Results 701-720 of 3,871 for speaker:Catherine Byrne

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Medicinal Products Availability (15 Nov 2018)

Catherine Byrne: I assure Deputy Kelly that I will speak to the Minister, as I always do when I leave the Chamber. I always make sure that if I cannot get the Minister who has asked me to stand in, I give an outline of the question to a member of his or her staff and request that the Minister respond more comprehensively to the Deputy in question. Unfortunately, I am not able to say we will be able to...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Infectious Diseases (15 Nov 2018)

Catherine Byrne: I apologise to the Deputy if she feels that the answer I read was not adequate. However, I cannot answer the specific questions she asked. All I can do is read the material I have been given. It does not set out the specific pattern of what exactly happened in this case. I have taken note of a number of the concerns raised by the Deputy and I will bring them back to the Minister. I will...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Medicinal Products Availability (15 Nov 2018)

Catherine Byrne: I apologise for the inability of the Minister for Health to be here for this debate. Deputy Kelly could have withdrawn his Topical Issue if he had wished. I have been asked to respond to him on behalf of the Minister. I will read the reply that has been furnished to me. If the Deputy is not happy with it, I am sure some other arrangements can be made. I thank him for raising this...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Infectious Diseases (15 Nov 2018)

Catherine Byrne: The Minister, Deputy Harris, asked me to pass on his apologies for not being present to take this Topical Issue. On his behalf, I thank the Deputy for raising the matter. I will read the script and then respond to some of Deputy Connolly's concerns. I wish to assure the Deputy that the incidence of tuberculosis in Ireland is low. The World Health Organization categorises Ireland as a low...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Traveller Community (15 Nov 2018)

Catherine Byrne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 115 and 120 to 122, inclusive, together. Health and wellbeing are not evenly distributed across society. There are socially excluded groups who experience extreme health inequalities. Such groups include Travellers homeless people, refugees and asylum seekers and people with addiction issues. Inequalities in health are reflected in the mortality and morbidity...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Food (15 Nov 2018)

Catherine Byrne: The quality of hospital food is a priority issue and the HSE has been requested to develop a National Hospital Food and Nutrition Policy. Development of this Policy is now at an advanced stage and it is expected to be available for publication by the end of the year. The development of the Policy included extensive consultation and it will provide guidance on minimum nutrition standards,...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Vaccination Programme (14 Nov 2018)

Catherine Byrne: I apologise on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Daly. He is in a committee. The Minister, Deputy Harris, is at the Cabinet meeting. I am standing in today. I thank Senator Clifford-Lee on behalf of the Minister and the Minister of State. I know how important this Commencement matter is to the Senator. I will read the written reply and then come back in at the end. Immunisation is...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Vaccination Programme (14 Nov 2018)

Catherine Byrne: As a parent and grandparent I understand the importance of any vaccination given to children. I believe all vaccinations should be given to children when they are very young and in school. As the Minister's statement has outlined, however, at present this vaccination is not part of the national immunisation programme. In saying that, I will take the Senator's concerns and views back to the...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: School Staff (14 Nov 2018)

Catherine Byrne: The Senator is very kind.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: School Staff (14 Nov 2018)

Catherine Byrne: I thank Senator Norris for his kind words. Unfortunately the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy McHugh, cannot be here this morning because of the Cabinet meeting and he asked me to take this on his behalf. I am delighted to. It is always nice to hear Senator Norris speak. He speaks with such drama and respect.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: School Staff (14 Nov 2018)

Catherine Byrne: Passion, that was going to be the next word out of my mouth. On behalf of the Minister, Deputy McHugh, I would like to thank the Senator for giving me the opportunity to outline to the House the position on staffing in primary schools and, in particular, Scoil Chaoimhín, Marlborough Street, Dublin 1, which I know well. The criteria used for the allocation of teaching posts are...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: School Staff (14 Nov 2018)

Catherine Byrne: That is grand. I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: School Staff (14 Nov 2018)

Catherine Byrne: I will indeed. I again thank Senator Norris. Whenever I hear Senator Norris speak in this House, he speaks with the reality of life. The Senator speaks clearly and loudly, as he has done today. I certainly will raise the issue with the Minister, Deputy McHugh. As has been outlined in the reply, it is an independent process. When schools are not successful, it is difficult to take it any...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Traveller Health Action Plan (14 Nov 2018)

Catherine Byrne: Health and wellbeing are not evenly distributed across society. There are socially excluded groups who experience extreme health inequalities. Such groups include Travellers homeless people, refugees and asylum seekers and people with addiction issues. Inequalities in health are reflected in the mortality and morbidity rates of the population. Rates of chronic diseases are another...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Employment Rights (13 Nov 2018)

Catherine Byrne: I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection. False self-employment is consistently brought up by Deputies as a prevalent issue. If any Deputy is aware of any particular cases, the Minister strongly urges them to bring these to attention of the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection to ensure they can be investigated. ...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Employment Rights (13 Nov 2018)

Catherine Byrne: There is a commitment in the programme for the Government to address the increase in casualisation of workers and to strengthen employment regulations. The Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017 is currently going through the Oireachtas and it addresses several workers’ rights issues, including prohibiting zero-hour contracts in most circumstances and requiring the terms of...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Ambulance Service Provision (13 Nov 2018)

Catherine Byrne: The Deputy has raised a number of specific questions to which I do not have a response. I will, therefore, have to go back to the Minister and ask him to respond to the Deputy on a personal basis. I understand the Deputy's frustration and the concerns he raised. He has outlined the difficulties that arise when people who have suffered an injury are not transported by ambulance immediately...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Staff (13 Nov 2018)

Catherine Byrne: We all understand there are problems in the health service, particularly with the recruitment of staff for hospitals across all departments. I want to impress on Deputy O'Sullivan and others in the Chamber that both the Minister, Deputy Harris, and I believe that those working in the services in hospitals across Dublin do a fantastic job. Sometimes they find themselves pushed and can work...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Ambulance Service Provision (13 Nov 2018)

Catherine Byrne: I welcome the opportunity to address the House on behalf of Minister Harris regarding the ambulance service in Leitrim. The national ambulance service operates from two locations in Leitrim, namely Carrick-on-Shannon and Manorhamilton. However, services in Leitrim are not exclusively provided by staff based at these Leitrim stations. This is because the national ambulance service is...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Staff (13 Nov 2018)

Catherine Byrne: As I will take this matter on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, I asked the Deputy whether she wished to withdraw the matter but she did not. I understand that the Mater Misercordiae University Hospital has experienced some difficulty in recruiting both permanent and temporary specialist oncology nurses for the oncology day unit in the hospital. Due to a combination of...