Results 421-440 of 459 for speaker:Phil Prendergast

Seanad: Merits of Farmers' Markets: Statements (6 Dec 2007)

Phil Prendergast: ——but I would not do that. Farmers' markets have a great potential to bring life and vibrancy into communities and that is reflected in many ways. They provide spin-offs to other commercial activities such as restaurants and pubs and preserve money in the local economy. That is welcome but I would not like farmers' markets to be limited to selling only organic produce because the...

Seanad: Merits of Farmers' Markets: Statements (6 Dec 2007)

Phil Prendergast: There are no risks from non-organic food, and perhaps only marginal benefits, if the proper procedures are followed. If research should establish, and it has not yet been done, that there is a more beneficial nutrient in organic carrots than in regular carrots, for example, what will we do? Everyone does not eat the same amount of carrots and therefore quantity of intake is also a factor....

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Nov 2007)

Phil Prendergast: My question concerns the interdepartmental committee report which examined the funding of long-term residential care for older people; it relates to the fair deal scheme. Will it be a requirement for nursing homes to be approved by the Health Information and Quality Authority's independent nursing home inspectorate to come under the auspices of the fair deal scheme? I am concerned that if...

Seanad: Cancer Services: Statements (20 Nov 2007)

Phil Prendergast: I thank the Minister, but I take exception to Senator O'Malley's comments. I have worked on the frontline of the health service for the past 23 years and was given this brief by my colleagues in the Labour Party. Their not being present does not mean they are not interested. They are interested, but they are busy.

Seanad: Cancer Services: Statements (20 Nov 2007)

Phil Prendergast: I referred to breast screening and asked whether it would be extended to over 65 year olds and when it would be rolled out fully, which are important matters. The Minister answered Senator Feeney's question on the under 40 year olds. Generally speaking, those women are in tune with their bodies and good at noticing changes. Will the 23 medical oncologists be sufficient to provide the...

Seanad: Cancer Services: Statements (20 Nov 2007)

Phil Prendergast: How much is being invested in cancer control? Of the additional €20.5 million, what is the total spend on cancer control? How much of the total spend on health services, some €12 billion, comprises salaries? I agree with the Minister's point on hospital visiting hours and people's tendency to overstay. There is a poor public understanding that many hospital patients are sick with...

Seanad: Cancer Services: Statements (20 Nov 2007)

Phil Prendergast: I wish to share time with Senator Norris, by agreement. I thank the Minister for coming to the Chamber where I see her frequently. What is the current investment in cancer control services? In response to a parliamentary question last year, the Minister said that an additional €20.5 million had been identified to implement the new cancer strategy. How much in total has been spent to...

Seanad: Voluntary Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Nov 2007)

Phil Prendergast: Under the Bill, as drafted, responsibility for deciding the date for the VHI to have full capital reserves rests with the Minister. The Minister could impose a date for implementation of the requirement which could cause problems for the VHI. Our amendment would ensure that the date chosen would have to be approved by both Houses prior to its coming into effect. Perhaps the Minister might...

Seanad: Voluntary Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Nov 2007)

Phil Prendergast: I move amendment No. 15: In page 4, paragraph (b)(i), line 44, after "facilities" to insert the following: "(not including facilities which are co-located on the premises of public hospitals)". We are opposed to the Government's policy of co-location and the purpose of this amendment is to ensure the VHI does not become involved in running private health care facilities on the premises of...

Seanad: Voluntary Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Nov 2007)

Phil Prendergast: I will agree to differ with the Minister.

Seanad: Voluntary Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Nov 2007)

Phil Prendergast: I move amendment No. 1 to amendment No. 26: In subsection (3), to delete all words from and including "the" in the third line down to and including " 2001." in the sixth line and substitute the following: "the Redundancy Payments Acts 1967 to 2007, the Protection of Employees (Part-Time Work) Act 2001, the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997, the Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Acts...

Seanad: Voluntary Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Nov 2007)

Phil Prendergast: I will not move amendment No 30 on the basis that the Minister has addressed the issue in amendment No. 29.

Seanad: Voluntary Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Nov 2007)

Phil Prendergast: I move amendment No. 34: In page 6, before section 8, to insert the following new section: 8.—Any order or regulation made pursuant to the Voluntary Health Insurance Acts 1957 to 2007 shall be laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas as soon as may be after it is made, and, if a resolution annulling the order or regulation is passed by either such House within the next twenty-one days on...

Seanad: Voluntary Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Nov 2007)

Phil Prendergast: I feel it will come back through one of the Houses. I am happy to agree to differ again.

Seanad: Voluntary Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Nov 2007)

Phil Prendergast: Women power.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Nov 2007)

Phil Prendergast: I concur with Senator Fitzgerald and Senator Hannigan on the pre-budget carer submission, the launch of which I attended. The fact that 3.5 million hours are contributed each week by carers in their own homes should also be taken into account in any debate on the matter.

Seanad: Pension Provision: Motion (Resumed) (14 Nov 2007)

Phil Prendergast: As spokesperson for older people I welcome the opportunity to take part in this debate. I welcome the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Deputy Cullen, to the House. I greatly acknowledge the major contribution older people have made to our economic success and continued prosperity. We have an ageing population which, I am glad to say, is living longer and in a healthier condition...

Seanad: Pension Provision: Motion (14 Nov 2007)

Phil Prendergast: That age is beginning to draw near.

Seanad: Community Child Care Subvention Scheme 2008-2010: Statements (Resumed) (14 Nov 2007)

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

Seanad: Community Child Care Subvention Scheme 2008-2010: Statements (Resumed) (14 Nov 2007)

Phil Prendergast: I welcome the Minister of State. There is no doubt that the Government's planned changes to the subsidies paid to certain child care facilities will cause immense problems for working parents. Single parents will be pushed out of the workforce and working couples on lower incomes will struggle to meet the full commercial charges of child care facilities. Anyone working part-time or in...