Results 2,721-2,740 of 3,842 for speaker:Mark Ward

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (30 Nov 2021)

Mark Ward: 668. To ask the Minister for Health if the HSE refers children to private service providers for treatment following an assessment of needs in which a service is identified such as occupational therapy, psychology and speech and language; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58940/21]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff (30 Nov 2021)

Mark Ward: 696. To ask the Minister for Health if he will report on the current levels of absenteeism for clinicians per CHO area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58993/21]

Joint Committee On Health: General Scheme of the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2021)

Mark Ward: Apologies have been received from the Cathaoirleach, Senator Black. I welcome the witnesses. They will be presenting virtually to our meeting to discuss the mental health (amendment) Bill. I welcome from the HSE Mr. Michael Ryan, head of mental health engagement and recovery, national mental health; and from Mental Health Reform, Ms Fiona Coyle, CEO, and Ms Bernadette Grogan, policy and...

Joint Committee On Health: General Scheme of the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2021)

Mark Ward: Go raibh míle maith agat Ms Coyle. I will now open up the meeting to questions and answers. The first speaker is Deputy Gino Kenny.

Joint Committee On Health: General Scheme of the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2021)

Mark Ward: Would the witnesses like to speak on that? I call Ms Coyle.

Joint Committee On Health: General Scheme of the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2021)

Mark Ward: I am not sure if the witnesses picked up on Deputy Kenny's final question.

Joint Committee On Health: General Scheme of the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2021)

Mark Ward: I thank Deputy Gino Kenny. The next speaker is Deputy Buckley.

Joint Committee On Health: General Scheme of the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2021)

Mark Ward: For Mr. Ryan's information, the document he referred to is A Vision for Change.

Joint Committee On Health: General Scheme of the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2021)

Mark Ward: The need for an independent complaints commission has come up a couple of times, especially in mental health reform. We have spoken about it mostly in terms of involuntary access to services. However, could the witnesses outline to what it would relate? Would it encapsulate all services? Would it include care plans? Can the witnesses unpack whether we would have an inspector or...

Joint Committee On Health: General Scheme of the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2021)

Mark Ward: I will give my tuppence worth now. I usually get in earlier than this. All the good questions have been asked at this stage but that is part of stepping in as Cathaoirleach today. I will bring up something that has not been touched on yet. I agree with the statement that this is a once in a generation opportunity to positively change mental health legislation. It is probably the...

Joint Committee On Health: General Scheme of the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2021)

Mark Ward: I have a quick question which Mr. Ryan may not have the answer to. On the 2,000 involuntary admissions last year referred to, my understanding is that the vast majority of them were through An Garda Síochána and not authorised officers. This is why we need these authorising officers in place to underpin this legislation and to make sure we take the best human rights approach to...

Joint Committee On Health: General Scheme of the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2021)

Mark Ward: Do any witnesses from Mental Health Reform wish to comment on that?

Joint Committee On Health: General Scheme of the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2021)

Mark Ward: I call Ms Fiona Coyle from Mental Health Reform to make her opening remarks.

Joint Committee On Health: General Scheme of the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2021)

Mark Ward: My concern is that the current review of authorised officers will take in the current need for authorised officers. When this legislation comes into place, there will be additional needs and a greater need for authorised officers. It is incumbent on this review to take into consideration the Bill before us. That is my tuppence worth. I have a couple of other questions. There was talk...

Joint Committee On Health: General Scheme of the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2021)

Mark Ward: I might have three more questions but I will ask two for now. There has been a lot of talk around the assisted decision-making (capacity) (amendment) Bill and the Bill before us. In June, I introduced a Bill providing for the capacity to consent for 16- and 17-year-olds because I could see the gap in legislation on that. The amendment Bill is set to provide 16- and 17-year-olds with the...

Joint Committee On Health: General Scheme of the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2021)

Mark Ward: Does anyone else want to come in on that?

Joint Committee On Health: General Scheme of the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2021)

Mark Ward: That gives us the benefit of the cross-departmental approach that we are looking to take in many areas of mental health. The issue of people in different Departments working in silos was referred to and the pilot crisis de-escalation team that is due to start in Limerick in the new year. It is really important the Department of Health is involved as well as the Department of Justice in...

Joint Committee On Health: General Scheme of the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2021)

Mark Ward: Do members have any supplementary questions before I return to the witnesses? I will ask the witnesses to make closing remarks.

Joint Committee On Health: General Scheme of the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2021)

Mark Ward: I thank the witnesses for their very helpful contributions. As usual, these meetings are a mine of information. I will read the transcript during the week to make sure I do not miss anything. I again thank the witnesses for their contributions. I thank members as well.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (25 Nov 2021)

Mark Ward: 71. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if persons who work in the night-time economy who can no longer work due to the new restrictions will be entitled to the pandemic unemployment payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57550/21]