Results 8,441-8,460 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Leaders' Questions. (1 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Staffing levels in public nursing homes are composed of both medical and clinical care and inspectors try to enforce those. If they believe either from an infrastructural or medical perspective, a nursing home is not up to the proper standards, they have no alternative but to move to close it.

Leaders' Questions. (1 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: In the first instance, inspectors try to get the management, staff and administration to rectify the faults that have been reported.

Leaders' Questions. (1 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: In many cases, the nursing home is the home for the individual so the HSE attempts to ensure homes have the highest standards so people are not disrupted. If the home does not comply with the HSE's stipulations, the HSE moves to close the home.

Leaders' Questions. (1 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: That is how it operates, if the House is interested. The Government is trying to strengthen provision.

Leaders' Questions. (1 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children announced some time ago that both the 1990 legislation and the 1993 regulations were being reviewed. They are being reviewed as part of the process that leads to this legislation, as I answered yesterday. Obviously, the reason they are being reviewed is they are not considered adequate. The HSE is only in existence since 1 January but prior...

Leaders' Questions. (1 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The legislation is being prepared. It is legislation which will include inspectorates for a range of areas, not just nursing homes. That is under way. I do not have details or knowledge about the case to which the Deputy referred but I imagine there are other cases too. The reality is that while there is an inspectorate, it should fully cover medical, nursing and environmental inspectors. It...

Leaders' Questions. (1 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Unless there is some legal or privacy issue of which I am not aware, I will check the report by Mr. Martin Hynes and make myself aware of the case. There have been substantial improvements in the carer's allowance in every year of this Government.

Leaders' Questions. (1 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: With a means test. There are means tests in our system right across the board. The disregard has been significantly improved. From today, the Government has brought in a respite grant of €1,000.

Leaders' Questions. (1 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: In reply to Deputy Rabbitte, from today a new respite grant is payable, regardless of means, to 33,000 people who are carers, which will be very beneficial and of significant help. As I stated, the Government is determined on this issue. On home help, the Deputy is correct in stating that people were paid a pittance. We now pay €115 million to people.

Leaders' Questions. (1 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: We have allocated significant——

Leaders' Questions. (1 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: It is because we were not able to get home helps. We are paying €10 per hour.

Leaders' Questions. (1 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: We were not able to get people. We are now paying €10 per hour.

Leaders' Questions. (1 Jun 2005)

Bertie Ahern: We did not have to pay the minimum wage; the Government paid the minimum wage.

Written Answers — Industrial Relations: Industrial Relations (31 May 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 119 and 120 together. The following is the text of the relevant agreement with the ICTU in relation to the development of airport capacity: Both the Government and the trade unions are committed to the ongoing development of the transport infrastructure together with the promotion of a high standard of quality secure employment in the industry. Accordingly,...

Leaders' Questions. (31 May 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The programme last night uncovered shocking treatment of vulnerable people in the units investigated. No excuse should be offered to defend what happened, as there is no defence for it. It was distressing and upsetting. There was a lack of training, management, supervision and almost everything else in that elderly care unit. On behalf of the Government, I express deep concern with the...

Leaders' Questions. (31 May 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The Deputy has again asked me to condemn unequivocally what we saw on the programme last night. No excuse can or should be offered for standing over facilities such as that. When one is independently inspecting something, it is bizarre to give warning by ringing ahead. If someone is knowingly or unintentionally acting in such a way in any home, not just Leas Cross, giving notice means what...

Leaders' Questions. (31 May 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Hopefully, that will be done.

Leaders' Questions. (31 May 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I do not know what Deputy Seán Ryan is talking about.

Leaders' Questions. (31 May 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The patients moving from acute beds are not going to that location. Many people do not wish to be moved. If they did want to, they would be. Following meetings held today, the HSE has agreed that a nurse manager supported by other nursing staff will go to Leas Cross immediately and that a governors board will be established, composed of a geriatrician, a GP and relatives. An inquiry team will...

Leaders' Questions. (31 May 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Rabbitte asked a number of questions. I will confirm what I told Deputy Kenny earlier, that no beds from the present lot of beds purchased from the private sector were in Leas Cross nursing home. As previously planned, the social services inspectorate will be established on a statutory basis and be independent of the HSE. The Health (Nursing Homes) Act 1990 will be reviewed urgently....