Results 1,441-1,460 of 4,359 for speaker:Gino Kenny

Rent Reduction Bill 2023: Second Stage [Private Members] (26 Apr 2023)

Gino Kenny: I pose the question and, obviously, the Bill poses the question: what is wrong with rent control? What is wrong with making rent, in relative terms, affordable for renters? What is wrong with stopping the market-led approach that has led to spiralling rents? Thanks to spiralling rents, we now have a generation that is not only locked out but is turning to emigration. Many young people now...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Challenges in Hospitals: Minister for Health (26 Apr 2023)

Gino Kenny: My first question relates to hospital bed occupancy in Ireland at the moment. What is hospital bed occupancy now? The EU average is 63%. I am curious where we are at in Ireland.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Challenges in Hospitals: Minister for Health (26 Apr 2023)

Gino Kenny: A ballpark figure is 80% or higher.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Challenges in Hospitals: Minister for Health (26 Apr 2023)

Gino Kenny: Would that be deemed dangerous in comparison with normal occupancy levels?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Challenges in Hospitals: Minister for Health (26 Apr 2023)

Gino Kenny: It would take enormous additional capacity to get the occupancy rate down to the EU average of 63%. There are obviously challenges with regard to how long people are staying in hospital settings but to get the rate down to 63% would be some undertaking.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Challenges in Hospitals: Minister for Health (26 Apr 2023)

Gino Kenny: In his statement, the Minister mentioned that he visited many emergency departments in recent times and said that some of it was quite distressing. It is obviously distressing for patients, staff, families and so forth. What did he actually see that made him distressed? We have all been in situations in emergency departments. I know the staff are doing their absolute best but certain...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Challenges in Hospitals: Minister for Health (26 Apr 2023)

Gino Kenny: How can we stop that? Obviously nobody in this room, including the Minister, wants to see situations like that but how can we stop it so it is not a situation that just constantly goes on?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Challenges in Hospitals: Minister for Health (26 Apr 2023)

Gino Kenny: My final question relates to waiting times. This is one of the pinch points in the whole health service. I have said many times that the Irish public health system is a really good system once you get into it but the main thing is getting into it. Waiting times of, in certain instances, a couple of years are just not good enough because intervention is key. Cutting them down to ten or 12...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Cards (25 Apr 2023)

Gino Kenny: 516. To ask the Minister for Health if he will outline for the past ten years each time the income threshold to qualify for a medical card got updated or altered; and if he will respond with details of each or any update to qualify for a medical card. [18999/23]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Cards (25 Apr 2023)

Gino Kenny: 517. To ask the Minister for Health if he plans to update the income threshold for a medical card to align with the current cost of living. [19000/23]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Cards (25 Apr 2023)

Gino Kenny: 518. To ask the Minister for Health if he plans to update the qualification criteria for a medical card to consider long-term illnesses that have a cost burden on a household; and if he will make the qualification for a medical card to be more flexible to take in cost factors that are not on the current list. [19001/23]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Cards (25 Apr 2023)

Gino Kenny: 519. To ask the Minister for Health if he plans to expand the medical card to all cancer patients under treatment. [19002/23]

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Library Services (25 Apr 2023)

Gino Kenny: 654. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he is aware that the Local Government Management Agency recently changed library borrowing rules for children and young people borrowing age appropriate books, so that they now require signed consent from a parent to move up an age group for example, to the 12-14 age category when they have reached 12 years of age, and that this...

Organised Crime: Statements (20 Apr 2023)

Gino Kenny: Organised crime is an insidious reality and those who participate in that insidious reality are some of the most unscrupulous people who will use particularly grotesque violence and intimidation to achieve their ends. They are highly organised, motivated and adaptable because of the vast profits of the black or alternative economy. When inequality and poverty are factors, some people will...

Organised Crime: Statements (20 Apr 2023)

Gino Kenny: They are thinking of other issues, such as whether the drugs will have an effect on them. This is a complex issue. We must look at different models because the current model does not work. Criminalising people does not work. It only enriches a certain number of people in society. The radical approach is to decriminalise drugs and have a wider debate around regulation. If we look...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (20 Apr 2023)

Gino Kenny: That is all welcome. It is important that the State recognises that long Covid is prevalent and the vast majority of people will make a full recovery as long as they get the intervention, which is most important. A major concern is waiting times for those suffering from long Covid. At present, it can be up to a year before they can get that intervention. That is probably not good at...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (20 Apr 2023)

Gino Kenny: 8. To ask the Minister for Health what plans the HSE has for holistic, neuro-focused, multidisciplinary long-Covid clinics; if he will tackle the long waiting lists for long-Covid appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17659/23]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (20 Apr 2023)

Gino Kenny: What plans does the HSE have for holistic, neuro-focused and multidisciplinary long-Covid clinics?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (20 Apr 2023)

Gino Kenny: I thank the Minister. We welcome that. A conference on long Covid is due to be held today. We are only beginning to understand the evolution of long Covid. Many have been affected by this extremely debilitating condition. We probably all know someone who is suffering from it. In some circumstances, it has changed their life and put it on hold. Some people who had been very healthy...