Results 1,121-1,140 of 1,886 for speaker:Fergal Browne

Seanad: Health Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Fergal Browne: I accept the Minister of State's point. I do not expect there would be full attendance at every board meeting. For an urgent decision it might not be possible to have everyone in attendance, and an attendance of five would be fine in that case. However, on a vital or very important issue, where a cutback in an area is being announced, it is vital for everyone concerned to have as near to a...

Seanad: Health Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Fergal Browne: A member must be present at all board meetings in order to cast a vote and there is no postal voting.

Seanad: Health Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Fergal Browne: I heard that the Committee of Public Accounts had some difficulty with the Health Bill. I contacted the Comptroller and Auditor General's office on the matter. Is it the case that a Minister cannot be brought before the Committee of Public Accounts but that it can call the Secretary General of a Department?

Seanad: Health Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Fergal Browne: I move amendment No. 25: In page 22, before section 22, but in Part IV of the Bill, to insert the following new section: 22.—(1) Whenever required by the Committee of Dáil Éireann established under the Standing Orders of Dáil Éireann to examine and report to Dáil Éireann on the appropriation accounts and reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General, the chief executive officer of...

Seanad: Health Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Fergal Browne: I am not too sure why amendments Nos. 3 and 4 have been grouped together. While I know they are in the same section, they are different in content. Perhaps I will come to understand it over time. For purposes of clarification, in page 12, subsection (4), line 40, after the word "providers", my amendment No. 4 seeks to insert the following wording: "as provided by the ERHA and health agencies...

Seanad: Health Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Fergal Browne: It has failed so far.

Seanad: Health Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Fergal Browne: I move amendment No. 4: In page 12, subsection (4), line 40, after "providers" to insert the following: "as provided by the ERHA and health agencies prior to January 1st 2005".

Seanad: Health Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Fergal Browne: I move amendment No. 5: In page 13, between lines 29 and 30, to insert the following new subsection: "(9) In the performance of its functions the Executive shall co-operate and co-ordinate with the voluntary and community sector where it is involved in activities similar or ancillary to the remit of the Executive.". This is a self-explanatory amendment. It serves to acknowledge the positive...

Seanad: Health Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Fergal Browne: It is worth noting that the health budget, at €11 billion, accounts for almost 25% of all expenditure. It is huge and members of the public need to know that their money is being well spent. There is grave uncertainty about the Government's handling — one could say it is mishandling — of this issue. At present, there is an interim chief executive in place. Section 7(8) states, "the...

Seanad: Health Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Fergal Browne: I doubt whether the Minister will do so. It is also worth noting that the members of the management team of the HSE seem to come from banking backgrounds. While I accept this could have certain benefits, it is a matter of concern that some of them came from AIB which has not been attracting the right kind of publicity of late.

Seanad: Health Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Fergal Browne: People have also been linked with the DIRT inquiry. Members of the public are gravely concerned that there is only an interim CEO in place at present and that members of the management team do not come directly from medical backgrounds. This is far too serious an issue for us to mess it up.

Seanad: Health Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Fergal Browne: An article appeared in The Irish Times last week which stated: Plans for radical changes in the way health services are run from January 1st have been postponed, and the heads of the State's health boards will continue to manage services for several months, it was confirmed last night. The confirmation came from the HSE. Will the Minister of State clarify what will be the position from 1...

Seanad: Health Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Fergal Browne: I move amendment No. 6: In page 13, between lines 34 and 35, to insert the following new subsection: "(2) Notwithstanding the terms of any agreement under subsection (1), the Executive and the public authority shall, when requested, provide all information to the Minister in order to enable him or her to furnish a full reply to a parliamentary question.". This relates more to the other House...

Seanad: Health Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Fergal Browne: That was a farce.

Seanad: Health Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Fergal Browne: The section of the Bill that allows the CEO of the executive to appear before the Joint Committee on Health and Children is lovely in theory, but the reality is that we will be doing well if we get him or her to make such an appearance twice a year. The Tánaiste has been due to visit the joint committee twice since she was appointed as Minister for Health and Children, but she has cancelled...

Seanad: Health Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Fergal Browne: Such comments do not inspire confidence. I will pursue this amendment because this issue is far too serious not to do so.

Seanad: Health Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Fergal Browne: That is true.

Seanad: Health Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Fergal Browne: I move amendment No. 1: In page 10, line 15, after "formed" to insert "by a registered medical practitioner".

Seanad: Health Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Fergal Browne: I concur with the previous speaker. Fintan O'Toole points out in an article today in The Irish Times that the word "patient" appeared only once in the original Health Bill. I am not sure how many times it has appeared since then. The Government's lack of consultation with outside groups which have contacted us lately suggests that this Bill is not as patient-focused as it should be. That is...

Seanad: Health Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Fergal Browne: The major difficulty Fine Gael has with the Bill is that it does not provide for real reform. It does not specify any targets or benchmarking positions, a point Senator O'Toole effectively made at the end of his contribution. This Bill is not sufficiently patient-focused. Can the Minister of State clarify what targets will apply to the members of the executive? Will this Bill give them carte...