Results 1,221-1,240 of 3,871 for speaker:Catherine Byrne

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Naval Service Vessels (15 Nov 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I wish to acknowledge Senator Gavan's commencement matter. On behalf of the Minister of State with responsibility for defence, Deputy Paul Kehoe, who cannot be present due to other commitments, I wish to take the opportunity to respond to the Senator on the topic he has raised. It is a priority of the Minister of State, Deputy Kehoe, to ensure that the operational capability of the Army, Air...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Naval Service Vessels (15 Nov 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I do not have a written response to the Senator's remarks but I will give him some information that may be helpful. The Government is providing over €5 billion for housing in the coming years and is making steady progress. On a weekly basis, over 100 people are finding themselves housed in new homes. I believed it is not just to say that nothing is happening, because it is. We have...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Foreign Direct Investment (15 Nov 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I am taking this matter on behalf of the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation. It is helpful to put our current foreign direct investment footprint into perspective by pointing out that 2016 was a record year for such investment in Ireland. IDA Ireland client companies created nearly 19,000 new jobs during the year across a range of sectors, with every region...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Foreign Direct Investment (15 Nov 2017)

Catherine Byrne: Okay. On the Apple data centre in Athenry, I want to be absolutely clear that while the company has not committed to proceed immediately, it has not abandoned the project in Galway. The company has insisted that its potential investment remains under active consideration. Given that the planning issues have now been resolved, we are optimistic that the data centre project will proceed. I...

Seanad: Health Services: Statements (Resumed) (15 Nov 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I thank all Senators for their input to this afternoon's debate. There are many issues that I will be unable to address, unfortunately. I have taken numerous notes. The Minister of State, Deputy Daly, was here before me and I know he has committed to follow up on some of the points as well. I will proceed with my statement and then after that I might be able to address some of the other...

Seanad: Health Services: Statements (Resumed) (15 Nov 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I will be back in another half an hour.

Seanad: Health Services: Statements (Resumed) (15 Nov 2017)

Catherine Byrne: You should.

Seanad: JobPath: Motion (15 Nov 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I thank Senators for their contributions and expressing their concerns. I have taken some detailed notes. Unfortunately, the Minister cannot be here. Hence, I am in attendance. I will not be able to answer many of the questions asked, but the Minister has provided me with a statement which I will read. I hope it will address one or two of the issues raised. As a human being and Minister...

Seanad: JobPath: Motion (15 Nov 2017)

Catherine Byrne: No.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Alcohol Pricing (15 Nov 2017)

Catherine Byrne: Research carried out on behalf of my Department by The University of Sheffield on minimum unit pricing, considered the impact by income on those who consume alcohol. The research indicated that the introduction of minimum unit pricing for alcohol products will impact on drinkers in all income groups. The impacts on high risk drinkers will be substantial and greater than on low risk drinkers.

Written Answers — Department of Health: HIQA Issues (15 Nov 2017)

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.

Multi-Party Actions Bill 2017: Second Stage (14 Nov 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I will make a statement on behalf of the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Charles Flanagan. I thank Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire for introducing his proposed Multi-Party Action Bill 2017. At the same time, I assure the House that the Government will be monitoring the progress and outcome of the Central Bank's ongoing tracker mortgage examination process and will consider...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Childhood Obesity (14 Nov 2017)

Catherine Byrne: A range of health studies and surveys show that overweight and obesity, in both adults and children, is now a serious public health concern in Ireland. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug and Alcohol Task Forces (14 Nov 2017)

Catherine Byrne: The North East Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force is responsible for coordinating the implementation of Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery - A health-led response to drug and alcohol use in Ireland 2017-2025, which replaced the previous drugs strategy which expired at the end of 2016. The table below shows the Task Force project funding for this Task Force from 2011 to 2013. The Department...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug and Alcohol Task Forces (14 Nov 2017)

Catherine Byrne: The Government’s response to addressing substance misuse in Ireland is set out in Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery -A health-led response to drug and alcohol use in Ireland 2017-2025. The strategy emphasises a health-led response to drug and alcohol use in Ireland, based on providing person-centred services that promote rehabilitation and recovery. It identifies a set of key actions...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug and Alcohol Task Forces (14 Nov 2017)

Catherine Byrne: UISCE is contracted and funded by the HSE to provide services under the 'Drugs Initiative', as recommended by the North Inner City Local Drug and Alcohol Task Force. In the circumstances, the Department of Health has asked UISCE to raise its funding issues with the HSE directly. In terms of UISCE's expanding role nationally, the HSE has advised the Department that it is currently...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Tobacco Control Measures (9 Nov 2017)

Catherine Byrne: Articles 15 and 16 of the Tobacco Products Directive (EU) 2014/40/EU (“the Directive”) establish an EU-wide tracking and tracing and security feature system for all unit packets of tobacco products manufactured in or imported into the Union. The aim of this system is to fight illicit trade in tobacco products which undermines the free circulation of compliant products and the...

Topical Issue Debate: Infectious Diseases (8 Nov 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I thank the Deputy for giving me the opportunity to update the House on this matter. Measles is an acute and serious viral infection and is highly infectious. As Deputies are aware, there is an ongoing measles outbreak in north Dublin and Meath. The HSE east's department of public health has been notified of eight confirmed cases of measles in the north Dublin area and five in County...

Topical Issue Debate: Infectious Diseases (8 Nov 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I acknowledge the importance of vaccinations. The Deputy is right, in that not only children can be infected, but also adults. Unfortunately, people have died and will continue dying if outbreaks are allowed in any country. Thanks to the increase in the MMR vaccination uptake rate in Ireland in the past decade, measles had become relatively rare. However, 43 cases were notified in...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Strategies (8 Nov 2017)

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.