Results 881-900 of 1,467 for speaker:Geraldine Feeney

Seanad: Leas Cross Nursing Home Report: Statements (29 Nov 2006)

Geraldine Feeney: If people are means tested, at least we then know they cannot afford to obtain entry to private nursing homes. People are queuing up to gain entry to public nursing homes. The team from the HSE informed us that unannounced inspections are taking place. I agree with the carrying out of such inspections, but I have a slight reservation in respect of them. Inspection teams are made up of...

Seanad: Leas Cross Nursing Home Report: Statements (29 Nov 2006)

Geraldine Feeney: ——and roar about particular matters. People must take a balanced approach and they must consider older people before trying to score political points. I am delighted the health Bill will be published before the end of the year.

Seanad: Leas Cross Nursing Home Report: Statements (29 Nov 2006)

Geraldine Feeney: As the Minister of State indicated, the Bill will create greater confidence with regard to the care being delivered to patients. I hope elderly patients will be included in this regard. Tough lessons must be learned from Leas Cross and we must ensure the type of abuse that occurred there will never happen again. We would not be where we are today were it not for our senior citizens, some of...

Seanad: UN Committee Report on Children in Ireland: Statements (Resumed) (15 Nov 2006)

Geraldine Feeney: I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Brian Lenihan, to the House. Since our previous debate on this issue, we have already seen substantial change in the area of child protection. Not alone do we have a committee on child protection, of which the Minister of State and I are members, the Taoiseach has announced we will have a referendum in the...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Nov 2006)

Geraldine Feeney: I was totally incensed by an article I read in The Irish Times last Friday. It stated an off-licence in a supermarket had sold two bottles of vodka to two 15 year olds on the night on which the junior certificate results were released. The case was heard in court and the off-licence was fined €100. It later came to the attention of the judge that mandatory closure applies in all cases...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Nov 2006)

Geraldine Feeney: The Senator does not want it.

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (26 Oct 2006)

Geraldine Feeney: I welcome the Minister of State with responsibility for children, Deputy Brian Lenihan, to the House. I agree with all those who have said this is wonderful legislation. I also agree with Senator Minihan who said we owe foster parents our gratitude. Without them where would the 5,000 foster children the Minister of State mentioned be? I am privileged to know some foster children as well as...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Oct 2006)

Geraldine Feeney: Like other speakers, my mind was focused over the weekend on the terrible tragedy played out in Threemilehouse, County Monaghan. One wonders about the request for a debate on road safety because we have had umpteen debates on the issue. I was very taken by the words of Fr. Martin O'Reilly during the funerals of the two little cousins, as they were thought-provoking and laden with common...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Oct 2006)

Geraldine Feeney: Perhaps then we would not witness a repeat of the terrible pain and agony inflicted on all those families in Monaghan. Could a debate on road safety cover both drug and alcohol testing? Many young people may be doing drugs rather than drinking and no testing is conducted for drugs. Other European countries carry out such testing and it should be mandatory in Ireland.

Seanad: Mental Health Commission Report 2005: Statements (19 Oct 2006)

Geraldine Feeney: I thank Senator Kitt for sharing his time with me and I welcome the Minister of State back to the House. Senator Ryan is correct in saying that the Minister of State is a listening Minister. He is also a caring Minister whose brief suits him very well. I am delighted to have the opportunity to contribute to this debate. I will focus on the annual report for 2005 of the Mental Health...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Oct 2006)

Geraldine Feeney: I, too, would like Professor Des O'Neill's report on the Leas Cross nursing home to be published. While publication would be in the public interest, we must also bear in mind the legal advice the Health Service Executive has obtained in this matter. I am also a member of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children and, like Senator Henry, have seen the advice given to the HSE. I...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Oct 2006)

Geraldine Feeney: I support and welcome the debate called for by Senator Brian Hayes on the location of the National Children's Hospital. I am on record as speaking in the House when the location of the new hospital was announced. The announcement was welcomed with great words and applause, it was said it was long-awaited and so on. Everyone sang from the same hymn sheet on that occasion, particularly——

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Oct 2006)

Geraldine Feeney: ——-medical personnel as well politicians. Having sat on the Joint Committee on Health and Children, I have engaged in the debate where it was said time and again that the National Children's Hospital should not be confused with a Dublin children's hospital. This is a hospital for the entire country to deal with children from the Inishowen peninsula to the furthest point in Kerry, from...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Oct 2006)

Geraldine Feeney: Whether a sick child is Muslim, Christian, Catholic or Protestant should not enter the equation.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Oct 2006)

Geraldine Feeney: The hospital should be located on the best site for the sick children of Ireland and not confused with a Dublin hospital.

Seanad: UN Committee Report on Children in Ireland: Statements (11 Oct 2006)

Geraldine Feeney: I wish to share time with Senator Daly. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Seán Power, to the House. I am delighted to speak on this debate. As the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Lenihan, mentioned, the Convention on the Rights of the Child was adopted by the UN General Assembly in November 1998. Ireland signed up to the convention in September 1990 and ratified it in September...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Oct 2006)

Geraldine Feeney: That is the Labour Party's line.

Seanad: Office of Tobacco Control Annual Report 2005: Statements (27 Sep 2006)

Geraldine Feeney: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and am pleased to have the opportunity to debate this comprehensive report from the Office of Tobacco Control. Other speakers have outlined the fact that the main objective of the report and the office is to inform public opinion and build support for tobacco control measures. The Minister of State spoke about the thrill of being in the United...

Seanad: National Sports Campus Development Authority Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (28 Jun 2006)

Geraldine Feeney: I add my voice to the concerns expressed by other speakers. I accept and recognise the Minister's point of view on the matter. Like Senator Dooley, I ask that at a later stage we might reconsider the section. While I accept the Bill will be passed, we may get another chance to remove such a provision from all legislation. The wording is standard in all legislation going through the House. The...

Seanad: National Sports Campus Development Authority Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (28 Jun 2006)

Geraldine Feeney: I am not going back to Second Stage.