Results 42,161-42,180 of 49,836 for speaker:Stephen Donnelly

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Working Group on Access to Contraception: Discussion (27 Nov 2019)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank all the witnesses and their colleagues for coming here today, and for their work. Clearly, a lot of work has gone into this comprehensive report. It provides an excellent opportunity to debate the issues and various trade-offs. There is a load of detail that I would love to get into with the witnesses. However, the question that people around Ireland and members of the public...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Working Group on Access to Contraception: Discussion (27 Nov 2019)

Stephen Donnelly: Has the Department a forecast date for when the public will see a difference?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Working Group on Access to Contraception: Discussion (27 Nov 2019)

Stephen Donnelly: My following comment is not directed at Mr. Conlon, as he is not to blame, but what he has told us is very disappointing. Many committee members support the idea that if free abortion services are going to be provided, contraception must be provided free. It would be a perverse situation whereby women had to pay for contraception but not abortion in the case of a fatal foetal abnormality,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Working Group on Access to Contraception: Discussion (27 Nov 2019)

Stephen Donnelly: That was my input. That was not my question. Mr. Conlon had looked for some input so that is my input.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Working Group on Access to Contraception: Discussion (27 Nov 2019)

Stephen Donnelly: So something is happening.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Working Group on Access to Contraception: Discussion (27 Nov 2019)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank Dr. Short. I have three more questions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Working Group on Access to Contraception: Discussion (27 Nov 2019)

Stephen Donnelly: Should pharmacists be allowed to prescribe the pill? Given that we are in a world of finite resources, and considering affordability, what is the first action that should be taken? Is there a target group that, for a relatively affordable amount, should have certain contraception made available that we could do very quickly? Could we get to the highest need people quickly for a fraction of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Working Group on Access to Contraception: Discussion (27 Nov 2019)

Stephen Donnelly: Is that a "Yes", "No", or "Maybe"?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Working Group on Access to Contraception: Discussion (27 Nov 2019)

Stephen Donnelly: So it is a "Maybe". It is not a clear "Yes" or "No". Is that what Mr. Conlon is saying?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Construction of National Children's Hospital: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (27 Nov 2019)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the witnesses for their time and for the presentation. I congratulate Mr. Gunning on the tough role he has taken up. There is a lot of heat attached to it and a lot of people are watching. I genuinely wish him the very best. I ask him to excuse the directness of the question, as it is relevant to his role and to this hospital. When he outlined his experience I did not see any...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Construction of National Children's Hospital: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (27 Nov 2019)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank Mr. Gunning. I would like to move onto the issue of costs, which has obviously been one of the big issues with this project. Just last night I received a response to a parliamentary question from the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris. I had asked for an update on the potential future overruns. This project started at €650 million and it has now reached €1.733...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Construction of National Children's Hospital: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (27 Nov 2019)

Stephen Donnelly: Let us just probe this matter.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Construction of National Children's Hospital: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (27 Nov 2019)

Stephen Donnelly: Mr. Barry has given that response before. If I were on his side of the table I would have a better understanding of what the potential inflation exposure is. My understanding would be better than the people on this side of the table because I would have a very detailed model, which would calculate, for likely and unlikely levels of inflation, what my total exposure was because I have done...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Construction of National Children's Hospital: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (27 Nov 2019)

Stephen Donnelly: I certainly do not. In my old career, I would have been able to give those numbers.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Construction of National Children's Hospital: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (27 Nov 2019)

Stephen Donnelly: Is Mr. Barry honestly telling us that since the PwC report, the Department has done no further financial analysis on the likely financial exposure of the State and taxpayers to construction inflation on this project?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Construction of National Children's Hospital: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (27 Nov 2019)

Stephen Donnelly: What range did PwC give in cash terms?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Construction of National Children's Hospital: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (27 Nov 2019)

Stephen Donnelly: In the interest of time I suggest that we come back to the answer. I have questions on contractor claims.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Construction of National Children's Hospital: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (27 Nov 2019)

Stephen Donnelly: Does Mr. Barry have a range? I appreciate that the board is working very hard to minimise these claims, as it should. Does he have a provisional sum against the amount the board has budgeted for that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Construction of National Children's Hospital: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (27 Nov 2019)

Stephen Donnelly: Is Mr. Barry in a position to share the figure for the total quantum of claims or is that commercially sensitive?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Construction of National Children's Hospital: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (27 Nov 2019)

Stephen Donnelly: I have three questions on regulations, taxes and statutory issues.