Results 8,181-8,200 of 18,325 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Exports (1 May 2014)

Brendan Smith: 162. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the ongoing efforts to have the ban on imports of Irish beef to China lifted; the recent discussions that have been held at political or official level; the likely timescale for the lifting of this ban; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19873/14]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (30 Apr 2014)

Brendan Smith: 437. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the widespread concerns of local residents and business operators in areas (details supplied) of County Monaghan regarding the totally inadequate level of broadband connectivity; his proposals to upgrade this much-needed service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19654/14]

White Paper on Universal Health Insurance: Statements (Resumed) (17 Apr 2014)

Brendan Smith: I am not suggesting that. I suggest that at times people are concerned about a change in the particular drug they take. The 2010 Dutch Health Care Performance Report discusses the fact that insurance companies mainly compete to limit the cost of health care services, with quality of care being of limited influence. This is a worrying feature of an insurance company-dominated health...

White Paper on Universal Health Insurance: Statements (Resumed) (17 Apr 2014)

Brendan Smith: We are discussing the Minister's White Paper, and from some commentary it appears to be the Minister's White Paper rather than the Government's White Paper.

White Paper on Universal Health Insurance: Statements (Resumed) (17 Apr 2014)

Brendan Smith: That is not true. We are discussing the Minister's White Paper. Why, in his fourth year in office, could he not provide costings based on 2014 prices and tax rates? It is very clear from the contents of the White Paper the practicalities of universal health insurance have yet to be clearly established. It is clear the Government does not know the balance of funding for universal health...

White Paper on Universal Health Insurance: Statements (Resumed) (17 Apr 2014)

Brendan Smith: There were serious difficulties in many areas-----

White Paper on Universal Health Insurance: Statements (Resumed) (17 Apr 2014)

Brendan Smith: There were many improvements.

White Paper on Universal Health Insurance: Statements (Resumed) (17 Apr 2014)

Brendan Smith: Many improvements were made and the Minister railed against some of them with regard to cancer reorganisation. I hear some of the Minister's party speak laudably about the cancer treatment services available throughout the country, and they are right to laud them, but many members of the Minister's party opposed the changes when they were made.

White Paper on Universal Health Insurance: Statements (Resumed) (17 Apr 2014)

Brendan Smith: The Minister is selective.

White Paper on Universal Health Insurance: Statements (Resumed) (17 Apr 2014)

Brendan Smith: I could give him figures also.

White Paper on Universal Health Insurance: Statements (Resumed) (17 Apr 2014)

Brendan Smith: People cannot get on the waiting list now because they cannot get an assessment done.

White Paper on Universal Health Insurance: Statements (Resumed) (17 Apr 2014)

Brendan Smith: The Minister should speak to the people waiting for an orthopaedic assessment in the north east.

White Paper on Universal Health Insurance: Statements (Resumed) (17 Apr 2014)

Brendan Smith: We table parliamentary questions but we do not receive answers. People are not even called for an assessment.

White Paper on Universal Health Insurance: Statements (Resumed) (17 Apr 2014)

Brendan Smith: It is hard to get on a waiting list if one is not even called to be assessed.

White Paper on Universal Health Insurance: Statements (Resumed) (17 Apr 2014)

Brendan Smith: I will not take the figures the Minister selectively quoted. We can all select statistics from a particular day or month to suit the argument we are putting forward.

White Paper on Universal Health Insurance: Statements (Resumed) (17 Apr 2014)

Brendan Smith: The Minister quoted figures from January and February 2011 when there was a huge number of admissions to hospitals because people were afflicted with injuries due to the climate conditions and harsh weather. This could apply in any particular year and it can be cyclical. Last week the Minister was in Cavan. He saw the improvements that have been brought about at Cavan General Hospital on...

White Paper on Universal Health Insurance: Statements (Resumed) (17 Apr 2014)

Brendan Smith: Deputy Jim Daly referred to the establishment of hospital trusts. I am amazed in regard to the specific trust concerning the Cavan-Monaghan hospital group that we are not linked with the Mater hospital. The Minister, Deputy Reilly, knows as a medical doctor and a politician that there is a huge affinity, working relationship and pattern of Cavan people accessing tertiary health services at...

White Paper on Universal Health Insurance: Statements (Resumed) (17 Apr 2014)

Brendan Smith: No.

White Paper on Universal Health Insurance: Statements (Resumed) (17 Apr 2014)

Brendan Smith: It is not a named Minister and unfortunately he or she did not refer to Deputy Reilly by his proper ministerial title either. I do not like that.

White Paper on Universal Health Insurance: Statements (Resumed) (17 Apr 2014)

Brendan Smith: I did not say they were not. There are parliamentary procedures which are quite common to parliaments throughout the world.