Results 1,021-1,040 of 3,871 for speaker:Catherine Byrne

Topical Issue Debate: Mental Health Services (26 Apr 2018)

Catherine Byrne: The people in it are working hard and are extremely professional. I doubt anybody who works in mental health services goes into it for any wrong reason. They do it to help people with mental health issues.

Topical Issue Debate: Mental Health Services (26 Apr 2018)

Catherine Byrne: I apologise to Deputy Mattie McGrath on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, who cannot be here. I have been asked to take this matter on his behalf. I have taken notes because the initial issue submitted was so broad and the reply may not cover all of the matters to which the Deputy referred. Mental health remains a priority care programme for Government. Since 2012,...

Topical Issue Debate: Services for People with Disabilities (26 Apr 2018)

Catherine Byrne: On behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath, I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. I apologise that the Minister of State cannot be present for this discussion. I will make a statement and refer to some of the issues the Deputy raised. I hope I will also be able to fill in some of the gaps for the Deputy. I am pleased to confirm that the national programme,...

Topical Issue Debate: Services for People with Disabilities (26 Apr 2018)

Catherine Byrne: As I indicated, the rate of referral to the services in Kildare west Wicklow continues to grow. As a public representative, I understand that parents need to have their children assessed within a specified timeframe. If a timely assessment is not carried out, a child will, unfortunately, regress to a certain extent. While there is no issue with funding for services, sometimes staff are not...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Hospitals Building Programme (26 Apr 2018)

Catherine Byrne: I thank the Senator. I am here on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy McGrath, as this matter falls under his remit. I take this opportunity to discuss developments at the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dún Laoghaire here in the Seanad. The Government recognises the excellent rehabilitation programme the National Rehabilitation Hospital delivers and the hospital’s...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Hospitals Building Programme (26 Apr 2018)

Catherine Byrne: This will support staff to deliver quality care and treatment in a facility which affords dignity, respect and privacy to all. The Government is committed to advancing neuro-rehabilitation services in the community, and the redevelopment of the National Rehabilitation Hospital is central to achieving that. The National Rehabilitation Hospital provides complex specialist rehabilitation...

Seanad: Smoking Ban: Motion (25 Apr 2018)

Catherine Byrne: I thank all the Senators who have spoken on this issue, Senators Reilly, Buttimer, Wilson, Ó Domhnaill, Coughlan, Dolan and McFadden. This issue affects all our lives whether personally or in our families or extended families. The Bill aims to protect our children. We can have no greater gift than our children and we should keep that in perspective when we speak about this. Senator...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Promotion (24 Apr 2018)

Catherine Byrne: While there are no specific plans along the lines requested by the Deputy, there are a number of existing instruments directly relevant to this area. Existing legislation stipulates that energy drinks that contain caffeine in excess of 150 mg/l must be labelled 'High caffeine content - not recommended for children or pregnant or breastfeeding women' in the same field of vision as...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug Treatment Programmes (24 Apr 2018)

Catherine Byrne: As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Services (19 Apr 2018)

Catherine Byrne: On behalf of the Minister, Deputy Harris, I thank Deputy Fleming for raising this Topical Issue. I hope the reply that has been provided to me reflects the points that have been made by the Deputy, some of which I have noted on paper. I will read the reply before coming back to the Deputy on any further points he may have. I assure the Deputy that, as the Minister for Health has stated...

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Services (19 Apr 2018)

Catherine Byrne: I assure the Deputy that I was taken aback by one aspect of the script when I was reading it on behalf of the Minister. The Deputy mentioned that the report was received last September. I think there is some justification for some of the issues he has raised. There is nothing as bad as a hospital and its patients being left with uncertainty. I promise the Deputy that I will do my utmost...

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Staff Recruitment (19 Apr 2018)

Catherine Byrne: Again, I thank the Deputy for raising this very important issue. Respite care availability is an issue with which all public representatives deal on a daily basis. I am sorry that this is the second time that Deputy O'Keeffe has had to raise this issue in the House. I have been present on both occasions to deliver the departmental response. I emphasise to the Deputy that when I deal with...

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Staff Recruitment (19 Apr 2018)

Catherine Byrne: I apologise that the Minister is not here. I do not know where he is but I have been asked to respond.

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Staff Recruitment (19 Apr 2018)

Catherine Byrne: He is gone missing but I do not know where he is. I am sorry that he is not here. On behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, I thank Deputy O'Keeffe for raising this issue. The Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of health and personal social services, including those at facilities such as St. Patrick's community hospital, Fermoy. Fermoy Community...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Long-Term Illness Scheme (19 Apr 2018)

Catherine Byrne: The Minister for Health, Deputy Harris is in the Dáil taking questions on health. The Minister apologises to the Senator for his absence but I will deal with the issue on his behalf. I thank Senator Byrne for raising this matter in the Seanad. The long-term illness, LTI, scheme was established under section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970, as amended. The conditions covered under the...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Long-Term Illness Scheme (19 Apr 2018)

Catherine Byrne: I cannot give such a commitment. The Minister will have to decide whether there will be a review or not. I come across this issue quite a lot as a public representative. I am aware of it from members of my own family who have rheumatoid arthritis, which affects people as they get older and can lead to very disturbing inability to be able to move around. I will convey the Senator's views...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (19 Apr 2018)

Catherine Byrne: The World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) publishes the Standards of Care and Ethical Guidelines, which articulate a professional consensus about the psychiatric, psychological, medical and surgical management of gender dysphoria. The guidelines are designed to help professionals understand the parameters within which they may offer assistance to those with gender...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Addiction Treatment Services (19 Apr 2018)

Catherine Byrne: The group referred to by the Deputy does not come under the remit of the Minister.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Strategies (19 Apr 2018)

Catherine Byrne: Since the launch of Healthy Ireland, expenditure on its implementation from within the budget of the Department of Health has been the following: Year Expenditure 2013 €89,315 2014 €586,470 2015 €607,707 2016 €1,156,405 2017 €996,837 2018 €22,307 In addition to the expenditure noted above, other expenditure arising within the Department could...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Drugs Strategy (19 Apr 2018)

Catherine Byrne: The national drug strategy, Reducing Harm Supporting Recovery. A Health-led response to drug and alcohol use in Ireland 2017-2015, aims to protect the public from threats to health and wellbeing related to substance misuse by preventing early use of alcohol and other drugs among young people, influencing behaviours and challenging social norms and attitudes. Substance misuse prevention...