Results 15,561-15,580 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

Seanad: Hospital Services. (2 Jun 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I should be pleased to deal with it, but this is more of the same. It is more of the scare tactics and more of the nonsense. I apologise to the Senator. The answer is very clear. The Government is committed, as I have made clear, to supporting and developing critical services, including key areas such as maternity and accident and emergency services. There is a top class hospital service in...

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (2 Jun 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I assure Senators that the Government has listened long and hard to the many representations made in this area but any Government must strike a balance. If the roles were reversed and the Senators opposite were exercising the responsibility of office, no doubt they would find it difficult to improve on this legislation. I thank all Senators who contributed to this debate. From their comments,...

Nursing Homes: Motion (Resumed). (1 Jun 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The House will divide as it always does at 8.30 p.m., but I do not believe there is any fundamental difference of principle between the different sides of the House on this issue. There is no doubt about the shock that the broadcasting of this report has created. It is terrible that elderly persons are subjected to any abuse. We all have an obligation to ensure the highest standards are...

Nursing Homes: Motion (Resumed). (1 Jun 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: If the Opposition wants to examine its conscience in this area, it should resile from the nonsense ——

Nursing Homes: Motion (Resumed). (1 Jun 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: ——we had following the Supreme Court decision on the nursing home charges. Everyone knows the reality of the position and where our priorities should lie.

Nursing Homes: Motion (Resumed). (1 Jun 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: We have an excellent social services inspectorate.

Nursing Homes: Motion (Resumed). (1 Jun 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: It is now going to inspect nursing homes and will be put on a statutory basis under the health information and equality authority legislation.

Nursing Homes: Motion (Resumed). (1 Jun 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: That will be put in place. It is important that we realise that much has been done in this area. The national broadcaster should be commended on the programme shown the other night. The Government did not operate that particular nursing home and was not in charge of it. This attempt by the Opposition to turn every public issue into a direct attack on the Government is unacceptable because...

Nursing Homes: Motion (Resumed). (1 Jun 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: We are extending the remit of the social services inspectorate.

Nursing Homes: Motion (Resumed). (1 Jun 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The inspectorate does not need an Act to inspect a home. It will inspect homes from now and that will be put on a statutory basis on the enactment of the health information and equality authority.

Nursing Homes: Motion (Resumed). (1 Jun 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The inspection process is a vital need. Deputy Ryan raised this issue in the past, and all credit to him for that. Other Deputies have also raised the issue. Previously, each of the ten health board areas had discretion to adapt the procedure to suit the workings of their own inspection teams. That was provided for in the Nursing Home (Care and Welfare) Regulations of 1993. However, the...

Nursing Homes: Motion (Resumed). (1 Jun 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Opposition objected to that legislation because health legislation has established an executive.

Nursing Homes: Motion (Resumed). (1 Jun 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The proof of this pudding is in the eating. Now we see what happened under the regime of the health boards. We see, thanks and credit to RTE, what exactly was happening in each health board area — no uniform standards or practice ——

Nursing Homes: Motion (Resumed). (1 Jun 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: We brought in the Health Service Executive to bring uniformity to this area and to bring accountability into our health service. We were obstructed day and night by the Opposition when we sought to introduce that legislation.

Nursing Homes: Motion (Resumed). (1 Jun 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Opposition cannot just watch a programme on one night of the week and produce a motion another night. The Opposition must be as consistent as the Government. It must face up to that. The Health Service Executive is now unifying the workings of the inspection teams nationwide. That is a welcome step and shows the value of the executive. It shows the rationale of why we need an executive....

Nursing Homes: Motion (Resumed). (1 Jun 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Reports from all HSE areas were received by the Department earlier this year following inquiries regarding inspections.

Nursing Homes: Motion (Resumed). (1 Jun 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am dealing with that issue. They revealed that in the majority of these areas, the requirement of two nursing home inspections per year is being met. Areas which were not meeting the requirement have a number of reasons for this. The two inspections may not have been carried out strictly within a 12-month period but would have been carried out shortly afterwards. Also, the statutory...

Nursing Homes: Motion (Resumed). (1 Jun 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: ——and would be subject to the points I already outlined. A total of 298 homes were inspected twice and 55 homes were inspected three times or more. In general, where problems occur, the inspectors from the HSE discuss the details with the nursing home operators and this generally ensures that matters are addressed. It is in this area of discussion that many concerns were raised by the...

Nursing Homes: Motion (Resumed). (1 Jun 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am acting in accordance with the advice of the Chair. I am not attempting to frustrate anyone. I acknowledge that Deputy Sean Ryan has taken a particular interest in this issue and I commend him for that. I am not afraid to state on the record of the House that Deputy Ryan is one of the few Deputies who has consistently raised this issue in the House. The amendment to the subvention...

Nursing Homes: Motion (Resumed). (1 Jun 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: This is unworthy of the Deputy.