Results 31,221-31,240 of 49,836 for speaker:Stephen Donnelly

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (22 Jun 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: As this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard...

Seanad: Health and Criminal Justice (Covid-19) (Amendment) Bill 2021: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (4 Jun 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: These are essentially equivalent amendments throughout the Bill. To put these amendments in context, I received communication from the health committee expressing its serious concern about the Bill, as initiated, whereby a sunset clause of up to 12 weeks could be rolled over indefinitely pending a vote of both Houses. There was also a constructive and productive debate in the Seanad. On...

Seanad: Health and Criminal Justice (Covid-19) (Amendment) Bill 2021: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (4 Jun 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: They fundamentally do not believe that there should be any public health measures in place. They believe that the civil liberty argument takes total precedence over the right to safety, human life, human health, etc. That is their position and for them to vote against the Bill is therefore rational. I utterly disagree with that view but at least if one holds that view and votes against...

Seanad: Health and Criminal Justice (Covid-19) (Amendment) Bill 2021: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (4 Jun 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: There is.

Seanad: Health and Criminal Justice (Covid-19) (Amendment) Bill 2021: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (4 Jun 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: We are here to amend the Bill.

Health and Criminal Justice (Covid-19) (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (2 Jun 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: I am very happy to respond if the Chair permits.

Health and Criminal Justice (Covid-19) (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (2 Jun 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: I would very much like to take these amendments one by one and go through them like we did on Second Stage and in the Seanad as well.

Maternity Services: Motion [Private Members] (2 Jun 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: My understanding was that I had 15 minutes. Would it be possible to check that?

Maternity Services: Motion [Private Members] (2 Jun 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: Is the Acting Chairman sure?

Maternity Services: Motion [Private Members] (2 Jun 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: Okay. I thank Deputy Connolly for tabling the motion on maternity care. The Government will be supporting the motion. Women’s healthcare has never been prioritised as it should be in this country. It has never been invested in as it must be. Our maternity hospitals are not fit for purpose. We are reported as having the lowest rate of breastfeeding in Europe. There is...

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Act 2021: Motion (31 May 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: I propose the continuation into force of the Health (Amendment) Act 2021 to 31 July 2021. To remind the House, this Act provides for the mandatory quarantine in designated facilities of persons coming into the State from certain areas. Commonly referred to as mandatory hotel quarantine, it has been operational since 26 March 2021. It has been an important part of the public health measures...

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Act 2021: Motion (31 May 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: I had some closing remarks but instead I might address the points raised. I ask Members to bear with me as I go back and forward through some of the technical notes. I will start with the appeals process and exemptions. There were quite a few questions on that. The exemptions that were in the Act are as follows: those holding an annex 3 certificate, that is those ensuring the availability...

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Act 2021: Motion (31 May 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: It is being looked at. I beg the Senator's pardon.

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Act 2021: Motion (31 May 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: With unaccompanied minors, there are two possibilities. The first is that they go into the care of Tusla. Tusla then carries that out and it is the correct agency to do that. Alternatively, if the minor has somewhere safe to go in Ireland, he or she can go to that place and be quarantined in that place. I will finish by reiterating that nobody wants hotel quarantine. My understanding is...

Seanad: Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (31 May 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Seanad for the opportunity to update it on the Covid-19 vaccination programme. The programme has continued uninterrupted since our last session despite the cyberattack on both the HSE and the Department of Health, although this criminal attack on our IT systems has had an impact on the programme as the validation of data and daily reporting of vaccination figures have not been...

Seanad: Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (31 May 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Members for their contributions and ideas, and their appreciation of the massive national effort. All Members of the Oireachtas owe a debt of gratitude to workers throughout the country for the phenomenal work that has been done. Many very important topics were covered and I will not be able to deal with all of them in the time available, so I will respond to those that were...

Seanad: Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (31 May 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: As regards cohort 7, there was a question about whether we need better patient records. We do, absolutely. This was shown clearly for cohorts 4 and 7 in particular. It is a priority and this week we plan to vaccinate approximately 30,000 people in that cohort. I will make two final comments.

Seanad: Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (31 May 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: That is not one of the two. I am sorry, but I will give the Senator the figures afterwards. I have very good news about pharmacies. The role of pharmacies and pharmacists is something I have been pushing from day one. I have engaged with the HSE every week about it. Pharmacists will be playing a role very soon, in early June. That is the update as of a few hours ago. Where that is...

Health and Criminal Justice (Covid-19) (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (Resumed) (27 May 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Ceann Comhairle. It is not a point of order. If that is incorrect, and if there were such a motion tabled to annul a specific regulation-----

Health and Criminal Justice (Covid-19) (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (Resumed) (27 May 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: -----I am more than happy to accept that with no problem whatsoever. However, I would point out that we all listened to the diatribe, quite frankly, from Deputy Mattie McGrath but we listened nonetheless. We did not keep jumping up like a jack-in-the-box and interrupting him. We do afford each other the space to make our points. Deputy Mattie McGrath might consider the same. We have...