Results 17,621-17,640 of 18,372 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Child Abuse. (29 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: I have been informed by the Health Service Executive that its 2008 national service plan commits it to developing from the end of the second quarter of this year a means of collecting information on the following for each administrative area: the number of notifications made of child abuse or neglect, the number of assessments conducted following notifications, the number of children on...

Child Abuse. (29 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: As Deputy Shatter knows, reports were made available for 2005. We have preliminary data for 2006 which has not been analysed. With regard to the performance indicators to which the Deputy referred, the January report has come to the Department as has the February report. We await the March report and expect to have it within the next two weeks. When we have this, it will enable us to...

Child Abuse. (29 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: I am anxious that we have the up-to-date information available as soon as possible. As Deputy Shatter knows, the first year for which the HSE——

Child Abuse. (29 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: ——had responsibility for this report was 2005. This report was completed.

Child Abuse. (29 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: It was completed prior to that.

Child Abuse. (29 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: That is different.

Child Abuse. (29 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: Just one second, Deputy Shatter. The scheduling and publication of the report is a matter for the HSE. It is not a matter for the Office of the Minister for Children.

Child Abuse. (29 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: The HSE completed its report for 2005 in 2007. The report for 2006 is nearing completion. I am informed by the HSE that the report on 2007 will be completed in the summer of this year. We want a more timely publication of reports. We want the information to be more accessible and a better quality report. I stated the reports in respect of January and February of this year have been made...

Child Abuse. (29 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: We are not involved in any window dressing.

Child Abuse. (29 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: I already told Deputy Shatter, if he had listened——

Child Abuse. (29 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: I will not accept Deputy Shatter's use of the word "masquerading".

Child Abuse. (29 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: The HSE has informed me that the delay in preparing the 2005 report was due to the prioritisation of a service delivery mechanism as it was a relatively new body. Previously, reports were produced by individual health boards. The HSE on its establishment developed a template for a national reporting procedure. As I stated, preliminary data for 2006 has been supplied to the Department but...

Written Answers — Adoption Services: Adoption Services (24 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive (HSE) under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy. As the...

Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (23 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: It is a pleasure to make the concluding contribution to the Second Stage debate of this important Bill. When the Minister for Foreign Affairs introduced the Bill on 2 April, he correctly reminded the House that the reform treaty is important for Ireland and for Europe. The Government considers the treaty to be a logical step for the EU in an increasingly globalised world. Ratification of...

Pharmacy Services. (23 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney, who is unavoidably absent due to other Department business. I thank the Deputy for raising this matter as it provides me with an opportunity to outline to this House the current position. Over recent years, the Health Service Executive has reviewed the pharmaceutical...

Pharmacy Services. (23 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: Community pharmacy contractors are required under the terms of their contract to give three months' notice of their intention to withdraw. This is a serious obligation to ensure continuity of dispensing services to patients. The HSE has written to each of the contractors concerned, seeking formal confirmation of their intentions and pointing out that three months' notice of cessation of...

Pharmacy Services. (23 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: It should be allowed complete its work——

Pharmacy Services. (23 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: It should be allowed complete its work in just a few weeks' time. In the meantime and while that work is still under way, a withdrawal of services by pharmacists is not a response that is fair to patients who, for good reasons, have——

Pharmacy Services. (23 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: Could we have the common decency to listen? In the meantime and while that work is still under way, a withdrawal of services by pharmacists is not a response that is fair to patients who, for good reasons, have developed a trust and confidence in their community pharmacist to supply the medicines they need.

Pharmacy Services. (23 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: Threats of withdrawal from the community pharmacy contract in this context are surely not in anyone's interest. The Minister has repeatedly stated she does not wish to see any patient inconvenienced in any way. She believes that if community pharmacists reflect on the position and the fully independent——