Results 4,561-4,580 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Testing and Tracing (25 Jun 2020)

Fergus O'Dowd: Should it not be mandatory?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Testing and Tracing (25 Jun 2020)

Fergus O'Dowd: Does Dr. Henry have a view on it?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Special Needs Education: Impact of Covid-19 (25 Jun 2020)

Fergus O'Dowd: I have met representatives from Inclusion Ireland before at a number of fora. Is there a case for a national forum for itself, along with organisations such as Down Syndrome Ireland, whereby they could be statutory consultees on major policy issues like this?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Special Needs Education: Impact of Covid-19 (25 Jun 2020)

Fergus O'Dowd: Taking on board what Mr. O'Connor said on acknowledging everybody's role, perhaps this committee will have an opportunity to make recommendations as to the future of services. Perhaps we could all think a bit more about future plans or things we ought to include. Some of the criticisms made could have been avoided if a forum and statutory consultation were in place. I am aware that one...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Special Needs Education: Impact of Covid-19 (25 Jun 2020)

Fergus O'Dowd: They do not have it at all.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Special Needs Education: Impact of Covid-19 (25 Jun 2020)

Fergus O'Dowd: I will finish on this. Basically, if a family does not have transport, as is the case for the family to which I referred, the Department should meet the cost in advance and make those arrangements. It is entirely unfair and unacceptable for a child with significant disabilities, as in the case I have mentioned, to be placed at further disadvantage as a result of being offered a place which...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Childcare: Impact of Covid-19 (Resumed) (23 Jun 2020)

Fergus O'Dowd: On the last issue, it is my strong view that the Department and Minister should be retained. It is abundantly clear from the structural issues in services highlighted today that that is where we need to go. In the programme for Government, I understand there is a new care provision to ensure proper and adequate care. In my mind the real crisis of Covid-19 is that the oldest and youngest in...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Congregated Settings: Nursing Homes (Resumed) (18 Jun 2020)

Fergus O'Dowd: We need a national day of mourning and remembrance to remember all who have passed away, particularly the elderly in nursing homes. Many people were very worried and concerned about how their family members died. They did not see them when they were dying and, in some cases, they did not even know they were ill. They never got to see them when they died. Their friends could not comfort or...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Congregated Settings: Nursing Homes (Resumed) (18 Jun 2020)

Fergus O'Dowd: With respect to information available, 52 were non-compliant. This meant a rate of 22%.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Congregated Settings: Nursing Homes (Resumed) (18 Jun 2020)

Fergus O'Dowd: Will Mr. Breslin revert to us, through our secretariat, with up-to-date figures for 2020? I have asked for them and would appreciate it if they were made available to us. A key point is that if a nursing home does not meet infection control standards for Covid-19, it should not have patients at all because it is not fit for purpose. My second question concerns the ratio of nurses and...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Congregated Settings: Nursing Homes (Resumed) (18 Jun 2020)

Fergus O'Dowd: With respect, there is no definitive percentage or ratio-----

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Congregated Settings: Nursing Homes (Resumed) (18 Jun 2020)

Fergus O'Dowd: I would like to develop this point further with Mr. Breslin but, because of time constraints, I ask that he communicate with the committee on it.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Congregated Settings: Nursing Homes (Resumed) (18 Jun 2020)

Fergus O'Dowd: I would like to see more defined and absolute criteria, which are not there right now. My next question is on a separate area. I welcome all the work the Department and HSE have done in providing personal protective equipment to staff. As I understand it, €27 million worth of PPE has been provided by the HSE, since the first delivery on 1 March, to private and other nursing homes....

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Congregated Settings: Nursing Homes (Resumed) (18 Jun 2020)

Fergus O'Dowd: With respect, I am under time constraints. Will Mr. Reid say how much the private nursing homes have paid towards that spend?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Congregated Settings: Nursing Homes (Resumed) (18 Jun 2020)

Fergus O'Dowd: By how much have private nursing homes recompensed the taxpayer for that spend?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Congregated Settings: Nursing Homes (Resumed) (18 Jun 2020)

Fergus O'Dowd: The private nursing homes have not given any recompense. Have they been asked to do so?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Congregated Settings: Nursing Homes (Resumed) (18 Jun 2020)

Fergus O'Dowd: Fine. I will move on to my next question, to which I would like a quick "Yes" or "No" answer. The HSE provided 322 staff to private nursing homes, which is fantastic and welcome. Have the private nursing homes hired any additional staff that the HSE is aware of as a result of the crisis? I only have two minutes left so I ask for a quick answer because I have one other very important...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Congregated Settings: Nursing Homes (Resumed) (18 Jun 2020)

Fergus O'Dowd: My final question concerns a very important issue that was brought to my attention yesterday relating to dentists and the provision of PPE. The witnesses may not have the necessary information to answer it but I will put it to them. A dental practice in County Louth has sent a text to all its medical card patients informing them that, from receipt of that text, it will no longer provide...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Congregated Settings: Nursing Homes (Resumed) (18 Jun 2020)

Fergus O'Dowd: It is about PPE.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Congregated Settings: Nursing Homes (Resumed) (18 Jun 2020)

Fergus O'Dowd: As I said, the witnesses may know about it. I am asking if they are aware of dentists-----