Results 1,841-1,860 of 2,919 for speaker:Séamus Healy

Euro Area Loan Facility (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (23 Jan 2013)

Séamus Healy: While listening to the debate earlier I heard my constituency colleague, Deputy Tom Hayes, take issue with and criticise those calling for the burning of bondholders. I have to assume that Deputy Hayes was criticising the Taoiseach, Deputy Kenny, and the Fine Gael Party who called during the general election of 2011 for bondholders to be burned and for not another cent to be paid to the...

Further Education and Training: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (17 Jan 2013)

Séamus Healy: On numerous occasions I have said the Government is a job destruction government. This proposal is another indication of this. There are fewer jobs in the economy now than there were when the Government came to power. The Government's economic programme for the next three years which it set out last November is based on a net decrease in the number of jobs in 2012, no increase in 2013 and a...

Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (16 Jan 2013)

Séamus Healy: I wish to share time with Deputy Catherine Murphy. I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2013. This is an important issue, bigger than the views of any individual Deputy. Smoking is remarkably harmful to the individual and society. We must ensure we establish a culture that reduces the number of people who smoke, especially younger people....

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Applications (16 Jan 2013)

Séamus Healy: To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary which is awaiting a decision by the medical officer since September 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1029/13]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Implementation of Government Decision Following Expert Group Report into Matters Relating to A, B and C v. Ireland (10 Jan 2013)

Séamus Healy: I thank the Chairman for the manner in which he has chaired these proceedings, and the clerk and his staff for the support they gave the committee over these three days and over the Christmas and new year period as well. I thank all the witnesses who have come before the committee for their presentations and submissions. The interaction and exchange with the witnesses has been informative,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Implementation of Government Decision Following Expert Group Report into Matters Relating to A, B and C v. Ireland (10 Jan 2013)

Séamus Healy: I welcome the witnesses and their submissions. As Deputy Ó Caoláin said, many of the questions here are repetitious and the newer ones - the question of eligibility and the issue of the 1861 Offences Against the Person Act - have already been identified by Deputy Kelleher and Deputy Ó Caoláin. Will the witnesses clarify if their groups support the expert group report's...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Implementation of Government Decision Following Expert Group Report into Matters Relating to A, B and C v. Ireland (10 Jan 2013)

Séamus Healy: I thank the witnesses for their submissions. Let me continue with the question asked by Senator Crown. Medical and legal witnesses have stated categorically over recent days that legislation envisaged by the Government will be very narrow and restrictive. One, if not more, individuals suggested we are dealing with approximately 30 cases per annum. The Pro Life Campaign's submission...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Implementation of Government Decision Following Expert Group Report into Matters Relating to A, B and C v. Ireland (10 Jan 2013)

Séamus Healy: I thank the witnesses for their submissions this morning. I have one question. Several submissions have indicated a concern that the introduction of legislation in this area might lead to a more widespread availability of abortion, with particular reference to the position in England. Is that not unfounded given that we operate on the basis of a written Constitution and that the test being...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Implementation of Government Decision Following Expert Group Report into Matters Relating to A, B and C v. Ireland (9 Jan 2013)

Séamus Healy: I welcome the witnesses and thank them for their submissions. As I have done in respect of previous witnesses, I will commence by asking the witnesses to set out for us their understanding of the current legal situation in this area. Professor Binchy said that people set the policy. There have been three referendums on this issue, one in 1983 and two others in 1992 and 2002. I take it...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Implementation of Government Decision Following Expert Group Report into Matters Relating to A, B and C v. Ireland (9 Jan 2013)

Séamus Healy: I welcome the representatives from the ICCL. Much of the territory here has been dealt with earlier this morning and, to some extent, yesterday. I welcome the clarity on several issues and the question of the opportunity for development. Can I get clarification on the 1992 and 2002 referenda? This has been an issue and there has been a divergence of opinion as to whether the question of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Implementation of Government Decision Following Expert Group Report into Matters Relating to A, B and C v. Ireland (9 Jan 2013)

Séamus Healy: I thank the witnesses for their very helpful submissions, in particular Dr. Mills's draft Termination of Pregnancy Bill, which offers an interesting template. I am seeking clarity and I ask the witnesses to explain their understanding of the current legal position on this issue. What is their position on the expert group report? Do they support the legislation and regulation option? Have...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Implementation of Government Decision Following Expert Group Report into Matters Relating to A, B and C v. Ireland (8 Jan 2013)

Séamus Healy: Most of my questions have been asked, but I will ask one of the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. We are dealing with this issue on the basis of the probability of a real and substantial risk to the life of the mother. What is the institute's opinion in terms of fatal foetal abnormalities? Does this issue fall within the context of a real and substantial risk to the life of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Implementation of Government Decision Following Expert Group Report into Matters Relating to A, B and C v. Ireland (8 Jan 2013)

Séamus Healy: I thank the witnesses for their submissions. I will be brief. I gather from what we have heard this afternoon and this morning suicide in pregnancy is rare indeed. There is a suggestion - it has been made regularly - that legislating for suicide in this area would open the floodgates on the basis of mental health. I call on our witnesses to address that subject and the related issues....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Implementation of Government Decision Following Expert Group Report into Matters Relating to A, B and C v. Ireland (8 Jan 2013)

Séamus Healy: I thank the witnesses for their submissions, which have been very informative and helpful, certainly to me. I wish to address a number of issues. I would like to have clarification on the probability of real and substantial risk to the life of the mother. While we can all understand an immediate situation, is there a situation in which the life of the mother might be at serious risk in six...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Implementation of Government Decision Following Expert Group Report into Matters Relating to A, B and C v. Ireland (8 Jan 2013)

Séamus Healy: I thank the Medical Council representatives for coming before the committee. With respect, we must ask the invitees again about emergencies and locations as I do not think they have adequately responded to the questions from members on these. On page 4 of the submission in paragraphs 6.5 and 6.6, the Medical Council has put forward a particular point of view. Its response in respect of...

Private Members' Business - Care Services: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (19 Dec 2012)

Séamus Healy: I have seen it over the past 25 years and I know that two years or 18 months ago, people who were being refused now would have got it without any difficulty. They should be getting it and I want the Minister of State to address that point. There has been a political instruction to the Department to change the criteria for carer's allowance so it can be refused. The delay in applications...

Private Members' Business - Care Services: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (19 Dec 2012)

Séamus Healy: I quote:Carers will be recognised and respected as key care partners. They will be supported to maintain their own health and well-being and to care with confidence. They will be empowered to participate as fully as possible in economic and social life.That comes from the National Carers Strategy 2012. What has happened in the budget is very far from respecting carers as key care partners....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child and Family Support Agency (18 Dec 2012)

Séamus Healy: Will the Minister ensure there is a representative of the centres on the board? This is a new situation and these centres provided a range of vital services in local communities. If the reform the Minister talked about is to be successful, every element of the services must be represented at the highest level.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child and Family Support Agency (18 Dec 2012)

Séamus Healy: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her policy for the continuation of family resource centres into the future having regard to the establishment of the Child and Family Support Agency; if she will confirm the continuation and extension of the delivery of community based universal services and early intervention programmes as heretofore; if she will confirm that the ethos and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child and Family Support Agency (18 Dec 2012)

Séamus Healy: I thank the Minister for her reply. As the Minister said, there are 106 of these centres throughout the country, three of them in my own constituency. They are Millennium Family Resource Centre in Glengoole, Spafield Family Resource Centre in Cashel and Three Drives Family Resource Centre in Tipperary Town. They do tremendous work with scarce resources and are providing essential...