Results 2,361-2,380 of 3,333 for speaker:James O'Connor

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 38 - Health (Resumed)
Health Service Executive: Financial Statements 2020 (26 May 2022)

James O'Connor: Specifically on min-MAC, how many meetings have taken place with the Cabinet Minister and the two junior Ministers?

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 38 - Health (Resumed)
Health Service Executive: Financial Statements 2020 (26 May 2022)

James O'Connor: But the ones I am referring to, if that is okay?

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 38 - Health (Resumed)
Health Service Executive: Financial Statements 2020 (26 May 2022)

James O'Connor: Who would make the decision about who would be appropriate to be present at those meetings? Would that be Mr. Watt, as in he is in charge of HR matters, or would it be someone else?

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 38 - Health (Resumed)
Health Service Executive: Financial Statements 2020 (26 May 2022)

James O'Connor: The reason I highlight that is it is important for collegiality in the work that the Department and the HSE does that all Ministers would be present and that briefings would be provided. All of us present are reasonable people. We accept that during Covid decisions had to be taken. Some turned out to be the wrong decisions and we have to ask the questions. The Irish Examiner did a lot of...

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 38 - Health (Resumed)
Health Service Executive: Financial Statements 2020 (26 May 2022)

James O'Connor: I apologise for cutting across Mr. Reid but time is very limited. We await the outcome of that work. It might be something that the committee will look at again. I am sure we will. Returning to some degree of normality outside of the context of the pandemic, I refer to cross-border initiatives and schemes. Many things in our health service are not working and, unfortunately, people are...

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 38 - Health (Resumed)
Health Service Executive: Financial Statements 2020 (26 May 2022)

James O'Connor: If I may raise another issue of concern with the Department, is any work being done to shorten the turnaround time and waiting lists for emergency medical cards? One person was in contact with us who is waiting quite a number of months now and undergoing intensive cancer treatment. It is outrageous there would be people waiting months for that type of urgent help. What work is being...

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 38 - Health (Resumed)
Health Service Executive: Financial Statements 2020 (26 May 2022)

James O'Connor: That is okay. I will finish with some questions about the National Ambulance Service. It is coming up repeatedly. I am a rural Deputy for a rural constituency, like many other committee members. The wait times for ambulances are increasingly worrying. We are getting reports into our office of people having to wait in excess of an hour and in some cases much longer. It is deeply...

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 38 - Health (Resumed)
Health Service Executive: Financial Statements 2020 (26 May 2022)

James O'Connor: Today, the HSE has discussed the ongoing work on the decongregation of certain health settings. Obviously, Mr. Reid is very aware of the decision to close the Owenacurra centre. Much of that work probably took place during 2020. I wish to raise this issue with him A number of anomalies were evident in the process of making decisions on what was planned for the patients who resided at the...

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 38 - Health (Resumed)
Health Service Executive: Financial Statements 2020 (26 May 2022)

James O'Connor: My point relates to the decision-making process. There are many facilities around the country that are similar to the Owenacurra centre. These are HSE-owned and HSE-operated mental healthcare residential facilities. Each facility is different and provides different levels of clinical care. A decision was taken to close the centre, but no decision was made on what should happen to the...

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 38 - Health (Resumed)
Health Service Executive: Financial Statements 2020 (26 May 2022)

James O'Connor: It is unfortunate that I am out of time.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (26 May 2022)

James O'Connor: That is a good move on the part of Deputy Murphy. Another aspect is eligibility with respect to the qualifying criteria for a passport. Perhaps officials in a section of the Department of Foreign Affairs that could address that aspect might also appear before the committee on that day. That would be interesting given the sharp rise in the number of people applying for an Irish passport...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Cards (26 May 2022)

James O'Connor: 28. To ask the Minister for Health if analyses on the usage of medical cards in dental practices in Ireland have been completed recently; if so, if the number of dentists not accepting medical cards has increased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26968/22]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Healthcare Infrastructure Provision (26 May 2022)

James O'Connor: 51. To ask the Minister for Health his position in relation to the delivery of a primary healthcare centre in Youghal, County Cork; the estimated timeline for the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26967/22]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Industry (26 May 2022)

James O'Connor: 140. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the support that Ireland is providing to help the United States with the recent baby formula shortage that it is experiencing; and if there is a risk of any shortages of a similar nature in Ireland given the rising input and dairy costs. [26905/22]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (26 May 2022)

James O'Connor: 145. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has engaged with Teagasc in relation to its research into the methane emissions of dairy cows; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26906/22]

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Admissions (19 May 2022)

James O'Connor: I thank the Minister for Education for being present in the Chamber and the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this Topical Issue matter. I was extraordinarily honoured to welcome the Minister to the Cork East constituency. I wish to convey my gratitude and thanks to her and to her officials and advisers who travelled to the constituency for a very successful visit. We had an engagement with...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Admissions (19 May 2022)

James O'Connor: I acknowledge the contribution that has been made. I certainly will go through it and feed that back to the schools with which we are engaging and are in discussions. I appreciate the time and effort the Minister is putting in into this. It cannot be understated how much of a challenge this is for the Civil Service. We face considerable criticism but this a very unique and new challenge...

National Parks and Wildlife Service Strategic Plan: Statements (Resumed) (19 May 2022)

James O'Connor: I compliment the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, his departmental officials and the independent contributors on the work done on this review, which has identified several serious issues within the NPWS. I hope these will be addressed by the steps taken. It is great to see and very good news that a significant capital budget, of approximately €55 million, is being allocated over...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Research and Development (19 May 2022)

James O'Connor: 118. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will detail progress regarding the development of the next National Research and Innovation Strategy, including timeline and expected funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25275/22]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (19 May 2022)

James O'Connor: 185. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will detail progress on Budget 2022 apprenticeship commitments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25274/22]