Results 6,421-6,440 of 12,773 for speaker:Louise O'Reilly

Emergency Bed Capacity: Statements (24 Jun 2020)

Louise O'Reilly: I am sharing my time with Deputies Gould and Quinlivan, both of whom are to have four minutes. I will cede three of my seven minutes to the Minister because I want to use some of my time to hear a response. I believe the Ceann Comhairle said we are entitled to a response, but maybe not an answer. I feel like I have just stumbled in to some kind of job interview process. I do not know...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (23 Jun 2020)

Louise O'Reilly: I ask that we conduct an additional risk assessment regarding the conduct of this committee. The advice has moved on, the country is reopening, there are many more people at work and there is a lot of flexibility in this area. I acknowledge that we are operating on the basis of a risk assessment. If the committee agrees to conduct another risk assessment and it is in order and feasible to...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (23 Jun 2020)

Louise O'Reilly: That is bang on.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (23 Jun 2020)

Louise O'Reilly: I had indicated.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (23 Jun 2020)

Louise O'Reilly: I fully appreciate the constraints on us and all the rest of that. I am looking for an additional risk assessment. In the event that we have another session, we should also hear from representatives and childcare workers. That would be important. Everyone is cognisant of the fact that we are limited in terms of time and space. It would be helpful.

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

Louise O'Reilly: Yes. I assume the Chairman is taking a note of those who went over to ensure that time is given to the rest of us.

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

Louise O'Reilly: I welcome our witnesses. We thank their members for all of the work they have done and the work they continue to do in this extremely trying time. I received an email from a nurse on 18 June in which she stated: I have just been notified that the crèche will not take my child back. I am a full-time nurse who has gone over and above in the last few months. I now face the decision of...

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

Louise O'Reilly: I am sorry to cut across. Is it correct that they are not testing and trace healthcare workers to the extent that they should be? Should that be an important element as we roll out non-Covid related healthcare?

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

Louise O'Reilly: It is not happening, however.

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

Louise O'Reilly: That is exactly what it is. It is a hazard of the job. On 26 March in this Chamber, we stood and applauded front-line healthcare workers. I have been contacted by healthcare workers who believed that it was something of an empty gesture because what followed were no firm commitments on childcare. I note from Ms Ní Sheaghdha's submission that one of her members stated childcare was...

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

Louise O'Reilly: The Government announced a plan on 18 May. In the run-up to that and all through April, the Taoiseach said the Government was ready to "push the button", which is the phrase he used, on childcare. Is it correct to say there were no feasible childcare arrangements in place at that time?

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

Louise O'Reilly: They are, and the waiting lists have not gone away. When work resumes to tackle the waiting lists, which I believe are hovering close to 1 million people, every single healthcare worker will be absolutely needed. Am I right in saying there is a link and that low staffing levels inhibit infection control measures?

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

Louise O'Reilly: So they are working all night and looking after their kids all day-----

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

Louise O'Reilly: -----and keep that up. Nobody can keep that up. This is absolutely disrespectful and it is impossible to work all night and look after kids all day. It is a long time since I had to look after kids at home but it is a hard job to do that all day, particularly for people who are not getting any support at all. For them then to go into dangerous and potentially infectious and hazardous...

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

Louise O'Reilly: It is very wrong for a worker to feel that one must leave kids at home to be able to, or to be forced to, go to work. It is absolutely disgraceful. I joined others standing here in the Chamber in applauding the front-line healthcare workers. I felt at the time it was the right thing to do. I have been contacted by large numbers of front-line healthcare workers who at the time, as Ms...

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

Louise O'Reilly: I agree that they will have a serious impact.

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

Louise O'Reilly: Yes. This is my first opportunity to speak in the Chamber and I would like to express my sympathy, and that of Sinn Féin, to the family, friends and colleagues of Detective Garda Colm Horkan. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam. I thank the witnesses for coming in again to give evidence this morning. I appreciate that it is a busy time for them. I express my thanks and appreciation...

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

Louise O'Reilly: On 10 March, when Mr. Daly wrote asking that all transfers would be risk-assessed, medically assessed and tested for Covid-19 at the same time as the acute hospital sector was being emptied in preparation for the expected surge - very necessary work which we do not dispute - that was not done at that stage. In terms of the patients who were moved out, can Mr. Breslin timeline that for me?...

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

Louise O'Reilly: No, I asked a very specific question about the numbers of people tested.

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

Louise O'Reilly: Guidance is not a plan. I asked a specific question. How many patients were tested?