Results 1,321-1,340 of 1,997 for speaker:Frances Black

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Covid-19: Discussion (15 Sep 2021)

Frances Black: I thank Dr. Holohan. I have one final question. As a committee, we heard from a group of medical experts about the importance of vitamin D. As mentioned by Deputy Shortall, we also met with a group on the issue of ventilation. Are these issues that NPHET might consider highlighting in its public messaging campaign? I am delighted to hear that there will be another public messaging...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Covid-19: Discussion (15 Sep 2021)

Frances Black: I thank the witnesses.

Joint Committee On Health: Impacts of Covid-19 on Mental Health Services: Discussion (14 Sep 2021)

Frances Black: I welcome everyone. Apologies have been received from Deputy Ward and Senator Hoey. Unfortunately, there has been a clash of meetings. We are meeting the Minister of State with responsibility for mental health and older people, Deputy Butler, to provide the sub-committee with an update on the provision of mental health services and how they have been impacted by the pandemic. I remind...

Joint Committee On Health: Impacts of Covid-19 on Mental Health Services: Discussion (14 Sep 2021)

Frances Black: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit.

Joint Committee On Health: Impacts of Covid-19 on Mental Health Services: Discussion (14 Sep 2021)

Frances Black: I thank Deputy Hourigan. I call Deputy Gino Kenny.

Joint Committee On Health: Impacts of Covid-19 on Mental Health Services: Discussion (14 Sep 2021)

Frances Black: I thank the Minister of State and Deputy Kenny. I will now ask a few questions. I hope that is okay with the Minister of State. Some of our members have not turned up today. I have a good few questions. The Minister of State responded in an email to the interim report that we released. We had phenomenal groups that came in earlier this year. They were all private meetings due to the...

Joint Committee On Health: Impacts of Covid-19 on Mental Health Services: Discussion (14 Sep 2021)

Frances Black: I can come back in and ask the Minister of State the questions I have here. If she wants to go ahead, she has plenty of time

Joint Committee On Health: Impacts of Covid-19 on Mental Health Services: Discussion (14 Sep 2021)

Frances Black: I am sorry to interrupt the Minister of State but we seem to have lost her sound. I do not know what the problem is. Does she have a headset?

Joint Committee On Health: Impacts of Covid-19 on Mental Health Services: Discussion (14 Sep 2021)

Frances Black: It is a bit better now.

Joint Committee On Health: Impacts of Covid-19 on Mental Health Services: Discussion (14 Sep 2021)

Frances Black: The Minister of State might move a bit closer to the mic if that is okay.

Joint Committee On Health: Impacts of Covid-19 on Mental Health Services: Discussion (14 Sep 2021)

Frances Black: I have a few questions on specific areas that I would really like to ask today and I hope it is okay. The first issue I would like to speak about is the applied suicide intervention skills training, ASIST, course. In my personal experience, over the summer there have been many suicides of people that I am aware of. It has been a challenging time for many people, particularly coming out of...

Joint Committee On Health: Impacts of Covid-19 on Mental Health Services: Discussion (14 Sep 2021)

Frances Black: I want to address the digital divide for people accessing mental health services online. This includes those who need a level of digital literacy as well as access to the hardware required, such as computers or tablets and Internet access. What is being done on this? Are there supports for this digital divide? There is also the issue of access to text support. These can all be...

Joint Committee On Health: Impacts of Covid-19 on Mental Health Services: Discussion (14 Sep 2021)

Frances Black: The committee will follow up with the Minister of State on that issue. I hope the Minister of State does not mind, but I have a couple more questions to ask.

Joint Committee On Health: Impacts of Covid-19 on Mental Health Services: Discussion (14 Sep 2021)

Frances Black: Sharing the Vision focuses on a cross-governmental approach to addressing mental health. What work is being done at governmental level to ensure that all Departments are proactively working towards the implementation plan in Sharing the Vision?

Joint Committee On Health: Impacts of Covid-19 on Mental Health Services: Discussion (14 Sep 2021)

Frances Black: What work has been done to access and understand the impact of Covid restrictions on palliative care, end-of-life supports, funerals and the mental health of the population in that regard? What work has been done to provide support in that regard?

Joint Committee On Health: Impacts of Covid-19 on Mental Health Services: Discussion (14 Sep 2021)

Frances Black: We have been joined by Deputy Lahart and Senator Dolan. I have one more question before I hand over to them. My final question is on an issue about which I am very passionate. In what way is the Department of Health ensuring that mental health service users' views and concerns are being taken into account? This is important. What steps are being taken to improve access to peer support...

Joint Committee On Health: Impacts of Covid-19 on Mental Health Services: Discussion (14 Sep 2021)

Frances Black: Senator Dolan has joined. I am not sure if she would like to come in at this point.

Joint Committee On Health: Impacts of Covid-19 on Mental Health Services: Discussion (14 Sep 2021)

Frances Black: Senator Dolan is gone on mute.

Joint Committee On Health: Impacts of Covid-19 on Mental Health Services: Discussion (14 Sep 2021)

Frances Black: Before the Minister of State replies, I remind Senator Dolan that we do not have the HSE in today. One or two of her questions have been directed to the HSE. It is just the Department, but we will have the HSE in next week.

Joint Committee On Health: Impacts of Covid-19 on Mental Health Services: Discussion (14 Sep 2021)

Frances Black: I thank the Minister of State and her team for the concise and comprehensive answers and presentation. We look forward to working with her. We hope to publish another report by the end of the year and to have the Minister of State before us again to discuss it. I thank the committee members for their help and contributions at this meeting.