Results 741-760 of 2,723 for speaker:Barry Andrews

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (11 Mar 2010)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 131 to 133, inclusive, together. I have responsibility for the free Pre-School Year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme which was introduced in January of this year. Approximately 4,700 pre-school services in the State are notified to the Health Service Executive (HSE). Some 4,000 of these, or 85%, are participating in the ECCE scheme. Over...

Report of Joint Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on Children: Statements (Resumed). (11 Mar 2010)

Barry Andrews: I am delighted to be discussing this important issue today. I wish to make some comments about the statements made by previous Deputies. I agree with Deputy O'Rourke that we will never have a better opportunity to transpose into the Constitution what represents the clear consensus and political will in this House and I am ambitious that we would do that. As she said, it is not a panacea...

Written Answers — Juvenile Offenders: Juvenile Offenders (10 Mar 2010)

Barry Andrews: The number of Juvenile Liaison Officers (JLOs) in An Garda Síochána is published each year in the Annual Report of the Committee appointed to monitor the effectiveness of the Diversion Programme. The annual reports for the years 2004 to 2008 are currently available on the Irish Youth Justice website - www.iyjs.ie. I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that 103 Gardaí and 8 Garda...

Written Answers — Juvenile Offenders: Juvenile Offenders (10 Mar 2010)

Barry Andrews: I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that there are currently 111 full-time Juvenile Liaison Officers appointed within An Garda Síochána.

Written Answers — Garda Training: Garda Training (10 Mar 2010)

Barry Andrews: The training programme for Garda Juvenile Liaison Officers (JLOs) is set out in detail in the Annual Reports of the Committee appointed to monitor the effectiveness of the Diversion Programme. The annual report for 2008 is available on the Irish Youth Justice Service website - www.iyjs.ie. I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the Garda Office for Children and Youth Affairs is...

Written Answers — Juvenile Offenders: Juvenile Offenders (10 Mar 2010)

Barry Andrews: The Diversion Programme operates in accordance with Part 4 (Sections 17-51) of the Children Act 2001, as amended, and under the general superintendence and control of the Garda Commissioner. The Act provides that the programme be managed by a member of an Garda Síochána not below the rank of superintendent, who is assigned by the Commissioner to the role of Director of the Programme. A...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (10 Mar 2010)

Barry Andrews: Further to my reply of 17 February, 2010, and contrary to the assertion that staff are not being treated with respect, I can confirm that discussions have been continuing at the Labour Relations Commission (LRC). Those discussions are attended by representatives of the Irish Youth Justice Service (IYJS), the Director of the Centre, both Unions, SIPTU and IMPACT, along with a number of staff...

Hospital Services. (10 Mar 2010)

Barry Andrews: I welcome the opportunity to deal with the issue that has arisen with regard to the reading of X-rays at Tallaght hospital. Patients have a right to expect the best possible standards of diagnosis, treatment and follow-up care in hospital and the Government is committed to ensuring this is achieved consistently, across all hospitals. In the case of X-rays, best practice is that they should...

Hospital Services. (10 Mar 2010)

Barry Andrews: Deputy O'Sullivan rightly began her contribution by concentrating on the reassurance we can give to patients listening to this debate or hearing reports of it. The information I have to hand is that when HIQA began to involve itself in this issue, it was satisfied that the risk stratification process had been contemplated in a manner in which the reviews of these X-rays would take place...

Hospital Services. (10 Mar 2010)

Barry Andrews: The Deputy's knowledge of the history of this House is greater than mine. However, I can assure him that nobody is in any doubt in terms of the competence of the newly appointed CEO at Tallaght hospital to deal with this issue. Equally, the Minister for Health and Children had absolute confidence that Professor Conlon would discharge his responsibilities, namely, that the practice had...

Hospital Services. (10 Mar 2010)

Barry Andrews: I cannot say that that information was represented to her at that time. I cannot inform the House of the exact nature of the conversation that took place. Deputy O'Sullivan also asked the number of public and private patients involved. I do not have that information either. I must, without being overly political on a serious issue about which people are concerned, take the Deputy to task...

Hospital Services. (10 Mar 2010)

Barry Andrews: The Minister has also introduced extraordinary reforms in respect of cancer care, which I do not believe anybody disputes and on which HIQA reportedly very positively. Deputy O'Sullivan is entitled to her political opinion but I dispute it strongly. The Minister has been a reforming Minister-----

Hospital Services. (10 Mar 2010)

Barry Andrews: The reforms she has introduced are beginning to bear fruit for the health service.

Hospital Services. (10 Mar 2010)

Barry Andrews: The exact details of who knew what and when will be explored by the investigation announced by the HSE. I do not wish to anticipate the outcome of that inquiry. I can say that HIQA was first informed of the matter on 24 April 2009. On the manner of the issue coming into the public domain, it is good that these matters do come into the public domain. However, the sequence within which they...

Hospital Services. (10 Mar 2010)

Barry Andrews: -----there are limited resources in every aspect of the public service. One hopes that expedition of this matter will not adversely affect other services. It is a matter of huge national concern and it must be addressed in the quickest timeframe possible. As I stated earlier, the matter is being addressed this afternoon by Dr. Barry White.

Hospital Services. (10 Mar 2010)

Barry Andrews: I am afraid it will have to do because that is what is happening right now.

Hospital Services. (10 Mar 2010)

Barry Andrews: They are the facts, Deputy Morgan. The Deputy is afraid of them.

Hospital Services. (10 Mar 2010)

Barry Andrews: The answer I have given is the correct factual response.

Hospital Services. (10 Mar 2010)

Barry Andrews: We are in a national Parliament and I can do no more than give the correct factual information. If the Deputy does not find that adequate, that is a matter for him.

Hospital Services. (10 Mar 2010)

Barry Andrews: The truth is that the timeframe for completion-----