Results 40,221-40,240 of 49,836 for speaker:Stephen Donnelly

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: State Response to Recent Spike in Covid-19 Cases (Resumed) (26 Aug 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: I will finish on this. If I conclude that in either case - Kilbrew or Dealgan House - the very reasonable questions of the families have not been answered, we will take further steps.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: State Response to Recent Spike in Covid-19 Cases (Resumed) (26 Aug 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: On the issue of comparisons of risk, during a conversation about getting schools open, I made a comment about our need to manage risk. I believe one of the examples I used caused a great deal of genuine hurt, anxiety and concern. It was in my head, as it happens, because it was how one of my kids had recently broken an arm. I was not for a moment suggesting that the risks were at all...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: State Response to Recent Spike in Covid-19 Cases (Resumed) (26 Aug 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: While I do not want to take from Deputy Lawless's time, I have an answer to the earlier question on the flu vaccine delay, which is two weeks. We are pretty much still on target, but there is a two-week delay. As Deputy Lawless knows, NPHET is meeting tomorrow. I have explicitly asked the team to look at the profile of what is happening in Kildare and if there is a public health case to...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: State Response to Recent Spike in Covid-19 Cases (Resumed) (26 Aug 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: The Chairman is absolutely right that I have mentioned a tipping point several times. It is not me making that up. I am saying it because that is NPHET's position. It is natural that we all become fatigued with this. People have been through an awful lot. The reason I am emphasising and re-emphasising it is that we need to be on our guard. In terms of the Chairman's question about...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: State Response to Recent Spike in Covid-19 Cases (Resumed) (26 Aug 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: Of course I do understand the implications, which is why I keep saying it. It is why we brought in the measures last week, because we must suppress the virus in our community. A huge national priority has been getting the schools open for many of the reasons the Chair gives. That is now happening because the transmission has been reduced. I think the Chair's question is fair. The number...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: State Response to Recent Spike in Covid-19 Cases (Resumed) (26 Aug 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: We do. There was a study done estimating that the total number is about 40,000 to 50,000 versus the 27,000 or 28,000 we have detected.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: State Response to Recent Spike in Covid-19 Cases (Resumed) (26 Aug 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: The one the experts talk to me about indicated that we have detected probably a bit over half of the total cases. Returning to the figure they use, we were at three per 100,000 a while ago. Two weeks ago we were at 18 per 100,000 and today we are at 30 per 100,000. Let us be very clear that this virus is rising again quickly in our community. The Chair has very fairly asked how that is...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: State Response to Recent Spike in Covid-19 Cases (Resumed) (26 Aug 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: With the greatest of respect, the situation in North America is not one we need to be looking at to learn lessons.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: State Response to Recent Spike in Covid-19 Cases (Resumed) (26 Aug 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: I am not suggesting that.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: State Response to Recent Spike in Covid-19 Cases (Resumed) (26 Aug 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: I appreciate that. I refer the Chairman to the profile that happened here in March and April. If we were back in March and April, we could well be having exactly this conversation. The Chairman could be saying that case numbers are increasing but hospitalisations have not happened at a big level and, therefore, asking whether we need a lockdown to flatten the curve. As we all know, we...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: State Response to Recent Spike in Covid-19 Cases (Resumed) (26 Aug 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Chairman.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: State Response to Recent Spike in Covid-19 Cases (Resumed) (26 Aug 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: I accept that and I accept the Chairman's view. We are in a world where there are no easy answers. We are dealing with a global pandemic and a highly effective, vicious virus that we know kills people. There is emerging evidence as to the some of the longer-term health impacts for people who do not die.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: State Response to Recent Spike in Covid-19 Cases (Resumed) (26 Aug 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: By definition, we do not. The virus has not been here long enough to be able to answer that.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: State Response to Recent Spike in Covid-19 Cases (Resumed) (26 Aug 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: There are sobering case studies, which medical experts are examining, relating to long-term issues, including respiratory issues. We do not know the long-term effects. Doctors and scientists do not know if there are subtle, longer term health complications among people who get this virus. They will not know for a while by definition. However, they point to other diseases which have...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: State Response to Recent Spike in Covid-19 Cases (Resumed) (26 Aug 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: I will get more detail in writing but, in short, the Department of Health procured the contract.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: State Response to Recent Spike in Covid-19 Cases (Resumed) (26 Aug 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: No, with a private firm to do the work. The DAA was originally looking at it but my Department has taken it over and procured the contract.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (30 Jul 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1058, 1059 and 1289 together. There has been ongoing and regular contact at Ministerial level with Northern Ireland throughout this pandemic in relation to how each health system is implementing various public health responses. A Memorandum of Understanding was formally agreed between the respective health services in April. The MOU focuses on...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Carers' Strategy (30 Jul 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: My Department is responsible for coordinating the cross-departmental 2012 National Carers’ Strategy, which sets the strategic direction for future policies, services and supports provided by Government Departments and agencies for family carers. The Strategy contains actions to recognise, support and empower carers to manage their physical, mental and emotional health and wellbeing...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (30 Jul 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (30 Jul 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly in relation to this matter.