Results 1,541-1,560 of 6,045 for speaker:Frank Feighan

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Covid-19 Pandemic (10 May 2021)

Frank Feighan: I thank Senator Sherlock for the opportunity to discuss this matter. The framework for restrictive measures contained in the Covid-19 plan, Resilience and Recovery: The Path Ahead, sets out information on the staggered start of easing of other areas of restriction, with a focus on outdoor activities, including sport. For guidance purposes, dance has been included under sports under the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Covid-19 Pandemic (10 May 2021)

Frank Feighan: The Senator articulated her views very clearly. She is right. Children face significant challenges but concerns around well-being arising from the pandemic apply to all of society. We face into the summer when there will be many festivals, including arts festivals. Some of that work will be carried on indoors. We have developed this guidance, which recognises the important work of the...

Seanad: Carer's Allowance: Motion (10 May 2021)

Frank Feighan: I welcome the opportunity to address the House on the issues that concern family carers. I thank Senators Mary Seery Kearney and Martin Conway for laying this timely and welcome motion before the House. Family carers are the backbone of care provision in our country. Whether caring for a child, a parent with a disability or illness, or an elderly family member, carers through their...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Culture Policy (7 May 2021)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Senator for the opportunity to discuss this matter. I share his optimism and hope that, eventually, the country will open up and we will go back to enjoying all these festivals and theatres over the summer. He is absolutely right that the pandemic has taught us a few lessons, one of which is that the simple things in life are free. We are looking forward to opening up. The...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Culture Policy (7 May 2021)

Frank Feighan: As the Senator is aware, the Government announced last week that the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media will work with the Departments of Health and the Taoiseach to progress arrangements to hold a further limited number of pilot live events for sport and live entertainment, both indoor and outdoor. In the meantime, the Department will work with sporting and...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health Services Staff (7 May 2021)

Frank Feighan: I thank Senator Currie for giving me the opportunity to update the House on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, on this important matter and to acknowledge the enormous contribution made by psychologists in Irish hospitals, especially in these challenging times in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Department engages on an ongoing basis with the HSE with regard to...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health Services Staff (7 May 2021)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Senator for the information, especially relating to the North. It is an interesting recommendation. Significant health workforce recruitment is under way in the HSE and more is planned. This is a challenging time for the health sector but there are opportunities for reform and new ways of working. The Minister of State, Deputy Butler, is looking forward to receiving the report...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Abortion Services (7 May 2021)

Frank Feighan: I assure the Senator that ensuring access to termination of pregnancy services remains an ongoing priority for the Minister and the Department of Health. The Senator outlined the proposal to draft the legislation to provide for safe access to termination of pregnancy services. It arose from concerns about demonstrations against abortion that took place during and after the campaign for the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Abortion Services (7 May 2021)

Frank Feighan: Implementing the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 and ensuring safe access to services under the Act remains a priority for the Department of Health. It is important that we remain aware that the majority of people in this country voted in 2018 to change our laws to allow greater access to termination of pregnancy services for those who need them. I take on board...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Anti-Social Behaviour (6 May 2021)

Frank Feighan: The Deputy is justifiably concerned about antisocial behaviour in Dublin and its effects on local communities. Antisocial behaviour can radically change the complexion of where each of us calls home and can make us feel distressed and unhappy. It can pose a serious threat to community safety and weaken collective resilience. Strong community engagement and services are critical in reducing...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Anti-Social Behaviour (6 May 2021)

Frank Feighan: I thank Deputy McAuliffe for raising this important issue. An inevitable impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the public health restrictions, which we put in place in order to control the transmission of the virus, has been a significantly decreased public presence on city centre streets during the last year. I fully appreciate this has resulted in some of those who need to be in the city...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Care of the Elderly (6 May 2021)

Frank Feighan: I thank Deputy Tully for raising the boarding out scheme, in which she is very interested. The Government is committed to supporting people to live in dignity and independence in their own homes and communities for as long as possible. Where this is not feasible, the health service supports access to quality, long-term residential care where this is appropriate. We will continue to develop...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Care of the Elderly (6 May 2021)

Frank Feighan: Again, I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. Our overriding objective is to support older people to live in dignity and independence in their own homes and communities for as long as possible. The Government is committed to the continued enhancement of health and social care services delivery at both individual and community level. Under the Sláintecare model, we are looking at a...

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (6 May 2021)

Frank Feighan: I am happy to inform the Deputy that the Janssen single-shot vaccine was administered today to prioritised groups of medically vulnerable people living in homelessness services in Dublin. This group includes people with specific underlying conditions. There are more than 700 medically vulnerable people in homelessness services, and approximately 350 of them are due to receive the vaccine...

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (6 May 2021)

Frank Feighan: I would like to thank Leas-Cheann Comhairle for the opportunity to update the House on the Government's response to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. The focus of my statement is on socially excluded groups and, specifically, how the Government and the HSE have sought to protect them from the threat posed by Covid-19 and our plans for administering the Covid-19 vaccine to these groups. Not...

Written Answers — Department of Health: International Protection (6 May 2021)

Frank Feighan: Overall responsibility for the Direct Provision system rests with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, while the Department of Health and the HSE are responsible for the policy and provision of health care service for persons in the protection system. Primary care services are currently provided to persons living in Direct Provision on the same basis as...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Promotion (6 May 2021)

Frank Feighan: A key aim of the National Sexual Health Strategy is to ensure that everyone living in Ireland will receive comprehensive, and age-appropriate sexual health education and information. To this end, the HSE Sexual Health and Crisis Pregnancy Programme carries out a wide range of sexual health promotion campaigns, communications and information projects, both online via the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Addiction Treatment Services (5 May 2021)

Frank Feighan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 514 and 515 together. The Covid-19 pandemic continues to have a major impact in Ireland and globally. Progress has been made on suppressing the virus due to the huge effort of our citizens. By working together, the Irish people have saved lives and limited the impact of the disease.We all must continue to do everything possible to avoid the virus spreading....

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Services (5 May 2021)

Frank Feighan: The issues outlined in the Deputy's correspondence relate to service provision. I have referred the matter to the Health Service Executive, and asked that they respond directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Alcohol Treatment Services (5 May 2021)

Frank Feighan: As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.