Results 121-140 of 252 for long speaker:Michael McNamara

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Update on Testing and Tracing and Rising Incidence in the State (29 Sep 2020)

Michael McNamara: What number of cycles of testing are likely to show that people have had the virus a very long time ago, are not symptomatic and, maybe, not even be shedding anymore? There is also the issue of a margin of error that is part of all tests.

Covid-19 (Transport): Statements (23 Sep 2020)

Michael McNamara: I have no doubt about the Minister's commitment to the environment but he, along with most others, will accept that we cannot deal with the challenges posed by the environment alone and are better off dealing with them within a multilateral framework. The most obvious multilateral framework is the European Union. While we have been laggards in the implementation of EU directives, they have...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (18 Sep 2020)

Michael McNamara: ..., we held a working group meeting and agreed to invite, for Wednesday's meeting if they can make it, the HSE, the National Public Health Emergency Team, NPHET, and the Department of Health. We had a long discussion as to whether we would have a fourth session if possible. I have confirmed the availability, although their appearance will be subject to the approval of the committee, of Dr....

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Legislative Framework Underpinning the State's Response (9 Sep 2020)

Michael McNamara: The Deputy is slightly over time. If her question is short, she may continue. If it is a long question, I will come back to her at the end.

Criminal Justice (Enforcement Powers) (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (3 Sep 2020)

Michael McNamara: ..." in line 34. I was not aware that my amendment No. 3 was ruled out of order. The purpose of that amendment was to amend the Health Act 1947. I draw the Ceann Comhairle's attention to the Long Title of the Bill: Bill entitled an Act to make exceptional provision, in the public interest and having regard to the manifest and grave risk to human life and public health posed by the...

Criminal Justice (Enforcement Powers) (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (3 Sep 2020)

Michael McNamara: I understand that the provisions of a Bill are determined by its Long Title, which, in this case, clearly includes a reference to amending the Health Act 1947. If the purpose of the Bill includes amending that Act and my amendment concerns an amendment to the Act, it would seem to me to be in order.

Criminal Justice (Enforcement Powers) (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (3 Sep 2020)

Michael McNamara: .... That is the nature of giving powers to organisations. It is the nature of draconian legislation brought in with sunset clauses that are not really sunset clauses that it stays on the books forever. We had a long debate on the matter in Leinster House. Before the House rose for the summer recess, I stated that it sets a terrible example for the Dáil to be sitting in the...

Criminal Justice (Enforcement Powers) (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (3 Sep 2020)

Michael McNamara: ..., if I am not incorrect. I am very much interested in the Minister's response to this, because at the moment it would seem to me that of course a publican can challenge being closed for a day long after the premises has been closed for a day. I would be interested to see how the Minister suggests we can remedy that. The Minister may say judicial review is the avenue. Of course a...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (2 Sep 2020)

Michael McNamara: ...believe that to be the case. We have seen many international studies, although perhaps fewer in Ireland, on the detrimental effect of students, particularly younger students, being out of classrooms for long periods. What are members of the teaching unions encountering now? For example, are third class students where teachers expect them to be in developmental and educational terms?...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (2 Sep 2020)

Michael McNamara: We have seen many international studies regarding the detrimental effect on educational progress arising from students being out of the classroom for long periods. While we have not seen anything specific to Ireland, are students where Ms Magner would expect them to be? Are pupils in first class or third class, for example, where she would expect them to be in terms of educational...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Michael McNamara: ...to delivery of that assurance. We must work collectively as educators to fulfil this promise. The importance of our school communities and the interactions therein to our students' well-being is long established and recognised. There is no risk-free way to reopen our schools, but it is broadly accepted that the benefits to students being back at school are very important. That said,...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: State Response to Recent Spike in Covid-19 Cases (26 Aug 2020)

Michael McNamara: How long is it outside of an acute hospital setting?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: State Response to Recent Spike in Covid-19 Cases (26 Aug 2020)

Michael McNamara: Yes, as long as they can be answered in writing.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: State Response to Recent Spike in Covid-19 Cases (26 Aug 2020)

Michael McNamara: ...forward? The HSE has done what it had to do, and it has done well in obtaining the amount of PPE required. Is there a plan in place to have a stockpile of PPE or to manufacture PPE to provide long-term sustainability of supply?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: State Response to Recent Spike in Covid-19 Cases (Resumed) (26 Aug 2020)

Michael McNamara: ...being appointed to NPHET? Anecdotally I have heard, very regrettably, about a lot more suicides than I have for a considerable period of time. This is during the summer before we head into a long, dark winter. Are there any representatives of psychiatry or other mental health representatives being appointed to NPHET which is, essentially, the decision-making body for our State?...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: State Response to Recent Spike in Covid-19 Cases (Resumed) (26 Aug 2020)

Michael McNamara: I thank Dr. Glynn. Again, I thank both witnesses for coming here, answering all the questions and staying so long. I wish them the very best of luck in their endeavours to keep this under control.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: State Response to Recent Spike in Covid-19 Cases (Resumed) (26 Aug 2020)

Michael McNamara: ...and 120 in ICUs yet the Minister is talking about a lockdown again. Has he any idea of the effect that is having? Forget about the economy for a moment. We cannot forget it about it for too long because something has to fund our healthcare system. They do not fund themselves in any country in the world. Has the Minister any idea what effect it is having on mental health, on people's...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: State Response to Recent Spike in Covid-19 Cases (Resumed) (26 Aug 2020)

Michael McNamara: We are consistently told that young people suffer long-term effects. I have no doubt that is true. Do we have the figures on how many young people have long-term debilitating effects from Covid-19? Leaving aside young people, how many people who have overcome the virus to the point of being able to return to their day-to-day existence, be that as students, workers or retirees, are...

Opening of Schools and Calculated Grades: Statements (30 Jul 2020)

Michael McNamara: ...told me tonight that it only costs around €30,000 a day, but how much could that money do for children in our schools and for special needs students in particular? I appreciate that the Minister is not terribly long in the job. I also appreciate that she has made a series of announcements, including that all sorts of works will be carried out in schools across the country....

Financial Provisions (Covid-19) (No. 2) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jul 2020)

Michael McNamara: ...and excludes the self-employed. Obviously, the great majority of artists and people in the entertainment business are self-employed. The self-employed sector goes far beyond that. There is a long-standing debate in this House - albeit in a different setting - on the appropriate social welfare payments and social welfare net to make available to the self-employed. Of course, this is not...