on a weekly basis, at least? From what I can gather, it currently takes two weeks for residents to be tested and ten days for staff to be tested. Is Mr. Daly aware that Animal Health Laboratories in Bandon, west Cork, is turning around Covid-19 tests in a day? If he is not, will he...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Congregated Settings: Nursing Homes (26 May 2020)

Michael Collins: Is Nursing Homes Ireland aware of the laboratory in Bandon?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Congregated Settings: Nursing Homes (26 May 2020)

Michael Collins: That leads me on to my next question. I and many professionals believe doctors and nurses should be allowed to take swabs, which could result in being able to get next-day results. Is Nursing Homes Ireland working towards that?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Congregated Settings: Nursing Homes (26 May 2020)

Michael Collins: Has the HSE given any indication that it will allow that to happen?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Congregated Settings: Nursing Homes (26 May 2020)

Michael Collins: As already stated, everybody wants there to be quick results. It seems to me that it is taking between ten and 12 days to get tests completed. If it takes another three to five, six or seven days to get the results, it defeats the whole purpose. My point is that we need to look to local laboratories to carry out these tests. I urge Mr. Daly to consider using such laboratories.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Congregated Settings: Nursing Homes (Resumed) (26 May 2020)

Michael Collins: I welcome our guests. I have a number of questions, starting with HIQA. I understand that for new builds of nursing homes and community hospitals, 80% of resident accommodation must consist of single rooms and there must be no more than four residents per multi-occupancy bedroom. Is this correct?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Congregated Settings: Nursing Homes (Resumed) (26 May 2020)

Michael Collins: The question concerns older nursing homes and community hospitals. I know that a number of them are meeting the 80% single occupancy requirement. Quite a lot of them in my constituency of Cork South-West have been brought up to top standard. For others that are working towards the standards, when is the cut-off date for meeting the standards?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Congregated Settings: Nursing Homes (Resumed) (26 May 2020)

Michael Collins: Am I correct in stating that the original date to meet the HIQA 80% single occupancy standard was in 2016?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Congregated Settings: Nursing Homes (Resumed) (26 May 2020)

Michael Collins: That was changed or extended to a later date. Is that the case?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Congregated Settings: Nursing Homes (Resumed) (26 May 2020)

Michael Collins: In view of Covid-19, does Ms Dunnion think this was a wise decision?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Congregated Settings: Nursing Homes (Resumed) (26 May 2020)

Michael Collins: One of the reports is from a hospital in west Cork where former nursing home residents are residing. I will just quote from some of the report and I will not mention the hospital. The report states: - The use of multi-occupancy rooms for up to seven residents did not support the receipt of personal care and communication in a manner that protected privacy and dignity. [...] One resident...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Congregated Settings: Nursing Homes (Resumed) (26 May 2020)

Michael Collins: I have a question for the HSE in the short time available to me. Does it plan to test and monitor the variables within these settings, including the testing of staff on at least a weekly basis with an efficient turnaround of results?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Congregated Settings: Nursing Homes (Resumed) (26 May 2020)

Michael Collins: Will the HSE allow doctors and nurses to carry out Covid-19 tests and local labs, some of which provide same-day results, to analyse them instead of flying them out to Germany?