Results 1,281-1,300 of 2,674 for speaker:John Moloney

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Jul 2009)

John Moloney: I took note of what the Senator said about a turf war. I do not think it can be brought down to simply regarding it as a turf war between groups. If I tie into the question Senator Alex White asked a few minutes ago, I will show the Senator that it is not just a turf war between organisations.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Jul 2009)

John Moloney: I will come to that. I acknowledge the Senator's point as to why I can come in here and quote certain organisations. He is quite properly asking whether they are simply saying they do not condone or whether they support the Minister. I will come to that in a few minutes to explain on what their level of support for the Minister is based. I am not trying to be soft on advices from the...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Jul 2009)

John Moloney: I would not take that letter as the final reason for the Minister coming to this position. We were also made aware that numerous Garda superintendents have made the same submission. A few minutes ago I responded to Senator Regan that other European countries have no difficulty in this area, and he has relied on that response to strengthen his case.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Jul 2009)

John Moloney: I will respond to him by making the point that it is not allowed in Great Britain, which has a total ban on handguns. The Senator asked if it is allowed in certain European countries why it is not allowed here. While I am not trying to take a direction from our nearest neighbour, the fact that handguns are prohibited in the UK shows that the sport is not permitted there. It depends on each...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Jul 2009)

John Moloney: It is not scraping the barrel. The central point here is the co-ordination of the eye and arm movement. There is a world of difference between people running at a moving target with a very high calibre handgun versus standing still. The issue is one of safety. It brings me back to the points raised by Senator Mullen. Do we want people running with high calibre loaded guns, running...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Jul 2009)

John Moloney: Therefore, I cannot accept the amendments.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Jul 2009)

John Moloney: I apologise for not replying to that point. The reality is that there is combat training involved. I would not say that it is training for combat purposes and it is important to stress that, but the activity engaged in is one that is about combat purposes. I am not saying that there is an ulterior motive involved, but it is certainly not a sport. That is what I believe.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Jul 2009)

John Moloney: I appreciate the courtesy but I am not accepting the amendments.

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Jul 2009)

John Moloney: Amendment No. 2 corrects a typographical error in the Health Acts. The error in question is in section 53(1B) of the Health Act 1970, as inserted by the Nursing Homes Support Scheme Act 2009. That section incorrectly refers to section 6(2)(c) of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme Act. It should read section 6(1)(c), as that is the correct cross-reference. Amendment No. 3 is consequential...

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Jul 2009)

John Moloney: Yes.

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Jul 2009)

John Moloney: Is the Senator speaking about the Mental Health Bill?

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Jul 2009)

John Moloney: I apologise, I lost track of what the Senator was saying.

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Jul 2009)

John Moloney: I take on board the Senator's initial point and understand her fears in regard to amalgamation of certain services such as the Rape Crisis Centre and Women's Health Council. I reiterate the point made by the Minister on Second Stage that we are in changed economic circumstances. We must remember that mission statements outside of these groups must remain intact regardless. I will take up...

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Jul 2009)

John Moloney: I believe it to be a most generous interim arrangement. I understand that aspects of the Mental Health Act are to be reviewed next year. The measure currently being introduced is an interim measure. I agree with Senator Fitzgerald that - I do not say this just to get off the hook on this one - we must ensure the necessary safeguards and protocols are put in place. In the meantime, we must...

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Jul 2009)

John Moloney: I understand from where the Senator is coming in this regard. Senator Fitzgerald asked who would bear responsibility for any difficulties that arise for patients, their families or the hospital concerned. Responsibility would lie with the HSE rather than the commission because the company involved is contracted directly to the HSE. Some time ago there was a change whereby the employees of...

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Jul 2009)

John Moloney: The issue revolves around people's qualifications and the company that employs them. The agency has been in existence since 2006 and more than 600 people have been involuntarily admitted since then. The contract for the external assisted admissions includes as a minimum requirement that the assisted admission team should comprise at least two skilled mental health professionals, one of whom...

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Jul 2009)

John Moloney: I did not mean to create the impression that all of the involuntary admissions were being conducted by private agencies. Involuntary admissions are still being carried out with the support of existing staff in the services. The majority of cases where the outside agency assisted have occurred in the Dublin-Wicklow region. Throughout the country the demand for staffing in the psychiatric...

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Jul 2009)

John Moloney: All I can say is that there is legislation dealing with admission procedures, which includes guidelines in this regard. If, for example, the Mental Health Commission has designated a centre as not being fit for purpose, I doubt somebody would be assigned to it, although I am only voicing my own opinion. I find it difficult to believe somebody would be assigned to a centre that was not up to...

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Jul 2009)

John Moloney: Absolutely not. I did make the point that there must be an approved centre and that one can consider approved centres based on two criteria, namely, the structural condition and the staff. Of these, the staff are the more important aspect. We can both confirm that we have centres that are not up to a standard we would like to live in, but the staff are on a par with the best. We have a...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (8 Jul 2009)

John Moloney: As the Deputy's question relates to service matters I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.