Results 2,421-2,440 of 8,245 for speaker:Bríd Smith

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Review of Scope and Structure of Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act: Engagement with Minister for Health (8 Dec 2021)

Bríd Smith: I have a few questions, the first of which relates to the timeline involved. There is much anxiety that the timeline for the review is poor because the Act states a review shall take place within three years. Therefore, on 1 January 2022 we should have been looking at the review of it. Given that will not be taken place for some time, starting with the process today, advertising for the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Review of Scope and Structure of Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act: Engagement with Minister for Health (8 Dec 2021)

Bríd Smith: I ask the Chair to bear with me for another few questions. The issue of whether a chairperson can have access to the expertise or, alternatively, an expert panel is appointed and we know who they are, their background and contribution to this process matters to service providers and users. We need to review that and consider the appointment of an expert panel. I am totally dissatisfied...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Review of Scope and Structure of Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act: Engagement with Minister for Health (8 Dec 2021)

Bríd Smith: Chair, I have a point of order on this. May I-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Review of Scope and Structure of Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act: Engagement with Minister for Health (8 Dec 2021)

Bríd Smith: May I raise a point of order on this, please, Chair?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Review of Scope and Structure of Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act: Engagement with Minister for Health (8 Dec 2021)

Bríd Smith: I have just checked the e-tender on the Department's website and what the Department is actually tendering for, unless it is going to do a separate tendering process for a chair, is "qualitative research ... to inform the review of the operation of the ... Act". The e-tender states: "An appropriately skilled person or team is sought." Obviously, the Department could pay a lot of money for a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Review of Scope and Structure of Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act: Engagement with Minister for Health (8 Dec 2021)

Bríd Smith: The Minister has said the aim is to appoint a chair but what we have is an advertisement for a research team. That could cost in excess of €100,000. I have to agree with Senator Kyne that it is baffling that the Department has to e-tender for a chairperson.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Review of Scope and Structure of Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act: Engagement with Minister for Health (8 Dec 2021)

Bríd Smith: I want clarity on this.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Review of Scope and Structure of Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act: Engagement with Minister for Health (8 Dec 2021)

Bríd Smith: When will that go up?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Review of Scope and Structure of Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act: Engagement with Minister for Health (8 Dec 2021)

Bríd Smith: This morning, I thought we were told that the e-tender for the chairperson would go up today. That does not seem to be the case. Will the Minister tell us exactly when it will go up? If, in the course of the review, we find barriers to equal access for all as identified by Senator Black this morning, including in the questions on fatal foetal abnormality, as identified by the chair, and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Review of Scope and Structure of Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act: Engagement with Minister for Health (8 Dec 2021)

Bríd Smith: That was not really an answer to my question. If we identify barriers to free and equal access, can we get amendments to the legislation? The intent of the legislation and of many clauses in the Act was to provide equal access in the case of fatal foetal abnormality and serious risk to health. I am using them as examples. It is not clear whether the purpose of this review is to say that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Review of Scope and Structure of Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act: Engagement with Minister for Health (8 Dec 2021)

Bríd Smith: Is the advertisement on eTenders the only one or will there be a separate advertisement for a chairperson?

Order of Business (7 Dec 2021)

Bríd Smith: It is almost impossible to do it in 30 seconds. I have seen many Deputies get a lot-----

Order of Business (7 Dec 2021)

Bríd Smith: I do. I will make an attempt at it. On 13 January in an attempt to apologise to the victims and survivors of mother and baby homes, the Taoiseach stated that children born outside marriage were treated as outcasts. Some 40% of the survivors now feel that they are being treated like outcasts because they are excluded from the redress scheme. A motion that was passed in the Dáil on...

Order of Business (7 Dec 2021)

Bríd Smith: That is the Taoiseach's term.

Order of Business (7 Dec 2021)

Bríd Smith: Some 40% are excluded.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (7 Dec 2021)

Bríd Smith: 151. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the projected amount of CO2 emissions in metric ton equivalent to come from the additional the planned gas fired generators that he recently announced on an annual basis when the generators are at full capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60169/21]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Ferry Services (7 Dec 2021)

Bríd Smith: 163. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the protocols for ferry services from the mainland to the islands when reporting by radio to the Irish Coast Guard stations the numbers of passengers being carried by passage prior to departure. [59822/21]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Ferry Services (7 Dec 2021)

Bríd Smith: 164. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to breaches in a protocol (details supplied); the oversight on reporting; the body that has responsibility for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59823/21]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Contracts (7 Dec 2021)

Bríd Smith: 166. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will clarify the situation in relation to the awarding of a State contract for the provision of air sea rescue cover; the companies currently tendering for such contracts; the cost of the full contract; the body and the persons responsible for deciding the winning bid; the criteria being used; if a company (details supplied)...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Contracts (7 Dec 2021)

Bríd Smith: 167. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the State regulatory body that is responsible for ensuring that companies operating services on behalf of the State in relation to air, sea rescue operations have fully qualified personnel to operate aircraft and other emergency vehicles; the oversights and safeguards this body has over the persons operating such contracts; and if he...