Results 9,081-9,100 of 26,394 for speaker:David Cullinane

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Staff (3 Nov 2020)

David Cullinane: 1413. To ask the Minister for Health if funding will be provided for the recruitment of an additional full-time consultant cardiologist for Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown. [33678/20]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (3 Nov 2020)

David Cullinane: 1414. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons who presented with respiratory conditions at Wexford General Hospital in 2019 and to date in 2020, in tabular form. [33679/20]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health and Social Care Professionals (3 Nov 2020)

David Cullinane: 1426. To ask the Minister for Health the number of vacant consultant posts on the first day of each month of 2020 to date; the latest available date for October 2020; the number of consultant posts filled to date in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33734/20]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Business of Joint Committee (28 Oct 2020)

David Cullinane: I wish to raise two issues, the first of which relates to the contract for Viapro and whether procurement rules were followed. If they were not, which seems to be the case judging by the public statement from the HSE, can we write to the HSE to establish why they were not and whether there is a requirement for the HSE to have checks and balances to ensure the quality and safety of products?...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Business of Joint Committee (28 Oct 2020)

David Cullinane: We asked to write to the Minister to seek the clinical advisory group report, which relates to that specific issue. We have not yet received that report and I do not think there has been a response. I understand the Minister met one of the people involved on the campaigning side but he needs also to brief the Oireachtas and the committee.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Covid-19 Contact Tracing: HSE (28 Oct 2020)

David Cullinane: I thank all those who are operating on the front line in testing and tracing in whatever capacity they serve. Whatever deficiencies, or lack of capacity in, the system are certainly is not down to them. It is a very difficult and challenging job so I take this opportunity to commend all those who are involved in that. I want to unpack some of the numbers and, as I do so, I would say to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Covid-19 Contact Tracing: HSE (28 Oct 2020)

David Cullinane: This is why we need to be very clear on the number. If there are other people involved in tracing, the HSE officials should tell us and put it in the briefing notes they give us. The note states: "We currently have a total of 581 staff available to work on routine contact tracing." Therefore it is confirmed that 274 of those are people who have been recently recruited and 214 are HSE....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Covid-19 Contact Tracing: HSE (28 Oct 2020)

David Cullinane: It does. How many people were directly employed so far, taking out those who were-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Covid-19 Contact Tracing: HSE (28 Oct 2020)

David Cullinane: Some 274 in total were directly employed. If it is 581 at the moment, what does Ms O'Beirne expect the total number to be at the end of the year?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Covid-19 Contact Tracing: HSE (28 Oct 2020)

David Cullinane: The number is 800. When we are told 800 will be recruited, does that include the 580 who are already there? How many will be recruited between now and the end of the year?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Covid-19 Contact Tracing: HSE (28 Oct 2020)

David Cullinane: Does that then mean those who were seconded or were reassigned will go back? Is Ms O'Beirne telling me that at the moment, when it states 581 staff are available, the 581 will become 800 by the end of the year, in simple terms? Is that what she is saying?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Covid-19 Contact Tracing: HSE (28 Oct 2020)

David Cullinane: Okay. Why was that not done over the summer months? In her opening statement Ms O'Beirne had to apologise to 1,961 people. There was much commentary on whether the system was fit for purpose and whether we had used the summer months wisely. We are now being told that 60 or 70 staff will be recruited per week. Why only 60 or 70? Why can that not be accelerated? Leaving that aside...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Covid-19 Contact Tracing: HSE (28 Oct 2020)

David Cullinane: That is not an answer my question. The HSE planned to have 800 by the end of the year. In my view, it should have at least 800 today but it does not. Whether staff left for whatever reason is irrelevant from my perspective. The HSE has to plan and make sure that we have a tracing regime that is fit for purpose. If there will be 800 by the end of the year, why do we not have 800 today?...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Covid-19 Contact Tracing: HSE (28 Oct 2020)

David Cullinane: I need to come back in and say a number of things. I will put my questions when I finish my point. It is immaterial how many cases there were during the summer months because we know that lockdowns are used to reduce the numbers. The time is then used to build up defences so that when the number of cases increases we have very robust testing and tracing that can then be used to hunt down...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Covid-19 Contact Tracing: HSE (28 Oct 2020)

David Cullinane: That does not answer my question. It was not one issue. The email I received stated that the directive being given to SNAs and teachers from the HSE was that they should disable the app when they go to school and work. We are encouraging people to use the app. I use it every single day. I assume we want teachers and SNAs to use it. We need a more detailed explanation on that because it...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Covid-19 Contact Tracing: HSE (28 Oct 2020)

David Cullinane: What about the person who had to travel from Bantry to Cork city?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Covid-19 Contact Tracing: HSE (28 Oct 2020)

David Cullinane: Okay. I thank the witnesses.

Level 5 Response to Covid-19: Statements (23 Oct 2020)

David Cullinane: I am sharing time with Teachtaí Ó Laoghaire and O'Reilly. I accept the reason the Minister must leave. It has been a long day and we have been discussing a number of different issues. I hope the Minister listens carefully to what the members of the group he is meeting have to say. That is an important issue, and they are quite sore about the fact that the tribunal has been...

Health (Amendment) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Oct 2020)

David Cullinane: I support all of the amendments in this grouping. They are variations on a theme. Essentially, the amendments propose that the regulations the Government will eventually craft will come before the Oireachtas for approval. I reiterate my earlier comments on a very important point that goes to the heart of my difficulty with the Bill. It provides for certain categories of fines and then...

Health (Amendment) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Oct 2020)

David Cullinane: I want my say on this section. However, it would be better to move on to the amendments.