Results 3,321-3,340 of 4,810 for speaker:Liam Twomey

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Dec 2007)

Liam Twomey: They have been extraordinarily rendered into government.

Seanad: Appropriation Bill 2007: Second Stage (20 Dec 2007)

Liam Twomey: I do not want to kill the Christmas cheer but whoever is working in the department of spin is doing a good job in getting out the message that everything is perfect. The Minister of State referred to unified budgets and the announcement of spending and revenue, which is no harm. He stated also that the latest indication was that overall spending for 2007 will be within budget. That is an...

Seanad: Appropriation Bill 2007: Second Stage (20 Dec 2007)

Liam Twomey: It was made after the report was written. They decided it was beneath them to present themselves to committee. I ask the Minister of State to get back to them and get them to change their mind in that regard. I do not know from where the Minister got this information but he stated that as regards health, waiting times for common procedures have been reduced to between two and five months.

Seanad: Appropriation Bill 2007: Second Stage (20 Dec 2007)

Liam Twomey: In no cases, or perhaps in emergencies. If one needs an appendix operation it will be done within two to five months but normal procedures will not be done within two to five months. One cannot even get an outpatient appointment to see a consultant within two to five months. For an ear, nose and throat or orthopaedic appointment, the waiting time remains two to five years. What the...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Dec 2007)

Liam Twomey: Chocolates?

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Dec 2007)

Liam Twomey: Senator Regan is upsetting Senator Ormonde.

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Second Stage (19 Dec 2007)

Liam Twomey: The Minister was dazzled by the lights of the ministerial Merc.

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Second Stage (19 Dec 2007)

Liam Twomey: He selected 55.

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Second Stage (19 Dec 2007)

Liam Twomey: Did the surgeon there not also write to the Department?

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Second Stage (19 Dec 2007)

Liam Twomey: That is not what we are suggesting. Is the Minister going to build a private hospital for consultants?

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Second Stage (19 Dec 2007)

Liam Twomey: The Minister is not thinking of the patients.

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Second Stage (19 Dec 2007)

Liam Twomey: This is how we should debate and the Minister is making up her response as she goes along.

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Second Stage (19 Dec 2007)

Liam Twomey: That is the system the Minister is trying to create.

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Second Stage (19 Dec 2007)

Liam Twomey: I tend to them in the same building; I do not send private patients to one end and public patients to another.

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Second Stage (19 Dec 2007)

Liam Twomey: I do not have a contract that sees me discriminate against patients.

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Second Stage (19 Dec 2007)

Liam Twomey: It is a major change in policy for the Green Party to support co-location in such clear terms. If one strips away the issue of co-location and the changes to the Medical Practitioners Act 2007, the legislation contains very little. A constitutional issue arose and the Minister was obliged to introduce the Bill to deal with it. I would love to know what happened between the National...

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Second Stage (19 Dec 2007)

Liam Twomey: I do not believe grassroots Fianna Fáil supporters want the health care system to be based on the making of a distinction between those who have money and those who do not. Fianna Fáil has always prided itself on the idea that all people should be treated equally. It has never before subscribed to an ethos of discriminating between poor people with low incomes and wealthy people. It has...

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Second Stage (19 Dec 2007)

Liam Twomey: One would never know. One might be surprised. I have had a long career.

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Second Stage (19 Dec 2007)

Liam Twomey: That is right. I might be in trouble if the Minister got to them before I had a chance to do so.

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Second Stage (19 Dec 2007)

Liam Twomey: The most important aspect of the Medical Practitioners Act 2007 is the provision relating to competence assurance, as it will change the way doctors and patients interact within the Irish health service. That is what the Minister should be talking about. It is rubbish to talk about introducing competence assurance on a phased basis because it will not protect patients. I will speak about...