Results 17,901-17,920 of 18,372 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Confidence in Minister for Health and Children: Motion (Resumed) (28 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: I am pleased to have the opportunity to contribute to this debate and affirm my full confidence in my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney. For the past six months I have had the privilege of working beside the Minister in the Department of Health and Children. Working on a highly complex brief, I have been struck by her courage and determination and absolute...

Confidence in Minister for Health and Children: Motion (Resumed) (28 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: The Opposition has chosen the current concerns about breast cancer diagnosis in Portlaoise hospital as a platform for this debate. The one thing that unites us in this House is a profound sympathy for the women who have experienced serious worries and concerns about the way the breast cancer services in Portlaoise dealt with their cases.

Confidence in Minister for Health and Children: Motion (Resumed) (28 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: This regrettable incident is the chief target at which the Opposition has aimed its baseless criticisms of the Minister. This Labour Party motion is typical of those speaking out of both sides of their mouths.

Confidence in Minister for Health and Children: Motion (Resumed) (28 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: They accept that the Minister cannot be held accountable for mistakes in the reading of individual mammograms and ultrasounds while at the same time laying the blame for every clinical shortcoming at her door. As the Minister said last night, it is utterly unacceptable that the women first heard that there might be a problem with their ultrasound tests on the airwaves.

Confidence in Minister for Health and Children: Motion (Resumed) (28 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: This inexcusable breakdown in communication cannot be repeated.

Confidence in Minister for Health and Children: Motion (Resumed) (28 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: The Minister took personal and immediate control of the matter once its extent had been established and instructed her officials to work from last Friday morning over the weekend with the HSE to ensure that clinical reviews and other additional services were fast-tracked.

Confidence in Minister for Health and Children: Motion (Resumed) (28 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: This decisive action which is ongoing has been necessary and beneficial. Professor Tom Keane has this week taken up his position as interim director of the National Cancer Control Programme. He is working to ensure the transition to the new centres of excellence and is expected to quickly designate clinical national leaders.

Confidence in Minister for Health and Children: Motion (Resumed) (28 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: The people of this country need, deserve and are entitled to the services that will be delivered in a multi-disciplinary setting. That will not be achieved without implementation of the transformation programme. The Minister is presiding over the largest and most fundamental reform of the health service, one that has long been identified as necessary. Implementation of these reforms will...

Confidence in Minister for Health and Children: Motion (Resumed) (28 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: Deputy Jan O'Sullivan referred on the airwaves this afternoon to the delay in publishing Dr. O'Doherty's report. This report was commissioned by the HSE. It has not been published yet because natural justice requires that the people who may be identified and in respect of whom there may be adverse comment or inferences are entitled to see it first and have their views heard.

Confidence in Minister for Health and Children: Motion (Resumed) (28 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: This is normal practice, as Members know. The Government wishes to see this report published as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (27 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP) and the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP), which are being implemented by the Office of the Minister for Children. Under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP), which is co-funded under the EU Social Fund (ESF), targeted support was...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (27 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP) and the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP), which are being implemented by the Office of the Minister for Children. My Office will respond to the letter enclosed shortly. Under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP), which is...

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (27 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: Youth cafés offer great potential for providing a wide range of developmental, educational and information programmes to young people. The launch of the National Recreation Policy in September this year highlighted Government's commitment to the development of youth cafés. While a number of youth cafés have emerged around the country on an ad hoc basis, funded by a variety of providers, an...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (27 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP) and the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP), which are being implemented by the Office of the Minister for Children. Under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP), which is co-funded under the EU Social Fund (ESF), targeted support was...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (27 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP) and the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP), which are being implemented by the Office of the Minister for Children. Under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP), which is co-funded under the EU Social Fund (ESF), targeted support was...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (27 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP) and the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP), which are being implemented by the Office of the Minister for Children. Under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP), which is co-funded under the EU Social Fund (ESF), targeted support was...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (27 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP) and the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP), which are being implemented by the Office of the Minister for Children. Under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP), which is co-funded under the EU Social Fund (ESF), targeted support was...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (27 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP) and the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP), which are being implemented by the Office of the Minister for Children. Under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP), which is co-funded under the EU Social Fund (ESF), targeted support was...

Health Services. (22 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. It is not the first time I have heard him speak on this issue and the need to improve the scheme. The disabled drivers scheme dates back to 1968, when relief from road tax was made available under section 43 of the Finance Act of that year for persons with a disability meeting specific medical criteria. Since then, the scheme has been...

Cross-Border Health Services. (22 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: I am taking this matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children. I welcome the opportunity to set out the current position regarding the restructuring of cancer services, with particular reference to Sligo General Hospital. Professor Tom Keane took up his position on Monday as national cancer control director to lead and manage the establishment of the national...