Results 1,181-1,200 of 3,871 for speaker:Catherine Byrne

Written Answers — Department of Health: Addiction Treatment Services (12 Dec 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 312 and 313 together. As these are service matters, they have been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Community Care Provision (12 Dec 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 342 and 348 together. Minister Harris has made hospital food and malnutrition in hospitals a priority issue. In this context and with reference to the Deputy’s question on the relevant report, the Department of Health published Food and Nutritional Care in Hospitals – Guidelines for preventing Under-Nutrition in Acute Hospitalsin 2009. These...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Community Care Provision (12 Dec 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 343 to 346, inclusive, together. Hospital food and malnutrition in hospitals have been made a priority issue and in response the HSE has established a multi-disciplinary hospital food and nutrition policy development group, This group will include representation from the chairs of the Nutrition and Hydration Steering Committee from a hospital within each...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Community Care Provision (12 Dec 2017)

Catherine Byrne: A national Obesity Policy and Action Plan was launched by the Minister of Health in September 2016. The national policy covers the period up to 2025 and aims to reverse obesity trends, prevent health complications and reduce the overall burden for individuals, families, the health system, and the wider society and economy. The Policy acknowledged that every sector of our society has a role...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Strategies (7 Dec 2017)

Catherine Byrne: The National Sexual Health Strategy 2015-2020, launched in October 2015, is the first nationally coordinated approach to address sexual health and well-being. It takes a life course approach, which is a key underpinning concept in the Healthy Ireland Framework under which the Strategy will be implemented. It acknowledges the importance of developing a healthy attitude to sexuality in young...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Drugs Strategy (5 Dec 2017)

Catherine Byrne: Drug and Alcohol Task Forces play a key role in assessing the extent and nature of the drug problem in their areas and in coordinating action at local level, so that there is a targeted response to the problem of substance misuse in local communities. Every effort has been made to protect the budgets of Drug and Alcohol Task Forces in recent years. In excess of €27.6m has been...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Alcohol Pricing (5 Dec 2017)

Catherine Byrne: Research indicates that a ban on below-cost selling would have a negligible impact on alcohol consumption or related harms as it would not address the health harms associated with the consumption of strong cheap alcohol products. This is because products that are cheap relative to their alcohol content will continue to be sold at a level that represents a serious threat to public health. ...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Legislative Process (5 Dec 2017)

Catherine Byrne: The proposed amendments relating to online advertising sought to prohibit advertising of an alcohol product by means of an information society service unless all reasonable steps were taken to ensure that the advertising could not be viewed by children. This amendment used the framework of the Audiovisual Media Service Directive, a Directive which is the remit of my colleague the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Homeless Accommodation Funding (5 Dec 2017)

Catherine Byrne: Action 1.15 of Rebuilding Ireland, the Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness commits my Department and the Health Service Executive (HSE) to improve mental health and primary care services for those in homeless services and improve their ability to sustain a normal tenancy. The HSE supports the adoption of a housing-led approach, based on the provision of intensive case management...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug Rehabilitation Clinics (5 Dec 2017)

Catherine Byrne: As these are service matters, they have been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug Treatment Programmes (5 Dec 2017)

Catherine Byrne: Methadone maintenance treatment is a critical stabilising treatment that enables people involved to counter their problem drug use and to rebuild their lives. In conjunction with other services and supports such as counselling, after-care and training, methadone maintenance treatment provides a pathway to recovery for the individual affected by problem substance use. As the other issues...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Electronic Cigarettes (5 Dec 2017)

Catherine Byrne: Compliance with the legislation is the responsibility of individual companies. Regulation 30 of the European Union (Manufacture, Presentation and Sale of Tobacco and Related Products) Regulations 2016 (S.I. No. 271 of 2016) as amended by S.I. No. 252 of 2017, does not restrict the use of words which denote flavourings, such as “cherry” or "menthol", on unit packets and...

Topical Issue Debate: Respite Care Services (30 Nov 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I thank Deputy O'Keeffe for raising this issue. My colleague, Deputy Jim Daly, the Minister of State with special responsibility for mental health and older people, cannot be here, unfortunately, and has asked me to take this issue. The overarching policy of the Government is to support older people to live in dignity and independence in their own homes and communities for as long as...

Topical Issue Debate: Respite Care Services (30 Nov 2017)

Catherine Byrne: There could be. Actually there is. I will read what is here and then I will come back to that question. I thank the Ceann Comhairle. Following the resignation of a medical officer in 2017, the HSE managed, with great difficulty, to engage another GP to provide the service. However, in September 2017 a second medical officer retired. Despite strenuous efforts to engage another GP in the...

Topical Issue Debate: Respite Care Services (30 Nov 2017)

Catherine Byrne: First of all, I have been in situations, as has Deputy O'Keeffe, where services have been suspended for short periods of time. The difficulty is trying to get proper staff. I will, however, take on the Deputy's concerns. To be honest, I am not familiar with Fermoy. I will speak to the Minister of State, Deputy Daly, about the issue. I have taken down a number of the Deputy's points, and...

Topical Issue Debate: Respite Care Services (30 Nov 2017)

Catherine Byrne: That is fine.

Topical Issue Debate: Respite Care Services (30 Nov 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I will take that on board.

Seanad: World AIDS Day: Statements (30 Nov 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I thank the House for providing me with the opportunity to speak to Members on this important topic in advance of World AIDS day tomorrow, 1 December. HIV is one of the most stigmatised conditions of our time. In September, I opened the national HIV conference hosted by HIV Ireland which focused on this stigma. The conference examined how the stigma of HIV/AIDS is an additional burden on...

Seanad: World AIDS Day: Statements (30 Nov 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I thank all the Senators who have taken time out to be here in the Chamber to speak about the importance of World AIDS Day tomorrow and in the years ahead. I congratulate Senator Norris on opening our eyes and for the service he has given to the Seanad. He opened our eyes to the need for people to understand what is occurring and to be taught about people who have an illness. He opened our...

Topical Issue Debate: Ambulance Service Provision (28 Nov 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I thank the Deputies for giving me the opportunity, on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Simon Harris, to address this issue and the concerns they have raised. Dublin Fire Brigade provides emergency ambulance services in Dublin city and county by arrangement between Dublin City Council and the HSE. The National Ambulance Service provides non-emergency patient transfers in the...