Results 14,861-14,880 of 24,567 for speaker:Róisín Shortall

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (9 Jul 2013)

Róisín Shortall: 545. To ask the Minister for Health if he will ensure that access for general practitioners to lung function tests at the Mater Hospital, Dublin, is restored immediately in the interests of early diagnosis of asthma and emphysema and other lung diseases and the better health outcomes that result; and if he will request information from the hospital as to the short, medium and long-term cost...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Work Permit Appeals (4 Jul 2013)

Róisín Shortall: 138. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation further to Parliamentary Question No. 384 of 5 February 2013, if he will confirm that the details supplied were those used in drafting the reply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32674/13]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Vaccination Programme (4 Jul 2013)

Róisín Shortall: 265. To ask the Minister for Health his plans, if any, for the introduction of the new vaccine into the childhood immunisation schedule that protects against Meningitis B disease which was recently licensed by the European Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32692/13]

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Jul 2013)

Róisín Shortall: Under the section I want to raise concerns about the absence of gestational limits. Many people are disturbed by this and it is not generally known among the public. I referred earlier to ethical concerns raised at the hearings of this committee, principally by Dr. Sam Coulter Smyth on behalf of his colleagues. He is the Master of one of the busiest maternity hospitals in Europe. He said:...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Jul 2013)

Róisín Shortall: Because it could be revisited.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Jul 2013)

Róisín Shortall: Will the Minister clarify his understanding of the legislation? Unusually and possibly uniquely, it draws a distinction between ending the-----

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Jul 2013)

Róisín Shortall: Yes. It draws a distinction between terminating a pregnancy and terminating the life of the unborn. This is an unusual scenario. What are acceptable grounds for a woman claiming that she is suicidal? Which scenario is it or is it both? Is it when she claims she is suicidal as a result of the pregnancy or when she claims she is suicidal as a result of the existence of an unborn child?...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Jul 2013)

Róisín Shortall: These issues are connected. The Minister and Minister of State should consider having a sunset clause.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Jul 2013)

Róisín Shortall: But-----

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Jul 2013)

Róisín Shortall: I can still refer to it under this section.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Jul 2013)

Róisín Shortall: That clause would provide the type of safeguard that people are seeking.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Jul 2013)

Róisín Shortall: On the question of ethical dilemmas, it is not sufficient to state there is an opt-out clause because most staff working in the system will be faced with these dilemmas? Medical practitioners regularly are faced with these dilemmas. They have medical and legal responsibilities. We are talking about a highly unusual situation. I am not aware, and perhaps the Minister can tell me...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Jul 2013)

Róisín Shortall: I am of the view that the bar should be set higher in this case. It is close to impossible to clinically diagnose suicidal intent. What comes into play, therefore, is the opinion of the medical professionals involved. Let us consider the case of a woman who is suicidal as a result of her pregnancy rather than an underlying psychiatric illness. It must be remembered an individual with such...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Jul 2013)

Róisín Shortall: I wish to add my voice to concerns about the difficulties that arise in respect of certification. We know the difficulties that exist in respect of reaching a clinical diagnosis regarding suicidal intent. My concern relates to how this will impact on the practise of medical professionals, especially in respect of the absence of legal protection in the case of, for example, a psychiatrist...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Jul 2013)

Róisín Shortall: They have not been addressed to date. I will refer to them further on the question of the section but there is a major issue in respect of lack of legal protection for psychiatrists.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Reliefs Availability (2 Jul 2013)

Róisín Shortall: 280. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will outline the tax relief available on tuition fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32291/13]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: One-Parent Family Payment Eligibility (2 Jul 2013)

Róisín Shortall: 468. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of recipients of the one parent family payment who stand to lose or have lost their payment as a result of the changes in eligibility relating to the age of their children that take effect from 4 July 2013. [32204/13]

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Preschool Services (2 Jul 2013)

Róisín Shortall: 624. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number and percentage of eligible children not availing of the free pre-school year; the outcome of any investigation known to her Department on the reason all parents are not availing of this free service; and the steps that are being taken to improve the take up. [32055/13]

Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (1 Jul 2013)

Róisín Shortall: During the committee hearings, strong points were also made by many health professionals about inadequate resourcing of our maternity and psychiatric services. The picture drawn was of a system which is very close to being dangerous. Pressures arising from the implementation of this legislation will undoubtedly put patients at further risk and this is an issue which requires the Minister's...

Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (1 Jul 2013)

Róisín Shortall: Free votes are commonplace in the UK Parliament and in other jurisdictions and there is no reason why they should not be a feature of our Parliament also. I strongly urge the Minister to accept Members' amendments or to bring forward his own to substantially strengthen this Bill. As it stands, it is not acceptable. An annual review of the operation of the legislation is required so that...