Results 8,141-8,160 of 12,005 for speaker:Mary Butler

Seanad: Central Mental Hospital (Relocation) Bill 2020: Second Stage (14 Dec 2020)

Mary Butler: There is always next year.

Seanad: Central Mental Hospital (Relocation) Bill 2020: Second Stage (14 Dec 2020)

Mary Butler: Beidh bliain eile againn.

Seanad: Central Mental Hospital (Relocation) Bill 2020: Second Stage (14 Dec 2020)

Mary Butler: We have a good, young, strong team.

Seanad: Central Mental Hospital (Relocation) Bill 2020: Second Stage (14 Dec 2020)

Mary Butler: Please God, next year.

Seanad: Central Mental Hospital (Relocation) Bill 2020: Second Stage (14 Dec 2020)

Mary Butler: And to Antrim.

Seanad: Central Mental Hospital (Relocation) Bill 2020: Second Stage (14 Dec 2020)

Mary Butler: I thank the House for affording me the time. I am delighted to be here to introduce the Central Mental Hospital (Relocation) Bill 2020 to the House. The Central Mental Hospital operates from a building in Dundrum that dates back to 1850. That building is no longer fit for purpose. Construction of a new hospital is a long-standing Government policy and a priority in the programme for...

Seanad: Central Mental Hospital (Relocation) Bill 2020: Second Stage (14 Dec 2020)

Mary Butler: There are quite a lot of questions and I will do my best to get through them as best I can. I knew this legislation was coming and have heard a lot about it since I took up my position on 1 July. Six weeks ago and before we went back into lockdown, I took the opportunity to visit both sites. I first visited the Dundrum facility where I met Professor Kennedy and some of his team. Due to...

Seanad: Central Mental Hospital (Relocation) Bill 2020: Second Stage (14 Dec 2020)

Mary Butler: As Senator Clifford-Lee said, the peninsula is beautiful. It must be a wonderful place to live because on the day of my visit the sun shone and the views were spectacular. I was extremely impressed by what I saw on my visit to what will be the new central mental hospital. The project is long overdue and the additional capacity is very welcome. Many issues have been raised with regard to...

Seanad: Central Mental Hospital (Relocation) Bill 2020: Second Stage (14 Dec 2020)

Mary Butler: The Dundrum site is not being sold but transferred to a State-sponsored body for the purpose of increasing housing capacity, but I will certainly follow up on the point made by the Senator. It was raised last Thursday as well. That is the only information I have at the moment.

Seanad: Central Mental Hospital (Relocation) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Dec 2020)

Mary Butler: I thank Senators for their contributions. I think Senator Boyhan has summed it up. The Central Mental Hospital is a hospital, first and foremost, and a prison second.

Seanad: Central Mental Hospital (Relocation) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Dec 2020)

Mary Butler: That is a point on which we must remain focused. I have heard a lot of talk about Thornton Hall and Mountjoy. Those matters were a little before my time in national politics although I was always involved at local level. I do not doubt for one minute the bona fides of Senator McDowell, a former Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, nor do I doubt the passion with which he has...

Seanad: Central Mental Hospital (Relocation) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Dec 2020)

Mary Butler: I thank the Senator for withdrawing his amendments and for the constructive way he has spoken here today.

Seanad: Central Mental Hospital (Relocation) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Dec 2020)

Mary Butler: I thank Senators for contributing to today’s debate and their interest in this important legislation. It is heartening to see the strong Oireachtas tradition of working together on matters of mental health endures across both Houses. This is never more important than when those affected are some of the most vulnerable people in our mental health and judicial systems. For a long time...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Paediatric Services (10 Dec 2020)

Mary Butler: I again thank Deputy Brendan Smith for raising this important issue. He has hit the nail on the head; the key word here is an "active" recruitment campaign, which is most important in order that we can pursue the intensely long waiting list. I restate the gratitude of the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, to the staff and management of Children's Health Ireland for the delivery of services to...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Paediatric Services (10 Dec 2020)

Mary Butler: I thank the Deputy for raising this serious and important issue. I am addressing the Dáil on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, regarding the unacceptable delays in appointments for children with rheumatism and those with Down's syndrome also. First, the Minister and I sincerely regret that children can experience a long waiting time for rheumatology...

Central Mental Hospital (Relocation) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Dec 2020)

Mary Butler: I thank Deputies for contributing to this debate and for giving their support to this important legislation. It is heartening to see that the strong tradition of Deputies of all parties and Independents working together on matters of mental health endures. This is never more important than when those affected are some of the most vulnerable people in our mental health system. Moving to...

Central Mental Hospital (Relocation) Bill 2020: Second Stage (10 Dec 2020)

Mary Butler: Whatever you think is suitable, a Cheann Comhairle.

Central Mental Hospital (Relocation) Bill 2020: Second Stage (10 Dec 2020)

Mary Butler: Yes, please. An awful lot of issues were raised. I thank everyone who came in and spoke. I know they will support this legislation. I will try to answer the questions raised about the legislation specifically. Deputy Ward started off and asked what will happen to the Dundrum site. The site is owned by the Commissioners of Public Works. It is an 11.3 ha site. The Dundrum Central...

Central Mental Hospital (Relocation) Bill 2020: Order for Second Stage (10 Dec 2020)

Mary Butler: I move: "That Second Stage be taken now."

Central Mental Hospital (Relocation) Bill 2020: Second Stage (10 Dec 2020)

Mary Butler: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am here to introduce the Central Mental Hospital (Relocation) Bill 2020. The Central Mental Hospital currently operates from a facility in Dundrum which was built in 1850. That building is no longer fit for purpose. Construction of a new hospital is a long-standing Government policy and a priority in the programme for Government. A...