Results 61-80 of 190 for drugs speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug and Alcohol Task Forces (5 Jul 2016)

Darragh O'Brien: 474. To ask the Minister for Health to provide a breakdown of the number of Health Service Executive whole-time equivalent addiction services front-line staff based in each of the ten regional drug and alcohol task forces and each of the 14 local drug and alcohol task force areas in each of the years 2013 to 2016 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19220/16]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug and Alcohol Task Forces (5 Jul 2016)

Darragh O'Brien: ...CARE project including resources allocated by the Health Service Executive, HSE, in 2016 and an estimated date for reinstatement in the Ballymun local, Finglas local and north Dublin regional drug and alcohol task force areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19221/16]

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Drugs Strategy (5 Jul 2016)

Darragh O'Brien: 476. To ask the Minister for Health to confirm that the new national drugs strategy which is currently under development will be one integrated national substance misuse strategy inclusive of all drugs including alcohol; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19222/16]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Products (9 Jun 2016)

Darragh O'Brien: 162. To ask the Minister for Health if he will enter into further negotiations with a company (details supplied) in relation to the drug Orkambi, if he will call on the company to significantly reduce the price of Orkambi as part of these negotiations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15154/16]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Supply (20 Apr 2016)

Darragh O'Brien: 316. To ask the Minister for Health to fast-track the approval of the new drug Orkambi for the treatment of cystic fibrosis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7502/16]

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Dec 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: .... I assure the Leader that there has been a cut in the budget and the figures are available. I wish to deal with a couple of items. First, on 29 November I referred to three cystic fibrosis drugs that had been approved by the European Medicines Agency, EMA, on 20 November. As I wrote to the Minister for Health, Deputy Leo Varadkar, on 1 November, in advance of approval by the EMA, I...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Nov 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: I have written to the Minister for Health, Deputy Leo Varadkar, about a new drug for the treatment of cystic fibrosis called Orkambi which yesterday was approved by the EU Medicines Agency. We have been very slow to give effect in Ireland to EU approvals. This is a ground-breaking drug for CF sufferers that has been shown in America to extend life expectancy and improve quality of life for...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Sep 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: ...all the best in his retirement. I welcome Members back after the recess. On many occasions other Members and I have raised the issue of the availability of Fampyra, the multiple sclerosis, MS, drug that was withdrawn by the Government and the Health Service Executive, HSE, from 3,500 MS sufferers. I am pleased to advise the House that just two weeks ago I received correspondence from...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Jul 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: ...a matter of significant national and EU importance. I wish to update colleagues on a matter I ask the Leader to take up again. Since February 2014 I have been raising the issue of the Fampyra drug for 3,000 MS sufferers who cannot access it. I have been writing repeatedly to the Minister and HSE, as have other colleagues, only to get the same stock answer. What really bothers me is...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Jul 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: .... He says it is terrible and I agree with him but what is he doing about it? That is the problem. I do not see anything happening. I have further referenced the point with regard to the Fampyra drug, an issue I have raised in the House time and again for more than a year. Three thousand multiple sclerosis patients who would benefit from this mobility drug cannot get the drug. It is...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jun 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: ...across the House have put their names to this motion and I thank them for doing so. The Leader should accept it. I looked back at my file and saw that I have been raising the issue of the MS drug Fampyra since February 2014. I have been writing back and forth to the Minister for Health and to the previous Minister and have raised the issue on numerous occasions in this House, as have...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jun 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: I will raise this issue every day from now on until this drug is released to the people who need it. The Leader has been very fair on these matters previously so I ask him to use his good offices to get the Government to get the finger out and allow this drug to be given to people who need it to improve their quality of life.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Jun 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: ...curriculum. It is a skill all of us should have. I hate to say that I do not have it myself, but I will make it my business to take a CPR course over the summer. I am involved in the regional drugs task force in north Dublin, all of the staff of which are trained. If we could get our school children and students trained, it would be useful. I ask that we have a discussion on CPR and...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Apr 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: Can time be set aside in the coming weeks for a debate on the Government’s plans for the national drugs and alcohol policy? Last week my colleague in the other House, Deputy Niall Collins, and I published our proposals in this area. There is quite a bit on which all parties can agree. The absence of a Minister of State with responsibility for drugs policy is a deficiency and has...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Apr 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: ...fit to support the legislation published today by my colleague which would put an onus on the Garda Commissioner to establish a specific unit to be charged with dealing with public order offences, including drug-taking, alcohol misuse and anti-social behaviour, in Dublin city centre. Such legislation is badly needed, as I am sure colleagues across the House or anyone who has used the Luas...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Mar 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: I want to once again raise with the Leader the issue of the MS drug Fampyra, or fampridine, which I have been raising in this House since February 2014. I gave the Government advance notice that, from June of last year, people would have to pay for that drug. Since then, I have raised the issue here on numerous occasions, including directly with the Minister for Health in this House, with...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Feb 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: ...rights. That is wrong. What is the Government's view on that? On more than 20 separate occasions since last year I raised the issue with two Ministers for Health of the multiple sclerosis drug Fampridine or Fampyra. I spoke to another gentleman last week who now is no longer working and who cannot get out of bed because his mobility is so bad, but the drugs programmes and policy unit,...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Dec 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: ...of rescheduling meetings. It also stated that they would be in touch to discuss and agree and alternative date as soon as possible. The city councillors had flagged the issue. I am chair of the regional drugs task force in north County Dublin and I am very familiar with the issue of homelessness, and much of the cause of it is related to drug and alcohol abuse, although not all of it...

Seanad: Availability of Certain Medication: Statements (26 Nov 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: ...to the contrary from 15 women. The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Ireland, MS Ireland, informed me that up to one third of those suffering with MS have found mobility improvements after taking this drug. Yesterday, I had an e-mail from a lady who since July has paid €279 a month for the drug, €2,115 in total, to enable her stay on in work. We can argue the toss about whether...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Nov 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: ...of certain medicines. While it is only for 30 minutes, it is something, and I thank the Leader for arranging that. I intend to raise with the Minister for Health the ongoing issue of Fampyra, the MS drug. I am sure Members are probably sick and tired of hearing about this, but it concerns 1,500 people. I have testimonies which I will read for the Minister this afternoon from people who...