Results 861-880 of 2,761 for speaker:Pat Buckley

Standards in Public Office (Amendment) Bill 2023: First Stage (23 Feb 2023)

Pat Buckley: I thank Deputy Farrell for introducing the Bill. She has raised the three relevant points on it. It is about working together and enhancing accountability. We need accountability within the HSE and other entities. In this regard, we could probably consider some more legislation. It was not too long ago that Deputy Farrell and I worked on the protected disclosures law. We worked with...

Eviction Ban Bill 2022: Second Stage [Private Members] (22 Feb 2023)

Pat Buckley: First, I thank People Before Profit-Solidarity for bringing this Bill forward. I listened to what previous speakers had to say. The one thing we must realise is that this is an emergency. In times of emergency, you think outside the box. It was mentioned previously that this is for the public good. It is for the public good. We all have people coming into our offices every day who are...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Apprenticeship Programmes (21 Feb 2023)

Pat Buckley: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Leas-Cheann Comhairle and I thank the Minister of State for being here. This Topical Issue matter is exactly what it says on the tin. It is to discuss additional financial supports for people in the first two years of apprenticeships. I raise this matter because the first two years are the most crucial. I have been talking to many of the families involved,...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Apprenticeship Programmes (21 Feb 2023)

Pat Buckley: From all of the inquiries I have received - I will not say complaints - from people and families on the apprenticeship issue, nobody actually questioned their employer. These people are very happy. It is the small additional costs that are difficult. I note the Minister of State mentioned the social welfare system. I see a problem with that. I am airing this issue to see if we can get...

Health (Amendment) (Dual Diagnosis: No Wrong Door) Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (16 Feb 2023)

Pat Buckley: I acknowledge the work Deputies Ward and Gould have put into this. I also acknowledge that the two Ministers of State are here and that there is a joined-up consensus. The Minister State, Deputy Butler, would have been aware, as well as the former Minister of State, former Deputy Jim Daly, and the Minister, Deputy McEntee, that sometimes there is no colour, class, creed, religion nor...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Medical Cards (16 Feb 2023)

Pat Buckley: I thank the Minister of State. I am disappointed by that response. The Minister of State said, "Alternatively, they can choose to receive a once-off payment of €3,000 in lieu of a card". To remove two cataracts costs €3,000. That payment is a one-stop shop. A survivor receives that one-hit payment for a life's suffering. That is an absolute disgrace. I understand the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Medical Cards (16 Feb 2023)

Pat Buckley: Survivors do not have access to that money.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Medical Cards (16 Feb 2023)

Pat Buckley: I will follow up on that. I thank the Minister of State.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Medical Cards (16 Feb 2023)

Pat Buckley: We are here to discuss just exactly what this enhanced medical card will be for the survivors of mother and baby homes. I know the issue has been ongoing for a long time. Unfortunately, when I say it has been going on for a long time, I mean that none of these people are getting any younger. I am being constantly asked when this enhanced medical card is going to be given to survivors, what...

Committee on Public Petitions: Office of the Ombudsman Annual Report 2021: Office of the Ombudsman (16 Feb 2023)

Pat Buckley: I thank Mr. Deering for attending. I will start at the back of the report and work the opposite way. In his conclusion, he said, "acknowledging and learning from mistakes, from oversights, from unfairness and inequity is intrinsic to driving improvements in our public services". Even though he said in his opening statement that his office received its highest number of complaints in 38...

Committee on Public Petitions: Office of the Ombudsman Annual Report 2021: Office of the Ombudsman (16 Feb 2023)

Pat Buckley: That is perfect. It is a story of hope today.

Committee on Public Petitions: Office of the Ombudsman Annual Report 2021: Office of the Ombudsman (16 Feb 2023)

Pat Buckley: An awful lot of people have been moved out and put into places that are less compliant. It goes against policy, community integration and community-led services. It is the Owenacurra Centre in the town of Midleton. People are being moved to a place that is 15 miles away. They cannot even access a shop. It has to be detrimental to their health and their families' health also. It is a...

Committee on Public Petitions: Office of the Ombudsman Annual Report 2021: Office of the Ombudsman (16 Feb 2023)

Pat Buckley: I would say it is both. It is under the remit of the HSE.

Committee on Public Petitions: Office of the Ombudsman Annual Report 2021: Office of the Ombudsman (16 Feb 2023)

Pat Buckley: I will email the details because I am conscious that we have a lot to get through. I thank Ms Hanrahan.

Committee on Public Petitions: Office of the Ombudsman Annual Report 2021: Office of the Ombudsman (16 Feb 2023)

Pat Buckley: No, I think I have grilled the witnesses enough.

Committee on Public Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received (16 Feb 2023)

Pat Buckley: Ms McNelis's statement, in one of the many pieces of correspondence here, sums it up when she says: If you can't get insurance there is no competition. All you get in this country is a stick. You get fined if you do not maintain a heritage building and yet you cannot insure it. There needs to be a carrot somewhere or heritage buildings will be lost forever in Ireland. This makes...

Committee on Public Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received (16 Feb 2023)

Pat Buckley: I echo what the Chair said. It was the same in our previous conversation with the Ombudsman. Sometimes people do not like the response, but the Chair is correct that there are procedures and it takes time. I know people want it to be addressed urgently but I ask the petitioners to have patience. A lot of work has gone into this. The Chair is correct that the committee aims to get the...

Committee on Public Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received (16 Feb 2023)

Pat Buckley: We have the best secretariat. It is as simple as that.

Committee on Public Petitions: Office of the Ombudsman Annual Report 2021: Office of the Ombudsman (16 Feb 2023)

Pat Buckley: Two issues come to mind. With any ombudsman’s office, one bugbear I have when asking about power, additional resources or whatever is mental health respite for older people. There is no oversight in that regard. When one tries to reach out to access information or help for families, it is not available. To cut a long story short, I reached out to the European ombudsman on this...

Committee on Public Petitions: Office of the Ombudsman Annual Report 2021: Office of the Ombudsman (16 Feb 2023)

Pat Buckley: I asked that question because, specifically in relation to older people and respite mental health services, local community services are being closed down on the basis that buildings are non-compliant, yet the people in them are being taken out of what Mr. Deering calls their home and moved into other places that are actually less compliant. Does the Ombudsman have the power to investigate...