Results 6,001-6,020 of 12,773 for speaker:Louise O'Reilly

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (22 Sep 2020)

Louise O'Reilly: 623. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if apprentices’ off-the-job training can be scheduled in a way that means they will be closer to home in view of Covid-19; and if not, if additional funding will be provided for their accommodation allowance. [25466/20]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drugs Payment Scheme (22 Sep 2020)

Louise O'Reilly: 828. To ask the Minister for Health when the planned reduction of the drugs payment scheme threshold will take place; the reason he has claimed that the achievement of this measure predicated on the achievement of corresponding savings in health in view of the fact it was announced in Budget 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25460/20]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (22 Sep 2020)

Louise O'Reilly: 829. To ask the Minister for Health if there are specific Covid-19 testing protocols for babies and toddlers; if so, the protocols; and if not, the reason therefor; and if protocols will be drawn up. [25467/20]

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Social Welfare Eligibility (17 Sep 2020)

Louise O'Reilly: Yesterday, the Minister stated on radio that "if people are entitled to benefits, they are entitled to them, and I want to make sure that they get them". The performance of Aer Lingus to date will not inspire the workers or give them much confidence that they will get their forms filled. I ask the Minister to issue an instruction to her officials to accept those forms, if they are filled...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Social Welfare Eligibility (17 Sep 2020)

Louise O'Reilly: There are three of us: me, Deputy O'Rourke and Deputy Kerrane. We will take one minute each, if the Acting Chairman is agreeable to that, followed by a response from the Minister and a further one minute each for the reply. Is that okay?

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Social Welfare Eligibility (17 Sep 2020)

Louise O'Reilly: I know the Minister is aware of the plight of Aer Lingus workers because I have written to her on the matter, as have my colleagues, but I wish to share with the Minister just some of the stories we are getting. I will not identify anyone. I received an email yesterday stating: My net pay for a fortnight after deductions this week came to €250. I have a mortgage and bills to pay...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Ministerial Meetings (17 Sep 2020)

Louise O'Reilly: 48. To ask the Minister for Trade, Enterprise and Employment the meetings held by him and or his officials from assistant principal level upwards with businesses and or banking representative groups and organisations since his appointment as Minister; the dates, attendees and matters that were discussed at each meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24597/20]

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Microfinance Loan Fund Scheme (17 Sep 2020)

Louise O'Reilly: 49. To ask the Minister for Trade, Enterprise and Employment the size of the MFI loan book; the State-wide breakdown of current creditors by county; and the number of creditors that have contacted the organisation expressing an inability to meet payments in October 2020. [24600/20]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Meetings (17 Sep 2020)

Louise O'Reilly: 201. To ask the Minister for Health the meetings held by his officials from assistant principal level upwards with representatives of the food industry in relation to the issue of adult or child obesity in Ireland from 2011 to 2016; the dates, attendees and matters that were discussed at each meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24596/20]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Legislative Measures (17 Sep 2020)

Louise O'Reilly: 218. To ask the Minister for Health the status of measures via amending legislation or statutory instrument to ban smoking in outdoor areas including in locations food is consumed; the person or body that would be responsible for the implementation and enforcement of such a measure; the location the jurisdiction of same lies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24681/20]

Protecting Jobs and Supporting Business: Statements (16 Sep 2020)

Louise O'Reilly: The Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent public health measures implemented to reduce the spread of this virus have created unprecedented challenges for small and medium enterprises, SMEs, microbusinesses and the workers that they employ. These public health measures have required businesses across several sectors to close or to implement physical distancing measures that have significantly...

Workers' Rights: Motion [Private Members] (16 Sep 2020)

Louise O'Reilly: I am looking at a letter that was sent to the Minister of State from Patricia King and is dated 31 August. It is addressed to the Minister of State with responsibility for business, employment and retail and to the Department of employment and enterprise. Are we not terribly lucky in that we would have had two Ministers to choose from? I fully respect that the schedule was changed but...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Final Report of Nursing Homes Expert Panel (16 Sep 2020)

Louise O'Reilly: I thank the expert panel for its report and the comprehensive way in which it has approached its work. I will pick up on a point briefly addressed by Professor Twomey concerning the impact on staff. I do not want to dwell too much on this issue, but we know that 56% of total deaths from Covid-19 in this State, thus far, have occurred in nursing homes. Workers in that area are not...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Final Report of Nursing Homes Expert Panel (16 Sep 2020)

Louise O'Reilly: I welcome the recommendation and that it has been made. To elaborate on recovery for staff, I believe that a comprehensive support package needs to be put in place across the healthcare sector, but specifically in nursing homes because of what people working in that area had to go through. Moving on to the issue of transfers out, an issue that may have been covered already, I am reasonably...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Final Report of Nursing Homes Expert Panel (16 Sep 2020)

Louise O'Reilly: Many private nursing homes do not have the space for isolation. When Professor Kelleher said that the regime has been in place since 10 March, does it mean that every patient who was transferred out from 10 March had two not-detected swabs before being moved?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Final Report of Nursing Homes Expert Panel (16 Sep 2020)

Louise O'Reilly: I would strongly disagree with that. I understand that might be the witnesses' position but it certainly is not the experience that has been relayed to me. In terms of ensuring the resilience of the sector, we know there are obvious complications with a for-profit model for any form of healthcare. If one is chasing a profit all the time, it does not necessarily translate into good...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Final Report of Nursing Homes Expert Panel (16 Sep 2020)

Louise O'Reilly: On the level 5 qualification for the care assistants, clearly it would be ideal if they were all qualified to that level. There are many people working in the nursing home sector who perhaps started working a long time ago and who would not necessarily have that qualification but would have the experience. There is a facility there for one’s experience to be recognised in some way,...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Final Report of Nursing Homes Expert Panel (16 Sep 2020)

Louise O'Reilly: It would, because there is a danger that we would run towards a piece of paper when the experience and knowledge exist already. The piece of paper would not necessarily be that important. On the panel's recommendation on reviewing the skills mix, there is model of safe staffing and that was agreed between the INMO, the other unions and the HSE. Would the panel see that safe staffing...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Final Report of Nursing Homes Expert Panel (16 Sep 2020)

Louise O'Reilly: Absolutely. There is sometimes a fear that the mention of a skill mix can signal a reduction in the number of higher skilled staff in favour of staff who are not as highly qualified. We need, however, to reclaim the phrase "skill mix" and take it for what it implies, namely, the skills appropriate to the level of dependency. I thank the witnesses for the report.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Final Report of Nursing Homes Expert Panel (16 Sep 2020)

Louise O'Reilly: I thank the witness.