Results 361-380 of 459 for speaker:Phil Prendergast

Seanad: Order of Business (20 May 2008)

Phil Prendergast: I ask the Leader to invite the Minister to the House to discuss the awarding of contracts by the HSE to companies involved in very serious fraud in the US. My worry concerns Quest Diagnostics last week and the dialysis unit for Fresenius this week. This matter has serious implications for how we do our business. I ask that this be debated urgently.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (13 May 2008)

Phil Prendergast: Will the Leader again arrange for the Minister for Health and Children to come to the House, this time to discuss funding for the Health Service Executive, particularly for cancer care services? That €3 million has been allocated in the Vote but not spent on these vital services is a sad reflection on the commitment made in respect thereof. This needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 May 2008)

Phil Prendergast: Yesterday, I raised the issue of funding for the Arts Council. I wish the new Minister well and point out to him that the budget falls far short of the €100 million which the council needs to do its job. The 3% increase received was paltry and is less than inflation. I support the call made by my colleagues yesterday to be provided with a break-down of the responsibilities of the HSE....

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (7 May 2008)

Phil Prendergast: Last week I spoke about the dispute involving the Psychiatric Nurses Association and I am very disappointed that the HSE has not made any meaningful attempt to address the substantive issues. Claims to the Personal Injuries Assessment Board are assessed on the basis of societal norms, but the compensation scheme offered to psychiatric nurses represents just 12%-15% of that norm. The nurses...

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2008: Second Stage. (30 Apr 2008)

Phil Prendergast: Absolutely.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2008: Second Stage. (30 Apr 2008)

Phil Prendergast: In 1997 we saw the introduction of the Freedom of Information Act which obliges public bodies such as Departments, the HSE and local authorities, among others, to publish information on their activities and to make personal information that is held available to citizens. The Act also provides for assisting members of the public in "obtaining access to the greatest extent possible" to...

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Apr 2008)

Phil Prendergast: I wish to ask the Deputy Leader to consider the very serious issue of assaults on psychiatric nurses. In 1993 three nurses were stabbed in Artane and one of them has not worked since. They were not paid compensation and, after a long and arduous process, the HSE eventually decided to create a scheme for nurses that would provide a degree of compensation for injuries and assaults causing...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Apr 2008)

Phil Prendergast: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Patient Safety: Statements (Resumed) (22 Apr 2008)

Phil Prendergast: I thank the Minister.

Seanad: Patient Safety: Statements (22 Apr 2008)

Phil Prendergast: What if one is the 100th patient?

Seanad: Patient Safety: Statements (22 Apr 2008)

Phil Prendergast: My questions relate to specific issues. In response to a question last year on the ambulance service in Carrick-on-Suir, I was told a review of the service would be completed last September or October. What is the status of this review? I also await a satisfactory response to my question about the future of maternity and gynaecological services at South Tipperary General Hospital. In...

Seanad: Patient Safety: Statements (22 Apr 2008)

Phil Prendergast: I extend a warm welcome to the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney. Health remains and will continue to be the single most important issue for many families. As we get older we become all too aware of our increased need for involvement with the health service in acute hospital settings and in long-term nursing care. Above all, we need to know that when we engage with the...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Apr 2008)

Phil Prendergast: I join with other speakers in asking the Minister for Health and Children to attend this Chamber. I met a former colleague the other day who was talking about attending a meeting on a summer bed cutting programme — and she was not referring to gardening. Unfortunately, she was talking about the closure of gynaecological beds during the summer period, when people might plan to undergo...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Mar 2008)

Phil Prendergast: I would like to have a debate on water charges in schools. We need an increase in the capitation grant. I will save my points on this for the debate. I ask the Minister to be involved in a debate about autistic services. For children diagnosed on the autistic spectrum and where there are insufficient places, this is a major issue that needs to be debated further in this House.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Mar 2008)

Phil Prendergast: I would like the Leader to arrange a debate on the availability of adolescent psychiatric beds. I am concerned about the escalation in the suicide rate, particularly among young men. The lack of availability of such beds in all parts of the country is contributing to that unfortunate increase in no small way. Suicide is often an under-reported phenomenon in this country. The waiting list...

Seanad: Protection of Employees (Agency Workers) (12 Mar 2008)

Phil Prendergast: I wish to share my time with Senator Alex White.

Seanad: Protection of Employees (Agency Workers) (12 Mar 2008)

Phil Prendergast: This Bill will go some way to address workers' concerns in regard to displacement in particular industries. We are all aware of the changes in the construction industry. Under this Bill, employers would not be able to discriminate against workers and would have to give them proper pay and conditions. A Pakistani worker who had to work 60 hours per week and was paid €50 per week by a...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Mar 2008)

Phil Prendergast: I ask that the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, attend this House to discuss the issue of maternity services. A review was to be completed last year in the Dublin area. In that area last year there were 8,504 deliveries for 15 delivery beds in the Coombe Hospital, there were 8,540 deliveries for ten delivery beds in Holles Street, there were 8,256 deliveries for nine beds in...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Mar 2008)

Phil Prendergast: I wish to apologise to the Minister and the House because I was at a meeting of the Joint Committee on Health and Children and I inadvertently did not get here in time. I also apologise to Senator McFadden for walking in front of her just now, which was unintended.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Mar 2008)

Phil Prendergast: I will resubmit my amendments on Report Stage and I will deal with them then, if that is okay.