Results 621-640 of 4,359 for speaker:Gino Kenny

Recent Developments in Northern Ireland: Statements (14 Feb 2024)

Gino Kenny: It is good that Stormont is functional again. It is certainly historic in that it breaks the long lineage of unionist dominance for over 100 years in the northern part of Ireland. I would argue that, for the last two years, there has been a democratic veto by the DUP on spurious grounds in regard to the protocol. There are many factors relating to that protocol. As a result of that veto,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Public Health and the Commercial Determinants of Health: Discussion (14 Feb 2024)

Gino Kenny: This is very interesting subject matter. My first question relates to the lobbying industry. It is a very powerful industry and very insidious. Has the Minister of State been lobbied by any food or alcohol companies since she was appointed to her current position?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Public Health and the Commercial Determinants of Health: Discussion (14 Feb 2024)

Gino Kenny: That is part of the Government process in regard to lobbying, which I understand. As I said, these companies are quite powerful and influential, not only in Government circles but also in terms of the societal aspects. The figures around alcohol are shocking. Some 5% of all deaths in Ireland are due to alcohol-related illness, which equates to 1,600 people a year or at least four or five...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Public Health and the Commercial Determinants of Health: Discussion (14 Feb 2024)

Gino Kenny: Does the Minister of State believe that further legislation may be needed, particularly on the advertisement of alcohol? In recent years, there has been more regulation around that but the way alcohol is associated with sport is insidious and it is the same with gambling. The association with sport is widespread and can have a huge pull factor in people behaving in ways they would not...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Public Health and the Commercial Determinants of Health: Discussion (14 Feb 2024)

Gino Kenny: That is welcome. However, the facts around deaths are shocking. I want to raise the issue of the sugar sweetened drinks tax, which was introduced more than six years ago. The aim of that tax was to put a financial penalty on drinks companies to stop them promoting very high sugar drinks. While I will not name the brands, some of these drinks have a very high sugar content. What impact...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Public Health and the Commercial Determinants of Health: Discussion (14 Feb 2024)

Gino Kenny: I know it is a difficult question but is it possible to give a figure for the money that was generated from this tax in the past five years?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Public Health and the Commercial Determinants of Health: Discussion (14 Feb 2024)

Gino Kenny: That is for the lifetime of the tax.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Public Health and the Commercial Determinants of Health: Discussion (14 Feb 2024)

Gino Kenny: That is €30 million from the drinks companies.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Public Health and the Commercial Determinants of Health: Discussion (14 Feb 2024)

Gino Kenny: That is interesting. That is €150 million. Has it been ring-fenced?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Public Health and the Commercial Determinants of Health: Discussion (14 Feb 2024)

Gino Kenny: My final question is on the commercial determinants, which is the issue under discussion. We speak about the social determinants of society. My interpretation of a commercial determinant is that for commercial companies, profit trumps public health. We see this every day with fast food, vaping and many things that some of us will partake in. We have the terms “sportwashing”...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Public Health and the Commercial Determinants of Health: Discussion (14 Feb 2024)

Gino Kenny: Exactly.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Citizens' Assembly (13 Feb 2024)

Gino Kenny: It is good news that a special committee is being set up to consider the recommendations of the Citizens' Assembly on Drugs Use. That is a good development about which I have a number of questions. First, when will that committee commence and, second, how long will it go on for? If it goes on for a protracted period, it could run into the next general election and then nothing will happen....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying: System for Assisted Dying and Alternative Policies: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Feb 2024)

Gino Kenny: Parliamentary privilege is considered to apply to the utterances of members participating online in the committee meeting where their participation is from within the parliamentary precincts. There can be no assurances in respect of participation online from outside the parliamentary precincts and members should be mindful of this when they are contributing. This committee discusses dying,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying: System for Assisted Dying and Alternative Policies: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Feb 2024)

Gino Kenny: I thank Dr. Ní Bhriain. Next is Ms McArdle from the Department of Health and she has five minutes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying: System for Assisted Dying and Alternative Policies: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Feb 2024)

Gino Kenny: I thank Ms McArdle. Next we are on to the members. Each member has seven minutes, and that includes questions and replies from the witnesses. To begin is Deputy Alan Farrell.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying: System for Assisted Dying and Alternative Policies: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Feb 2024)

Gino Kenny: As Senator Fiona O'Loughlin is not online, our next speaker is Deputy Pa Daly.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying: System for Assisted Dying and Alternative Policies: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Feb 2024)

Gino Kenny: This committee has come full circle with regard to this issue. Over Christmas I listened to a BBC podcast and one of the guests was Esther Rantzen. During the Christmas period she came out with regard to her support of assisted dying. She said something very profound which I probably should have thought about as someone who supports assisted dying. She said that most people are not afraid...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying: System for Assisted Dying and Alternative Policies: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Feb 2024)

Gino Kenny: There were other indications-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying: System for Assisted Dying and Alternative Policies: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Feb 2024)

Gino Kenny: -----more than being a burden. That has been shown in the evidence across the United States and Canada where people indicated loss of autonomy, dignity and sometimes pain. Before this committee, I thought pain would have been one of the top reasons but it was one of the lesser ones. That is interesting.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying: System for Assisted Dying and Alternative Policies: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Feb 2024)

Gino Kenny: Deputy Lahart posed a profound question about what we have been deliberating over for the past nine months. A cohort of people could and should be able to avail of assisted dying because there are complicated circumstances where somebody has a terminal diagnosis or is in a very difficult situation coming to the end of life. It can be very difficult, as I know first-hand. I am sure others...