Results 7,341-7,360 of 11,498 for speaker:Mary Butler

Written Answers — Department of Health: Home Care Packages (17 Feb 2021)

Mary Butler: As these are operational matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Suicide Incidence (17 Feb 2021)

Mary Butler: In Ireland, suicide is determined by a coroner. Annual suicide statistics are usually published by the Central Statistics Office in June of the following year. Full year 2020 suicide figures are not yet available. CSO vital statistics for quarters one and two of 2020 noted suicide figures as 72 and 25 respectively. The low number for quarter two may be due to the impact of the Covid pandemic...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Provision (17 Feb 2021)

Mary Butler: As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing Homes Support Scheme (17 Feb 2021)

Mary Butler: As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing Homes Support Scheme (17 Feb 2021)

Mary Butler: The Nursing Homes Support Scheme, commonly referred to as the Fair Deal Scheme, has been in operation for over 10 years and there is broad agreement that the Scheme operates well and continues to provide appropriate financial assistance where it is required. However, it is recognised that the Act, in its current form, does not place caps on the financial assessment of family owned and...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Covid-19 Pandemic (12 Feb 2021)

Mary Butler: I thank the Cathaoirleach for the warm welcome and Senator Casey for the very important issue he has raised. He is quite right; it was raised several times yesterday in the Dáil when Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, and I were answering questions on the Covid-19 vaccine. The only limit to the vaccine is supply. That is where our main issue is. For example, we got 21,600 doses of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Covid-19 Pandemic (12 Feb 2021)

Mary Butler: I thank Senator Casey for advocating on behalf of kidney and dialysis patients, and highlighting the challenges they face. As he said quite rightly, this will be determined from a scientific, medical, and clinical point of view. That is the only way we can look at this issue. On the decision by the Government, the national immunisation advisory committee, NIAC, and the National Public...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Covid-19 Pandemic (12 Feb 2021)

Mary Butler: I welcome the Acting Chairperson, Senator Hoey, to the Cathaoirleach's chair and congratulate her. I thank Senator Mullen for his question. The Senator raised many valid points. It is an issue I have been working closely on for the past couple of weeks and it is great to get the opportunity to speak to it and provide an update. We are now almost 50 days into the roll-out of the largest...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Covid-19 Pandemic (12 Feb 2021)

Mary Butler: It is not so much about playing catch-up. I looked into this situation to see why some religious orders were registered with HIQA and others were not. They took that decision themselves. My understanding is that this situation dates to 1992 when nursing homes were first regulated. I am open to correction on that but there was an opportunity then. Some religious orders that operate...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health Services Staff (12 Feb 2021)

Mary Butler: I will respond to this on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly. I welcome the opportunity to address the House on this issue and I thank Senator Buttimer for raising it. I express my sincere gratitude to our public health doctors, who have been at the forefront of our response to the pandemic and have made an enormous contribution to the protection of everyone living in...

Seanad: Mental Health and Covid-19: Statements (12 Feb 2021)

Mary Butler: My understanding was that I would only have seven minutes at the end to wrap up and that I would not be making an opening statement. That was what my office was told.

Seanad: Mental Health and Covid-19: Statements (12 Feb 2021)

Mary Butler: That would be great.

Seanad: Mental Health and Covid-19: Statements (12 Feb 2021)

Mary Butler: I thank the Members for their time today. It was a very good debate. The standard of the contributions was excellent. They were well thought out. Obviously, there were criticisms but they were constructive. I take on board everything that has been said in the debate, and I welcome it. I will try to respond as far as possible to the questions that were raised. How much time do I have?

Seanad: Mental Health and Covid-19: Statements (12 Feb 2021)

Mary Butler: I will try my best. I welcome the opportunity to restate my and the Government's commitment to the continued development of mental health services and supports during and beyond Covid-19. The pandemic has been very challenging and, in response, a range of mental health supports has been established. At the outset, we put in place proactive measures to provide for any increase in service...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: National Broadband Plan (11 Feb 2021)

Mary Butler: I have listened to the points the Deputy has raised, especially on tree-trimming, Safepass issues and the others. As we all know, the pandemic has highlighted the importance of good, reliable broadband to ensure citizens across Ireland can avail of remote working. Every parent in Ireland who has home-schooled knows the importance of good broadband. We have all taken Zoom meetings at home...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Covid-19 Pandemic (11 Feb 2021)

Mary Butler: It would be remiss of me not to say that the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, was here this afternoon speaking on the Covid-19 vaccines question-and-answer session. I believe the Minister had another appointment. I thank Deputy Higgins for raising this important matter. An evidence synthesis paper on vitamin D and Covid-19 prepared for national public health emergency team was...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: National Broadband Plan (11 Feb 2021)

Mary Butler: My thanks to Deputy Ó Murchú for raising this issue. As the Deputy rightly said, I am taking this for the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Deputy Ryan, this afternoon. The national broadband plan contract was signed with National Broadband Ireland in November 2019 to roll out a high-speed and future-proof broadband network within the intervention area....

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Covid-19 Pandemic (11 Feb 2021)

Mary Butler: I thank Deputy Higgins for raising this important matter. Vitamin D is essential for bone and muscle health and to support the normal functioning of the immune system. Vitamin D can be found in a variety of foods, including in fortified cereal and dairy products, and humans can also absorb it from the sun. I take this opportunity to highlight the importance of a balanced diet that not only...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Paediatric Services (11 Feb 2021)

Mary Butler: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and for setting out clearly the history in this situation, which gives me the opportunity to provide an update to the House in regard to the concerns relating to the paediatric diabetes service at the Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar. The HSE has advised that the Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar, has a comprehensive diabetes and...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Paediatric Services (11 Feb 2021)

Mary Butler: I thank the Deputy for the constructive manner in which he has approached this matter. I take on board his acknowledgement of Professor O'Grady and all of the work he has done over the past eight years to develop this service, which is very important. The Government is committed to further developing and strengthening diabetes services throughout the country, for both children and...