Results 3,741-3,760 of 3,998 for speaker:Michael Harty

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Civil Liability (Amendment) Bill 2015: Discussion (8 Dec 2016)

Michael Harty: I thank Mr. Breen. On behalf of members, I thank the State Claims Agency representatives, Mr. Ciarán Breen and Ms Catherine Tarrant, and the Irish Patients Association representatives, Ms Margaret Murphy, Mr. Stephen McMahon and Mr. Mark Molloy, for coming to the committee to give evidence.

Medical Practitioners (Amendment) Bill 2014 [Seanad]: Second Stage (6 Dec 2016)

Michael Harty: At the outset I wish to declare that I am a registered general practitioner. When I started in general practice many years ago my medical indemnity insurance was £40 but now it is €14,000, which will give Members an idea of the increase over the years. It is essential that a general practitioner, or any doctor practising in a specialty, has medical indemnity insurance and,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Fisheries Protection (6 Dec 2016)

Michael Harty: 423. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will alleviate the concerns of west Clare anglers who are of the view that County Clare is the only coastal county in which salmon rivers are still closed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38652/16]

Cannabis for Medicinal Use (Regulations) Bill 2016: Second Stage [Private Members] (1 Dec 2016)

Michael Harty: I am in a difficult position because I fully support legalising medicinal cannabis as a medical product and I believe it is important that the Dáil gets this legislation right. Unfortunately, however, I oppose the Bill. Cannabis-based products, as outlined in the Bill, are products which contain any quantity of cannabis that can be sold in wholesale or retail outlets and be imported...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injecting Facilities) Bill 2016: Discussion (30 Nov 2016)

Michael Harty: I thank Mr. Tony Duffin, Mr. Mark Kennedy and Professor Gerard Bury for coming before the joint committee to give evidence. I also welcome those in the Visitors Gallery and those watching on the live stream. The purpose of the meeting is to engage in pre-legislative scrutiny of the general scheme of the Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injecting Facilities) Bill 2016. There will be two...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injecting Facilities) Bill 2016: Discussion (30 Nov 2016)

Michael Harty: I ask Professor Gerry Bury to make his opening statement.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injecting Facilities) Bill 2016: Discussion (30 Nov 2016)

Michael Harty: I thank Professor Bury. We will now allow Deputies and Senators to ask questions of our witnesses.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injecting Facilities) Bill 2016: Discussion (30 Nov 2016)

Michael Harty: On the international experience, how many lives are saved by offering this service? I know nobody dies in the service but how many are saved by providing the service? Are there any figures on that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injecting Facilities) Bill 2016: Discussion (30 Nov 2016)

Michael Harty: The 203 deaths in one year is a frightening figure. Did those deaths occur on the street? Professor Bury is suggesting they are not properly investigated and that there is not a proper assessment of the deaths as a learning process.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injecting Facilities) Bill 2016: Discussion (30 Nov 2016)

Michael Harty: So that everyone gets an opportunity to come in, I will take three people in the next session: Deputy Durkan, Senator Colm Burke and Senator Ó Ríordáin.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injecting Facilities) Bill 2016: Discussion (30 Nov 2016)

Michael Harty: I suggest in the interest of time and as another group is due to join us that Deputy O'Connell makes her contribution and then witnesses can make their final comments.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injecting Facilities) Bill 2016: Discussion (30 Nov 2016)

Michael Harty: Following Mr. Duffin, Professor Bury will make some final remarks and we will conclude this session.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injecting Facilities) Bill 2016: Discussion (30 Nov 2016)

Michael Harty: I thank Professor Bury, Mr. Duffin and Mr. Kennedy for coming in and giving us the human face that lies behind the injecting centre. It is extremely important that we understand the depth of the problem and at least try to address the solutions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injecting Facilities) Bill 2016: Discussion (30 Nov 2016)

Michael Harty: We are meeting with representatives from An Garda Síochána and the HSE and officials from the Department of Health concerning pre-legislative scrutiny on the general scheme of the Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injecting Facilities) Bill 2016. On behalf of the committee, I welcome the delegation from An Garda Síochána - Mr. John O'Driscoll, assistant commissioner, special...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injecting Facilities) Bill 2016: Discussion (30 Nov 2016)

Michael Harty: I thank Mr Lennon. I invite Assistant Commissioner John O'Driscoll to make his opening statement.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injecting Facilities) Bill 2016: Discussion (30 Nov 2016)

Michael Harty: How will the facilities be policed? During the last session much anxiety was expressed about how a user would gain access to or leave a centre while in possession of drugs and yet not be arrested. How will that be dealt with in the policing of the centres?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injecting Facilities) Bill 2016: Discussion (30 Nov 2016)

Michael Harty: Yes. During the previous session Professor Bury suggested that this legislation should be in place to protect and respect the user in their mental and physical health difficulties and in their addiction. That seems to be the sentiment of the Bill, that it is there to protect them and to facilitate their coping with their illness as opposed to prosecuting or seeing that they stand outside...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injecting Facilities) Bill 2016: Discussion (30 Nov 2016)

Michael Harty: I thank the Assistant Commission. I ask Deputy Durkan to submit his questions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injecting Facilities) Bill 2016: Discussion (30 Nov 2016)

Michael Harty: I will call the speakers in groups of three because of the time constraints. The next speaker is Senator Lynn Ruane.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injecting Facilities) Bill 2016: Discussion (30 Nov 2016)

Michael Harty: I thank the Deputy for that. I call Senator Ó Ríordáin.