Results 721-740 of 6,045 for speaker:Frank Feighan

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Legislative Measures (21 Jun 2022)

Frank Feighan: I thank Senators Carrigy and Wilson for raising this issue. The Public Health (Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill 2019, which deals with these matters, is a legislative priority for this Government. Nicotine inhaling products, such as electronic or e-cigarettes, are relatively new and the science concerning their public health effects is continuously evolving. Analysis in this...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Legislative Measures (21 Jun 2022)

Frank Feighan: As well the measure proposed under the public health (tobacco and nicotine inhaling products) Bill, it is important to recognise that electronic cigarettes are also regulated under EU legislation. A tobacco products directive that was published in 2014 was transposed into Irish law following the EU legislation. Under the regulations, health warnings that advise consumers that electronic...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Hospital Overcrowding (21 Jun 2022)

Frank Feighan: I welcome the opportunity to address the House on this important issue raised by Senator Maria Byrne. I also welcome the publication of HIQA's report of the unannounced inspection of the emergency department at University Hospital Limerick against the national standards for safer better healthcare. Four national standards were assessed as part of the HIQA inspection, two standards in each...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Hospital Overcrowding (21 Jun 2022)

Frank Feighan: As I stated, I am concerned by the findings in respect of patient safety in the HIQA report. However, I believe the report provides an important opportunity for a renewed focus on the capacity and capability of UHL and on the quality and safety of the emergency services it delivers to the people of the mid-west. The Senator has articulated those issues extremely well. HIQA reviews are...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Sexually Transmitted Infections (21 Jun 2022)

Frank Feighan: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible. 

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (16 Jun 2022)

Frank Feighan: As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Service Executive (16 Jun 2022)

Frank Feighan: As this is a service issue, the matter has been referred directly to the HSE for response.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Air Accident Investigations (15 Jun 2022)

Frank Feighan: The Minister for Transport thanks Senator Craughwell for raising this matter. As the Senator outlines, the final report by the Air Accident Investigation Unit into the Rescue 116 accident at Blackrock, County Mayo, on 14 March 2017 was published on 5 November 2021. The report contains 42 safety recommendations, of which 14 were addressed to the Minister for Transport, in the form of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Air Accident Investigations (15 Jun 2022)

Frank Feighan: I thank Senator Craughwell for his contribution today. The provision of an effective maritime search and rescue service is critical to Ireland as an island nation with a strong maritime sector, which depends on the reliability and professionalism of the Irish Coast Guard and all its component parts, including the Coast Guard aviation service, to offer a service which we all agree can deploy...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Hospital Services (15 Jun 2022)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Senators for the opportunity to address the House on this important matter on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly. I acknowledge the work and role played by neurological nurse specialists in the care of patients. They play an important role in triaging, assessing, and providing ongoing support to neurological patients. This in turn builds capacity within...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Hospital Services (15 Jun 2022)

Frank Feighan: I will bring the Senators' concerns back to the Minister for Health. The Government is committed to improving services in line with Sláintecare. The development of these services provides an opportunity to make significant changes to the quality of life of our citizens. The South/South West Hospital Group remains committed to the development of neurology services within the group....

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Vaccination Programme (15 Jun 2022)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Senators for raising this topic and affording me the opportunity to address the House about this important issue. I have listened carefully and agree with many of the points raised by the Senators. As they are aware, the WTO ministerial conference is ongoing and concludes today in Geneva. This is the major decision-making forum for the WTO and the intention is that the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Vaccination Programme (15 Jun 2022)

Frank Feighan: I acknowledge that this is a critical issue and I believe it is morally right to ensure that, regardless of where people are in the world, they have access to vaccines. I firmly believe, as does the Government, that no one is safe until everybody is safe. As vaccine production is no longer the issue, the international community is now focused on the need to rapidly build capacity in...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Community Development Projects (15 Jun 2022)

Frank Feighan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 185 and 186 together. The Department of Health provides €1.5m per annum to community-based drug and alcohol services under the remit of the Bray Drug and Alcohol Task Force. The Kildare Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB) and the HSE act as the channels of funding for these services. Of the above amount, KWETB administers in the region of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Substance Misuse (14 Jun 2022)

Frank Feighan: I can inform you that I have appointed a clinical expert in nursing and addiction to the National Oversight Committee. This person was nominated for the position following a call for expressions of interest overseen by the Chief Nursing Officer in the Department of Health. The new appointee attended the meeting of the National Oversight Committee on the 9th of June. I appreciate the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (14 Jun 2022)

Frank Feighan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1486 and 1487 together. The Report of the Working Group on Access to Contraception, published in October 2019, identified the barriers that exist to accessing contraception, which include accessibility, information, workforce capacity and, for a significant number of women who may be just above the eligibility threshold for a full GMS (medical) card, cost. In...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Substance Misuse (14 Jun 2022)

Frank Feighan: Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery emphasises a health-led, whole-of-government response to drug and alcohol use, based on providing person-centred services that promote rehabilitation and recovery To realise this vision, the strategy identified five strategic goals and 50 actions to be delivered over the initial four year period 2017-2020. The Department published the mid-term...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (14 Jun 2022)

Frank Feighan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1500, 1501 and 1502 together. Social prescribing is a means of enabling healthcare professionals and other professionals to refer people to a range of local, non-clinical services provided by the voluntary and community sector. It is a key enabler and effective means of linking those with mental health difficulties to community-based supports and interventions...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (14 Jun 2022)

Frank Feighan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1596, 1597, 1598, 1599, 1600, 1602, 1603 and 1607 together. As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Data (14 Jun 2022)

Frank Feighan: The Report of the Working Group on Access to Contraception, published in October 2019, identified the barriers that exist to accessing contraception, which include accessibility, information, workforce capacity and, for women who may be just above the eligibility threshold for a full GMS (medical) card, cost. In consideration of the recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the 8th...