Results 121-140 of 309 for speaker:Keith Swanick

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Feb 2018)

Keith Swanick: I wish to raise the topic of the charity sector. We saw the alarming situation in Oxfam UK where the chief of operations in Haiti, Ronald Van Hauwermeiren, was relocated to Bangladesh after the natural disaster for admitting to having prostitutes in an Oxfam sponsored home in Haiti. That is a violation that occurs every day of the week but in the aftermath of a disaster, it is totally...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Local Authority Members (31 Jan 2018)

Keith Swanick: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House. I will be very brief. The issue I raise impacts on a small number of local authority members - it impacts on them nonetheless -and clarity in respect to the guidelines would be very much appreciated. Under the section on personal leave, Department Circular 0032/2007 states that those who are members of public bodies, for example,...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Local Authority Members (31 Jan 2018)

Keith Swanick: I thank the Minister of State for her response and appreciate what she is saying about bringing the issue of substitution cover for local authority members when they are attending meetings to the Teachers Conciliation Council. Our local authority members have increasing workloads, however, and the Department needs to deal with this issue.I urge the Minister of State to bring this matter back...

Seanad: Order of Business (31 Jan 2018)

Keith Swanick: I want to express my concerns at the chronic underfunding of the Michael Davitt Museum in Straide, County Mayo. The museum is housed in a magnificently restored pre-penal laws church in the village of Straide between Castlebar and Foxford. What makes the museum unique is that Michael Davitt was christened in the church in 1846 and is buried in the grounds of the 13th-century Straide Abbey...

Seanad: Emergency Department Waiting Times: Statements (31 Jan 2018)

Keith Swanick: Yes, I wish to share time with Senator Gallagher.

Seanad: Emergency Department Waiting Times: Statements (31 Jan 2018)

Keith Swanick: I will take six minutes and Senator Gallagher will have two.

Seanad: Emergency Department Waiting Times: Statements (31 Jan 2018)

Keith Swanick: It is timely we are having these statements on emergency department waiting times given that our health system hit a new low on Monday last. The Euro Health Consumer Index 2017, on which I understand people place different weight, ranked Ireland among the worst in Europe for waiting times for health care. Ireland is now in 24th place, down two since last year's index. The mismanagement of...

Seanad: Life Saving Equipment Bill 2017: Second Stage (23 Jan 2018)

Keith Swanick: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Stanton as bheith anseo inniu. Is mór an onóir dom ar son Fhianna Fáil, agus Seanadóir Diarmuid Wilson, Seanadóir Paul Daly agus Seanadóir Robbie Gallagher, an bille tábhachtach seo a chur chun tosaigh sa Seanad anocht. Ar an gcéad dul...

Seanad: Life Saving Equipment Bill 2017: Second Stage (23 Jan 2018)

Keith Swanick: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Stanton, and all the Senators for their contributions. I am delighted with the support I have received from around the House. This Bill needs to be enacted. It is the result of Members thinking of our volunteers, the people who put their lives at risk for others.I take on board the sentiments expressed by the Minister of State, Deputy David Stanton,...

Seanad: Life Saving Equipment Bill 2017: Second Stage (23 Jan 2018)

Keith Swanick: Next Tuesday.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Hospital Services (17 Jan 2018)

Keith Swanick: I dtús báire cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Jim Daly, as bheith anseo inniu. Ba mhaith liom labhairt faoin seirbhís sláinte. Tá cúpla ceisteanna simplí agam. Dhá seachtain ó shin bhí scéal dochreidte sa Sunday Business Post. People were rightly shocked to see the headline "Life or Death: Top doctors say life...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Hospital Services (17 Jan 2018)

Keith Swanick: I thank the Minister of State. It is worth noting that the HSE commissioned the Prospectus report in 2009, which recommended that the number of ICU beds be increased by 45% immediately and be doubled by 2020. These recommendations have not been acted upon and no additional ICU beds have been provided. An additional 1,500 acute hospital beds have also been closed. Dr. Fergal Hickey, who...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Jan 2018)

Keith Swanick: Tharla ócáid stairiúil in Éirinn 99 mbliana ó shin Dé Domhnaigh seo chugainn. Tháinig an Chéad Dáil le chéile i dTeach an Ardmhéara tar éis an olltoghchán agus d’athraigh na heachtraí seo ár dtír agus ár stair. The 1918 general election and meeting of the First Dáil on 21 January 1919...

Seanad: Report of the Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Statements (17 Jan 2018)

Keith Swanick: Ag tús an díospóireacht seo ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil le gach ball den choiste, na Teachtaí agus na Seanadóirí, go háirithe Seanadóir Buttimer, Seanadóir Gavan, Seanadóir Mullen, Seanadóir Noone, Seanadóir O’Sullivan agus Seanadóir Ruane. I rith na Nollag bhí seans agam staidéar a...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2017)

Keith Swanick: Ba mhaith liom cúpla focal a rá faoi uaigneas. I mo thuairim, tá an fhadhb seo níos measa anois ná riamh. Is fadhb é do dochtúirí agus an tseirbhís sláinte ar fad mar tá uaigneas olc ar shláinte daoine. Is brónach é seo, ach tá sé fíor. Tá an teicneolaíocht tábhachtach ach tá...

Seanad: Courts Service (Amendment) Bill 2017: First Stage (12 Dec 2017)

Keith Swanick: I move:That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Courts Service Act 1998 to prohibit investments by the Courts Service in tobacco related companies and to provide for related matters.

Seanad: Courts Service (Amendment) Bill 2017: First Stage (12 Dec 2017)

Keith Swanick: Next Tuesday.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Scéim na gCúntóirí Teanga (29 Nov 2017)

Keith Swanick: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. Tá mé sásta cúpla focal a rá faoi scéim na gcúntóirí teanga agus tá cúpla ceisteanna simplí agam faoin scéim. As the Minister of State will know from recent parliamentary questions submitted by my colleague, Deputy Dara Calleary, this is an issue which is affecting primary schools in Gaeltacht...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Scéim na gCúntóirí Teanga (29 Nov 2017)

Keith Swanick: I share the Minister of State's concerns with regards to nurturing our language. I also understand that not all Gaeltacht schools can be facilitated due to the Department's capacity. However, with regards to scoil náisiúnta Dubh Thuama, it is important to realise that it has opted to participate in the scheme in the past but for some reason it has now been excluded. I know that...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2017)

Keith Swanick: As my party's health spokesperson, I am very aware of the harrowing cases of patients not getting access to life-changing medication, whether because of the HSE refusing to reimburse them or because of serious delays in the reimbursement process. The reimbursement process is broken and Ireland is now one of the worst countries in Europe for speed of access to new medications. Orphan drugs,...