Results 1,201-1,220 of 6,611 for speaker:Seán Kyne

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Recruitment, Retention and Manpower Planning Issues: Irish College of General Practitioners (14 Dec 2022)

Seán Kyne: The Minister has flagged supports for Ukrainian doctors who have come here. Have the witnesses been involved in the design of that programme?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Recruitment, Retention and Manpower Planning Issues: Irish College of General Practitioners (14 Dec 2022)

Seán Kyne: The HSE has focused on the building of primary care centres. Some of them have been successful and others have not regarding buy-in from GPs. Is there a necessity to ensure that buy-in before plans are designed, rather than building a facility and then hoping the doctors move in?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Recruitment, Retention and Manpower Planning Issues: Irish College of General Practitioners (14 Dec 2022)

Seán Kyne: Is having a one-stop shop the way forward in providing better care?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Recruitment, Retention and Manpower Planning Issues: Irish College of General Practitioners (14 Dec 2022)

Seán Kyne: In some of the smaller communities in rural Ireland, the population is decreasing and rural practices are less viable. Is there scope for having shared practices or for a doctor serving a number of small communities and not being in the same place every day?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Recruitment, Retention and Manpower Planning Issues: Irish College of General Practitioners (14 Dec 2022)

Seán Kyne: In my area, west of Galway city, there is a difficulty with the expansion of the out-of-hours services, Westdoc, as city-based GPs are reluctant to serve the more rural areas. Travelling up country roads in weather like we have today is a concern. Is there any solution to that problem as it seems to be a difficulty?

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 Dec 2022)

Seán Kyne: I compliment the Cathaoirleach and the team on the wonderful events held yesterday to mark the centenary of the Seanad's first sitting. It was a tremendous success. There was a good representation of former Members and they certainly enjoyed the occasion. I compliment the Cathaoirleach on the initiative, all those involved in the Houses of the Oireachtas and the Seanad team here. I note...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 Dec 2022)

Seán Kyne: I again rise to discuss a number of matters relating to Inland Fisheries Ireland. I am reminded of the famous question asked of Thomas Becket by an English king, who asked, "Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?" What is one to do if one needs to get rid of the chair of a State board? What would be a good way of doing that? One way would be to target his or her family. That would...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 Dec 2022)

Seán Kyne: I know the family very well. Multiple anonymous letters have been received from former employees of Inland Fisheries Ireland, and one of the employees was suspended after 37 years of service. When that was done, they then targeted the then chair’s nephew, who is also an employee of Inland Fisheries Ireland. Clearly, people within the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 Dec 2022)

Seán Kyne: Absolutely. The Minister was happy to investigate the board but he does not seem to be willing, or is not being advised, to investigate Inland Fisheries Ireland itself, its senior management and the issues that have been brought to the management’s attention and that of the Department by me, Senator Burke and others over recent months.

Seanad: Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy (7 Dec 2022)

Seán Kyne: I welcome Terry’s family to the Chamber. I welcome his widow, Aileen, and his children, David and Tanya, as well as Bobby, who is looking on. I also welcome Deputy Joe Carey and former Deputy Brian Walsh as well, both very close friends of Terry, as well as the Members who served with him in this House. I did not serve with Terry in this House, but I served with him in the...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2022: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2022)

Seán Kyne: I welcome the Minister. We all agree that the help-to-buy scheme is a tremendous programme, supported by the Minister and the Government and pushed through in recent years with the support of the Houses. It has been a great initiative to help people to set up in their first home. In Galway, some 1,784 people have benefited from the scheme. Up to November of this year, approximately 37,330...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2022: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2022)

Seán Kyne: I thank the Minister for the response. We will not push the recommendation. It is regrettable that Sinn Féin does not want to help people to buy a home and would deny assistance to those who have benefited from the scheme. More than 1,784 people in Galway and some 37,000 nationally have to date been assisted to get their feet on the property ladder via the tax rebate under the...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2022: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2022)

Seán Kyne: I agree with Senator Maria Byrne. The changes that were made to the small business exemption scheme, from a limit of €500 to one of €1,000, are very welcome. I understand that a company will be able to give two vouchers to employees under the scheme. Does the Minister have any plans to broaden the scheme? Obviously, people are facing additional costs from transport and...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2022: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2022)

Seán Kyne: I concur with Senator Byrne. In government, Fine Gael has shown that we want to allow people to keep more of their money and to put more money back in their pockets. The Minister and the Government have increased the threshold at which people will start paying the higher rate of tax. We have kept pace with the increases in the minimum wage with adjustments to the USC as well. Those...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2022: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2022)

Seán Kyne: I concur with the recommendation. All initiatives to improve energy efficiency should be improved and made more easily available, whether for the rental sector or for individual homeowners who, for example, want to replace the front and back doors of their house. If people are not in receipt of the fuel allowance and the household benefits package, they are not able to draw down a grant for...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2022: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2022)

Seán Kyne: I move recommendation No. 14: In page 102, between lines 6 and 7, to insert the following: “Report on Tax Credit for Regional Film Development 42.The Minister shall within 3 months of the passing of this Act prepare and lay before both Houses of the Oireachtas a report on the impact of retaining the enhanced tax credit for regional film development at its original level until 31st...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2022: Second Stage (7 Dec 2022)

Seán Kyne: The Minister is welcome as is the Social Welfare Bill. It is a far cry from what we faced back in 2011 to 2014 in terms of what we can do. We are doing things in this budget because they are the right things to do but also because we are in a position to do them, given the strength and management of the economy and the fact we have such strong tax receipts. A considerable number of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Dec 2022)

Seán Kyne: I welcome Mr. Watt, Mr. Mulvany and the teams from the HSE and the Department. I have a few questions; perhaps Mr. Watt may start. There has been some commentary regarding the public spending code as it relates to capital projects. Mr. Watt is uniquely qualified, given his previous role in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, to comment on this. If the Minister for Health,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Dec 2022)

Seán Kyne: I welcome the review and the fact that we are looking again at the length of time. Six to nine months would be good in terms of some of these projects but I accept that the planning system is a different matter. On the consultant contract that is being discussed currently, what in-built measures are included for weekend rotas for consultants, for example? As I understand it, part of the...