Results 5,781-5,800 of 7,604 for speaker:James Bannon

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (9 Mar 2005)

James Bannon: Is the Senator worrying under Fianna Fáil?

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (9 Mar 2005)

James Bannon: He is not here to hear Senator White's contribution.

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (9 Mar 2005)

James Bannon: The Senator's contribution is very important and the senior Minister should be in the House to hear it.

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (9 Mar 2005)

James Bannon: Has the Senator passed details of them on to the Minister?

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (9 Mar 2005)

James Bannon: The Senator is still shy.

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (9 Mar 2005)

James Bannon: How many incompetent Ministers have we had over the last seven years who ignored the problem? Had it not been for Deputies Perry and Kenny, this would never have been brought to public knowledge.

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (9 Mar 2005)

James Bannon: The Senator should get her facts right before she puts matters on the record.

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (9 Mar 2005)

James Bannon: Let us sack the Minister and bring in the young Senator.

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (9 Mar 2005)

James Bannon: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy de Valera, to the House. When this Bill was debated in the Dáil this morning, the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children did not turn up. I am disappointed that she has not turned up to this debate this evening either.

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (9 Mar 2005)

James Bannon: I acknowledge the presence of the Minister of State. Since the current Minister for Health and Children took up her portfolio, the inadequacies in the health service have become more obvious. Cutbacks, nursing home nightmares, medical card disasters and waiting lists are all more prevalent. I support the comments of my colleague, Senator Browne, on this Bill. It is a desperate attempt by the...

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (9 Mar 2005)

James Bannon: There are critical questions to be asked about the former Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Martin, and his knowledge of the legality of charges on public nursing home patients. On several occasions, Senator Dardis stated that the issue was brought to the notice of the Minister's civil servants. He acknowledged the statements by the late John Boland at an early stage.

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (9 Mar 2005)

James Bannon: From the report, it is clear that on a number of occasions, the former Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Martin, might have been briefed on the legal doubts about these charges. In December 2000, a political decision was made to introduce automatic medical cards for people over 70. According to the Comptroller and Auditor General, a decision was communicated to the Department of Health...

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (9 Mar 2005)

James Bannon: Rather than dwell on this ground which was comprehensively covered by Senator Browne, I would like to look at the broader ills of the health service which the Tánaiste has failed to address. In my own area of Longford-Westmeath——

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (9 Mar 2005)

James Bannon: This is relevant to the Bill and I will explain why. The official announcement of the closure of the ear, nose and throat clinic for the Longford-Westmeath area was made only three days ago. This was flagged in the Hanly report and in several statements by the Minister.

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (9 Mar 2005)

James Bannon: Provision is made in this Bill for the reduction in travelling costs for carers and home help. This is particularly evident in one section of this Bill. No Member has highlighted this so I would like to do so. The current Minister has run around the country delivering whitewash, yet has done very little for the health services in the midland region.

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (9 Mar 2005)

James Bannon: She can mop it up any way she likes.

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (9 Mar 2005)

James Bannon: Senator Dardis can package it any way he likes for the Minister, but she has failed to deliver. That we have a new Bill before us today represents negligence on the part of the Minister. I would like Senators to acknowledge that. On several occasions the Minister was told——

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (9 Mar 2005)

James Bannon: In November 2001, the then Minister for Health and Children published his long awaited health strategy amid great fanfare. I was a member of the Midland Health Board and I refused to attend the launch because of the waste of money the event represented.

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (9 Mar 2005)

James Bannon: The strategy promised new legislation to provide for clear statutory provisions on entitlements. The promised legislation was supposed to provide a clear framework for the financing of long-stay care for older people. In preparing that health strategy, was the issue raised of the legality of charges for long-stay patients? The 2002 annual report of the Ombudsman stated clearly that a patient...

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (9 Mar 2005)

James Bannon: Two minutes?