Results 6,741-6,760 of 11,464 for speaker:Mary Butler

Select Committee on Health: Nursing Homes Support Scheme (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2021)

Mary Butler: There are a number of inheritance scenarios which need be described and accounted for in the Bill, depending on the ownership model of assets that both members of a couple have an interest in. The goal at all times is to ensure fairness for the couple. To be clear, the Bill refers to a daughter or son who is married and takes into account people who have partners, which is very important in...

Select Committee on Health: Nursing Homes Support Scheme (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2021)

Mary Butler: I wish to flag that I will be bringing an amendment forward at Report Stage. This section amends section 36 of the principal Act and allows the Minister, in respect of any difficulty which arises during the period of three years from the commencement of the Act of 2021, by regulations to do anything which appears to be necessary or expedient for bringing the amendments in the Act into...

Select Committee on Health: Nursing Homes Support Scheme (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2021)

Mary Butler: Deputy Denis Naughten’s amendment was ruled out of order by the Bills Office. I did not have any part in that. I will address some of the Deputy's points and then will speak in general regarding Deputy Shortall’s amendment, which will allow me to address almost all of the points that have been made. When an asset includes an inherent and-or sale value and generates an income,...

Select Committee on Health: Nursing Homes Support Scheme (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2021)

Mary Butler: Can the Chairman hear me?

Select Committee on Health: Nursing Homes Support Scheme (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2021)

Mary Butler: We are giving every consideration to Deputy O'Dea's Bill and have been interacting with him regarding approved housing bodies and rental. We are looking at every aspect of this issue. We need creative thinking to see how this can happen. I do not accept that 150,000 homes could be locked out of the housing market. There are 21,000 people in the scheme. When someone ticks the box...

Select Committee on Health: Nursing Homes Support Scheme (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2021)

Mary Butler: I will come back to the Deputy on a number of points. As long as I am Minister of State with responsibility for older people, the two key words are "voice" and "choice" and their voices and choices will be heard. That is the first point. The second is that we are working really hard to try to see how we can get the creative thinking in place on an extremely complex issue that was not...

Select Committee on Health: Nursing Homes Support Scheme (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2021)

Mary Butler: In fairness, we all want the same thing. We all want to get people into empty houses. That is the most important thing. When we were working with the Department, it had two asks of us. One was that the cap would be included at three years on the sale of a house. That is done. The second part is much more complex. I take on board that Deputy Shortall asked that we come forward within...

Select Committee on Health: Nursing Homes Support Scheme (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2021)

Mary Butler: I wish to flag that this is the amendment I want to bring forward on Report Stage. This section repeals existing provisions within the principal Act pertaining to the availability of a three-year cap to owners of farm or business assets who require nursing home care as a result of sudden illness or disability. The section adds additional provisions to paragraph 6 of Part 3 of Schedule 1 to...

Select Committee on Health: Nursing Homes Support Scheme (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2021)

Mary Butler: I will speak to it if that is okay. This proposed amendment provides that the Bill is brought into operation no more than 30 days after it is enacted. My firm intention is that this legislation amendment is enacted and commenced as quickly as possible. A number of matters need to be considered carefully before this can happen, however. The changes to the scheme are complex and significant...

Select Committee on Health: Nursing Homes Support Scheme (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2021)

Mary Butler: I thank the Deputy for withdrawing the amendment. I will bring forward an amendment on Report Stage, which is expected to be taken on either 13 or 14 July. I thank the Deputy for his co-operation.

Select Committee on Health: Nursing Homes Support Scheme (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2021)

Mary Butler: I wish to confirm that, as flagged during the debate, I will be bringing forward several amendments on Report Stage.

Select Committee on Health: Nursing Homes Support Scheme (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2021)

Mary Butler: Yes.

Select Committee on Health: Nursing Homes Support Scheme (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2021)

Mary Butler: I thank members for their time. I wish to raise one final point. A technical amendment is to be made to section 47 of the principal Act. That will also be done on Report Stage. The details will be available then. I thank the Chairman and the members for their co-operation. It is great to complete Committee Stage within the time constraints of two hours. I thank all members for their...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Primary Care Centres (29 Jun 2021)

Mary Butler: Senator Horkan and I have not been in the Seanad at the same time since his re-election. I congratulate him on re-entering the Seanad. It is fantastic to see him in the Chair. Well done.I thank Senator Seery Kearney very much for raising this issue and giving me the opportunity to outline to the House the position on the plans for the development of the primary care centre in Drimnagh,...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Primary Care Centres (29 Jun 2021)

Mary Butler: The Senator stated at the outset that the final design was due for 2020 with construction to commence in 2021. In fairness, she pointed to Covid and the challenges we have had. I do not have a specific timeline or dates but Senator Seery Kearney will appreciate the importance of the fact that the funding has been allocated to progress the appointment of the design team and that the tender...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Eating Disorders (29 Jun 2021)

Mary Butler: Enhancement of specialist services for eating disorders, including improved access and shorter waiting lists, remains a key priority for me, Government as a whole and the HSE. In response to the growth in cases presenting to mental health services, €5.7 million has been allocated for the Eating Disorders National Clinical Programme since 2016. The Eating Disorders Model of Care was...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services (29 Jun 2021)

Mary Butler: As this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services (29 Jun 2021)

Mary Butler: As this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, Members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services (29 Jun 2021)

Mary Butler: As this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services (29 Jun 2021)

Mary Butler: As this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to...