Results 1,341-1,360 of 2,771 for speaker:Colm Brophy

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Commemorative Events (3 Jun 2020)

Colm Brophy: 1272. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the date the National Famine Commemoration Day 2021, due to take place in Buncrana, County Donegal, will be held on; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8681/20]

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Use of Private Hospitals (Resumed) (2 Jun 2020)

Colm Brophy: I thank the witnesses for all their work to date, and I thank all the staff in our health service, including the HSE, for everything they have done. When I sit here, I sometimes think I live in a parallel world where some of the questions the witnesses are asked seem to be classic Monday-morning quarterbacking. I cannot imagine what situation this committee would be in today if the private...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Use of Private Hospitals (Resumed) (2 Jun 2020)

Colm Brophy: That brings me to a point I want to make. I am so conscious of time. Obviously, people seem to have forgotten again that there was a pandemic raging. We were told we could not use our hospitals by NPHET. One cannot be blamed for adhering to public health advice. We need to be conscious of the fact that members of the public, including my family and others I know well, were choosing to...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Use of Private Hospitals (Resumed) (2 Jun 2020)

Colm Brophy: In effect, therefore, we are getting good value for money in the deal. We can see what the costs are and we are paying for what we use. We are not actually paying more because they are at 50%, 30% or 20%; we are paying exactly the amount that relates to what we use. Indeed, if one ramped up capacity, would there not be a surge? I wish to understand this clearly. Are we paying for what we use?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Use of Private Hospitals (Resumed) (2 Jun 2020)

Colm Brophy: Regarding the new deal, I am interested in knowing Mr. Breslin's estimate if the private hospitals are working at a reasonable capacity - 75% of normal capacity or whatever. If an emergency was declared due to a surge, what do the Department, HSE and State bodies think about how quickly private hospitals could be converted back to deal with the surge?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Travel Restrictions (2 Jun 2020)

Colm Brophy: I join my colleague in acknowledging the work on repatriation done by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. A number of constituents have contacted me about it, particularly in respect of the operation in Peru, and it is an absolute credit to the people on the ground, the organisation and the people in Dublin who helped to facilitate it. The Tánaiste also worked hard on it. It...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Travel Restrictions (2 Jun 2020)

Colm Brophy: I just want to come back in because I have 52 seconds left. The problem I have with that thinking is very simple. If one continues that on to the basis of what Mr. Breslin is saying, then there is no international travel until a vaccine. If that is the case, and that is our thinking, then we need to spell that out because of the implications for our tourism and the hospitality sector. I...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (26 May 2020)

Colm Brophy: I wish to raise an issue relating to the minutes. Mr. Tom Parlon gave completely misleading information to the committee at one point in his contribution last week. He since corrected that information when he was interviewed last Friday on the "Today with Sarah McInerney" radio programme. It is important that he correct the record of the committee. He was asked specific questions relating...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (26 May 2020)

Colm Brophy: I propose that we postpone their agreement until the record is corrected.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (20 May 2020)

Colm Brophy: 739. To ask the Minister for Health when he expects private hospitals to reopen for standard medical procedures for patients with private health insurance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6199/20]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Disability Support Services (20 May 2020)

Colm Brophy: 740. To ask the Minister for Health when he expects disability services, particularly day services and respite care, will resume in care facilities, for example, a facility (details supplied) in Dublin 6W. [6200/20]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (20 May 2020)

Colm Brophy: 1351. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his plans to extend the Covid-19 emergency legislation for tenants past the initial 90-day period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6201/20]

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Briefing by Department of Health Officials (19 May 2020)

Colm Brophy: There has been a second speaker from Fianna Fáil. Does the sequence not mean that a Fine Gael speaker is due to ask questions now?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Briefing by Department of Health Officials (19 May 2020)

Colm Brophy: I thank the Chairman. I endorse the comments of my colleague. I thank Mr. Breslin and the Chief Medical Officer for their service. I want to address the Department specifically in my first question. Allowing for Mr. Breslin's opening statement and the preceding media coverage of it, we are facing into a crisis that may last for years rather than months. I want to comment on one...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Briefing by Department of Health Officials (19 May 2020)

Colm Brophy: In answer to colleagues' questions, Mr. Breslin twice said that, because of the risk of a surge capacity, the HSE needed to maintain that capacity. Let me take his answer through to its logical conclusion. If the HSE needs to maintain the surge capacity and there is no vaccine or treatment, while the pandemic risk remains the same in terms of surge, am I correct that means we permanently...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Briefing by Department of Health Officials (19 May 2020)

Colm Brophy: Can Mr. Breslin reassure people that he is not envisaging a situation which effectively amounts to the abolition of private health insurance?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Briefing by Department of Health Officials (19 May 2020)

Colm Brophy: For a short period. Effectively, if we keep the hospital system the way it is, it is a rebate. I want to conclude-----

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Briefing by Department of Health Officials (19 May 2020)

Colm Brophy: I appreciate it is by agreement but their subscribers, who were paying their hard-earned money into private health insurance for many years, have also got views on this. I refer to a secondary area. Apologise for having to be so blunt but I have a second question that is primarily for the Chief Medical Officer on advice in the area. When we were initially on this committee, we were told...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Briefing by Department of Health Officials (19 May 2020)

Colm Brophy: I accept that. While it is valid now, has Dr. Holohan any idea of when that will be lifted or when it will be considered?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Briefing by Department of Health Officials (19 May 2020)

Colm Brophy: We will need a couple of minutes in private session at the start of the next hearing because the way the timing has worked out is unsatisfactory. I appreciate the Chairman's efforts, but it is absolutely unsatisfactory.