Results 6,781-6,800 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

Confidence in Minister for Health and Children: Motion (Resumed) (28 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: I saw the manifestos.

Confidence in Minister for Health and Children: Motion (Resumed) (28 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: I saw the Labour Party's political manifesto.

Confidence in Minister for Health and Children: Motion (Resumed) (28 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: I do not know how the Opposition can have the social insurance model it has advocated without advocating tax increases. I have looked at every single model.

Confidence in Minister for Health and Children: Motion (Resumed) (28 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: The honourable exception is the Sinn Féin Party which said that we need tax increases. If the Opposition thinks that we can have a world-class health service on the cheap, it is wrong.

Confidence in Minister for Health and Children: Motion (Resumed) (28 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: The Opposition advocated tax cuts. That is the problem. It should be possible, given that there is not much difference between all the political parties on the question of health, to get a consensus on this, as the Minister for Health and Children said yesterday.

Confidence in Minister for Health and Children: Motion (Resumed) (28 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: Experts such as Maev-Ann Wren say we face a double difficulty because our population is ageing and we have better medicine and technology.

Confidence in Minister for Health and Children: Motion (Resumed) (28 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: People are staying alive longer and the statistics are quite startling.

Confidence in Minister for Health and Children: Motion (Resumed) (28 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: Cancer occurs predominantly in older people, with approximately 60% of cases diagnosed in people aged 65 and over.

Confidence in Minister for Health and Children: Motion (Resumed) (28 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: Mainly for demographic reasons the number of patients will double over the next 15 years.

Confidence in Minister for Health and Children: Motion (Resumed) (28 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: More than 96,000 patients were discharged from hospital following a diagnosis of cancer in 2006. That is an increase of 75% over 1997.

Confidence in Minister for Health and Children: Motion (Resumed) (28 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: That is the reality we face in the health service.

Confidence in Minister for Health and Children: Motion (Resumed) (28 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: That is why we need consensus. More than 60,000 people were treated as day cases in 2006, an increase of 140% over 1997. Those are the difficulties.

Confidence in Minister for Health and Children: Motion (Resumed) (28 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: I could speak on other issues in respect of cancer prevention if I could get a word in edgeways.

Confidence in Minister for Health and Children: Motion (Resumed) (28 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: Consensus is the way forward, not these sorts of partisan motions.

Seanad: Report on Seanad Reform: Motion (28 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: I apologise for not being here for some of the contributions but I heard them on the monitor. I must leave for a meeting at 6.30 p.m. but I am glad the Seanad is debating this serious issue. I thank Senators Dan Boyle and Deirdre de Búrca for moving the motion. Our national political institutions are at the heart of the State and it is vitally important that they remain effective and...

Seanad: Report on Seanad Reform: Motion (28 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: I was obliged to rush back to obtain my copy of the script. I hope further copies can be circulated to Members. The report sets out a package of comprehensive recommendations for further consideration and action concerning the composition, functions and future role of Seanad Éireann. Many of these recommendations are radical and far-reaching. The principal recommendations propose that...

Seanad: Report on Seanad Reform: Motion (28 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: The approach of the sub-committee to re-evaluating the role of the Seanad, advocating and embracing reform and developing new roles for this House, while maintaining its integral character and status as part of our modern democracy, is to be commended. The 2004 report was not the first effort made to address the reform of the Seanad. A total of 11 separate reports on the reform of the...

Written Answers — Recycling Policy: Recycling Policy (27 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: Packaging plays a necessary role in the safe and hygienic transport of products purchased by consumers and householders. Retailers who deliver items such as white goods and furniture to a private house are not obliged to take away the packaging waste. Producers and retailers who place substantial amounts of packaging on the market do, however, have a range of responsibilities under the...

Written Answers — Representations Protocol: Representations Protocol (27 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: From the commencement of the single mandate for elective local government, local authorities were required to make specific arrangements to provide a reasonable level of service for Oireachtas members and facilitate them in carrying out their work on behalf of local communities. These arrangements, as set out in Articles 8, 9, and 10 of the Local Government Act, 2001 (Section 237A)...

Written Answers — Local Authority Procedures: Local Authority Procedures (27 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: A quality customer service approach by local authorities has been a key objective of the local government modernisation programme. A range of initiatives has been taken by local authorities in this regard, including the provision of One Stop Shops, establishment of complaints procedures and greater use of ICT. While the recording of telephone calls for training and quality purposes is a...