Results 941-960 of 6,045 for speaker:Frank Feighan

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Defence Forces Properties (3 Mar 2022)

Frank Feighan: I was involved in buying a soccer pitch in my town of Boyle in the late 1980s and I know the use that has been made of it over the past 35 years. It was money well spent, so I understand the Senator's position. She requested a meeting with the Department. It is not my Department, but if she writes to the Minister, we can pursue that request. I restate my support for the excellent work...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Medical Aids and Appliances (3 Mar 2022)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Senator for raising this important issue and for giving me, on behalf of the Minister for Health, the opportunity to clarify the position on the provision of wigs and hairpieces by the Health Service Executive under community-funded schemes. The HSE provides many aids and appliances through its community services and it endeavours to meet needs in an equitable way within...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Medical Aids and Appliances (3 Mar 2022)

Frank Feighan: I again thank the Senator for raising this important issue. The HSE is working to standardise the grants available for wigs and hairpieces. Based on the work done to date, an expert group has made a proposal for the development of guidelines by the HSE to standardise the grants paid. The Senator is absolutely correct that it just does not add up that somebody in Wexford would get...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Presidential Elections (3 Mar 2022)

Frank Feighan: I thank my good friend and colleague, Senator Ó Donnghaile, for raising this important issue. He raised it on many occasions during my time in the Seanad. In response to the evolving needs of Irish society and its relationship with the wider Irish diaspora, the previous Government agreed in March 2017 to accept in principle the main recommendation in the fifth report of the Convention...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Presidential Elections (3 Mar 2022)

Frank Feighan: Again, I do not have that detail, but I will bring the Senator's views back to the Minister. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Department of Foreign Affairs have worked closely on this issue. They have agreed to facilitate the holding of a referendum on this important issue. If passed by the people in a referendum, it would extend the right to vote for the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Presidential Elections (3 Mar 2022)

Frank Feighan: I appreciate the urgency and I will bring the Senator's views to the Minister. I thank him for raising this issue because we would like to see a situation whereby wherever green is worn, as it were, across the world every Irish citizen would have a franchise to elect the President. I understand the logistics but the sentiment is shared by us all.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: International Programmes (3 Mar 2022)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Senator for raising this issue. Innovation 2020, the national strategy for research and innovation, recognises that for Ireland to become a global innovation leader, our research and innovation system must be open with strong international collaboration links. Membership of leading international research organisations is an important mechanism for facilitating this engagement....

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: International Programmes (3 Mar 2022)

Frank Feighan: As the Senator knows, the reply I delivered is not from my Department. The Senator spoke about knowing the price of everything, but the relevant Department values research and international collaboration. We saw how important that is during the pandemic. Ireland, as a progressive country, should be able to take its place at the forefront of what is happening around the world. As I said,...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Strategies (2 Mar 2022)

Frank Feighan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 163 and 164 together. The Programme for Government commits to providing free contraception for women, starting with the 17-25 age cohort; roll-out is scheduled to commence in August 2022. The scheme will provide for: 1. The cost of prescription contraception; 2. The cost of a minimum of two consultations per annum with GPs and other doctors to discuss...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Strategies (1 Mar 2022)

Frank Feighan: “A Roadmap for Food Product Reformulation in Ireland” was launched on 3rd December 2021 by Minister Donnelly and myself.  The establishment of a Food Reformulation Task Force to implement the Roadmap was also announced.  The publication of the Reformulation Roadmap fulfils a key element of the Obesity Policy and Action Plan 2016-2025 and of the Sláintecare...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (1 Mar 2022)

Frank Feighan: STI/HIV testing is currently available for symptomatic infections through the national network of STI clinics. Asymptomatic testing is available through an HSE home testing service, through a pilot originally funded in 3 counties by the Sláintecare Integration Fund. In response to demand, this service has been expanded and is currently offered in 20 counties, with roll-out nationally...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Promotion (1 Mar 2022)

Frank Feighan: The promotion of physical activity is a priority item under the Healthy Ireland Framework, as evidenced by the publication of the National Physical Activity Plan (NPAP) in 2016. Substantial progress has been made in the implementation of the 60 actions set out in the NPAP,  led by the Departments of Health and Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, through a...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Strategies (1 Mar 2022)

Frank Feighan: The National Sexual Health Strategy, 2015-2020 was launched in October 2015. It takes a life course approach, acknowledging the importance of developing a healthy attitude to sexuality in young people and of building on that foundation for positive sexual health and wellbeing into adulthood and older age. Current priority deliverables under the Strategy are HIV prevention, including...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (1 Mar 2022)

Frank Feighan: The Keltoi facility was identified for use as an isolation facility for marginalised and vulnerable people during COVID-19 in Community Healthcare Organisation 9.   There are significant numbers of homeless and addiction service users in this area,  particularly in Dublin North City and County. The area also has a high migrant health population living in overcrowded...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (1 Mar 2022)

Frank Feighan: The Programme for Government commits to providing free contraception for women, starting with the 17-25 age cohort; roll-out is scheduled to commence in August 2022.  The scheme will provide for:The cost of prescription contraception;The cost of a minimum of two consultations per annum with GPs and other doctors to discuss suitable contraception for individual patients and to enable...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Strategies (1 Mar 2022)

Frank Feighan: The Report of the Working Group on Access to Contraception, published in October 2019, identified the barriers that exist to accessing contraception, which include accessibility, information, workforce capacity and, for a significant number of women who may be just above the eligibility threshold for a full GMS (medical) card, cost. In consideration of the recommendations of the Joint...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Strategies (1 Mar 2022)

Frank Feighan: The Contraception Atlas provides Ireland with a 65% ranking and advises that Ireland will be in a good position to move to the highest-ranking category once the free contraception scheme is in place. The Programme for Government commits to providing free contraception for women, starting with the 17-25 age cohort; roll-out is scheduled to commence in August 2022. The scheme will provide...

Social Welfare (Payment Order) (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (24 Feb 2022)

Frank Feighan: I thank Deputies Kerrane, Martin Kenny, Mairéad Farrell and Gould for their contributions on this debate and for their interest in this important topic. We have had a useful debate. We all understand the importance of child maintenance and want to improve the system. The liable relative provisions that are operated by the Department of Social Protection are just one element of that...

Social Welfare (Payment Order) (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (24 Feb 2022)

Frank Feighan: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "That" and substitute the following: "Dáil Éireann, while acknowledging the relevance of the Social Welfare (Payment Order) (Amendment) Bill 2021 in the context of the current conditions in the child maintenance system, resolves that the Bill be deemed to be read a second time this day six months to allow for consideration of the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Energy Policy (24 Feb 2022)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Deputies for raising this timely issue, given what has been happening today. District heating offers the potential to make use of renewable and waste energy to heat homes and businesses as part of a range of measures to reduce carbon emissions. In Ireland, district heating currently accounts for a small share of the heating sector, estimated to be less than 1%. The Government...