Results 981-1,000 of 3,871 for speaker:Catherine Byrne

Report on Mental Health Care: Motion (10 May 2018)

Catherine Byrne: I will try to be as quick as I can. On behalf of the Government, the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, and myself, I thank Deputy Browne and everybody who has contributed to today's debate. I welcome the very constructive contributions which have been made by everyone in the Chamber. I also welcome this opportunity to reiterate the Government’s commitment to the development and...

Topical Issue Debate: Emergency Departments Services (10 May 2018)

Catherine Byrne: Unfortunately, the Minister cannot be here so he has asked me to convey his apologies. I will read the reply and then come back to the Deputy regarding some of the issues she raised. On behalf of the Minister, I thank the Deputy for the opportunity to update the House on this matter. We are all aware that this winter was particularly difficult for our health service. The most recent...

Topical Issue Debate: Emergency Departments Services (10 May 2018)

Catherine Byrne: Unfortunately, I cannot answer some of the specific questions because I am not familiar with Cavan General Hospital. I take the Deputy's concerns on board, particularly those relating to the minor injury unit and the fact that the opening hours have been cut. I see that as a very real issue so I will relay that. I do not have any information about the application. All I can tell the...

Topical Issue Debate: Emergency Departments Services (10 May 2018)

Catherine Byrne: I assure the Deputy that any time I take a Topical Issue, the first thing I do afterwards is go back to the Minister's office. The second thing I do is send on emails outlining all the questions that were asked. I cannot be responsible for whether people reply but I complete matters on my end in order to ensure that people's concerns are raised. I expect the Minister to respond to the...

Seanad: Commencement Matters (Resumed): HSE Staff Recruitment (10 May 2018)

Catherine Byrne: I apologise on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, who is unable to take this Commencement matter raised by Senator Devine. The current director general of the HSE will be vacating the post towards the end of July. Preparations are at an advanced stage regarding the process for appointing his replacement. This will be done in accordance with the provisions of the governing...

Seanad: Commencement Matters (Resumed): HSE Staff Recruitment (10 May 2018)

Catherine Byrne: I do not have the information on who is on the interview panel to hand. I am sure when the Minister brings the memorandum to Cabinet, matters about that will become clear. I do not know who is running. I hope there will be women with the relevant qualifications from here and further afield who would be interested in the job. I do not agree with the Senator, however, about proven clinical...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Funding (10 May 2018)

Catherine Byrne: In July 2016 Government approved the creation of a Healthy Ireland Fund and subsequently provided an initial allocation of €5 million in Budget 2017 to kick-start its establishment. A further €5 million has been approved in Budget 2018 for the Fund.  The Healthy Ireland Fund is intended as an innovative mechanism to stimulate and support inter-sectoral action and...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Obesity Strategy (10 May 2018)

Catherine Byrne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 186 to 192, inclusive, and 199 and 200 together. As the issues rasied in the Deputy's questions are service matters, they have been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Obesity Strategy (10 May 2018)

Catherine Byrne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 193, 194 and 196 to 198, inclusive, together. A Healthy Weight for Ireland’, the Obesity Policy and Action Plan (OPAP), was launched in September 2016 under the auspices of the Healthy Ireland agenda. The OPAP covers a ten year period up to 2025 and aims to reverse obesity trends, prevent health complications and reduce the overall burden for...

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Data (10 May 2018)

Catherine Byrne: As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Obesity Strategy (8 May 2018)

Catherine Byrne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 327 to 330, inclusive, together. The Terms of Reference of the Reformulation sub-group of the Obesity Policy Implementation Oversight Group are: - To review existing food and drink reformulation targets such as EU and UK targets for salt, saturated fat and added sugars; - To make recommendations on short-term and long- term food and drink reformulation targets...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Obesity Strategy (8 May 2018)

Catherine Byrne: The national Obesity Policy and Action Plan (OPAP) was approved by the Government in 2016. The OPAP recommended that a code of practice for food and beverages promotion, marketing and sponsorship be developed, implemented and evaluated in conjunction with the food industry, HSE, Dept of Children and Youth Affairs, safefood, Food Safety Authority of Ireland and advertiser organisations. The...

Topical Issue Debate: Mental Health Services (3 May 2018)

Catherine Byrne: I will be taking this matter on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly. Mental health remains a priority for this Government, reflected by the additional €35 million given in the last budget, thus bringing total HSE funding this year to over €910 million. The HSE is committed to ensuring that mental health services are delivered and modernised nationally,...

Topical Issue Debate: Mental Health Services (3 May 2018)

Catherine Byrne: I assure the Deputy I certainly will bring back his message. I am taken aback at how important it is with mental health services right across all our communities for people to be in a happy environment where there is continuity and where, to be honest, they can feel at home. I have had experience of it in my own family with the mental health service locally. For anybody who is suffering...

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Equipment (3 May 2018)

Catherine Byrne: I understand the Deputy's frustration and annoyance about the Minister not being able to be here to take this matter. I can only respond to the Deputy on the basis of the reply to this Topical Issue matter that I have been given by the Department. I understand that when Topical Issue matters are selected by the Ceann Comhairle there is contact with the particular line Minister....

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Services (3 May 2018)

Catherine Byrne: I do not have the actual answers to the questions posed by Deputy Crowe. However, I assure him that I am well aware of the renal dialysis services in Tallaght because a member of my family is there on a daily basis. I do not have a date and time. I have only been given what I have been given by the Department and the Minister's office. Having said that, I will relay some of Deputy Crowe's...

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Equipment (3 May 2018)

Catherine Byrne: On behalf of the Minister, I thank Deputy Tóibín for raising this matter. I wish to reassure the Deputy that the most important issue in the consideration of services for the people of Meath is to ensure patient safety and outcomes come first. I understand that the Deputy is referring to echocardiograms carried out at Our Lady's Hospital, Navan. The HSE has informed the...

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Services (3 May 2018)

Catherine Byrne: I am sorry that the Minister, Deputy Simon Harris, cannot be here. I will take the opportunity to read the statement I have been given and then come back on some of the points that Deputy Crowe has raised. The Minister, Deputy Harris, is aware that the Deputy has some concerns about the dialysis services in the Tallaght region. However, he can be assured that this is a matter the...

Seanad: Commencement Matter: Schools Building Contractors (3 May 2018)

Catherine Byrne: I thank the Senator for raising this matter. Unfortunately, the Minister for Education and Skills is unavailable this morning and he has asked me to respond on his behalf. I welcome the opportunity to inform the Seanad of the current position regarding the examinership of Sammon and with respect to payments under the schools bundle 5 public private partnership, PPP, contract. As the...

Seanad: Commencement Matter: Schools Building Contractors (3 May 2018)

Catherine Byrne: I understand the Senator's concerns about this.