Results 1,861-1,880 of 6,078 for speaker:Frank Feighan

Mental Health Policy: Motion [Private Members] (9 Dec 2020)

Frank Feighan: I thank Deputies from across the various parties for moving this very important Private Members' motion on mental health and Covid-19. I echo what my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, said in her opening remarks about this issue being raised during what has been a difficult and distressing period for most people. As stated at the outset, the Government is not opposing the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Services (9 Dec 2020)

Frank Feighan: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Covid-19 Pandemic (8 Dec 2020)

Frank Feighan: We all agree that recent news from the vaccine developers is a beacon of hope after a very difficult year. Vaccination is a hugely effective intervention for saving lives and promoting good health. The safety and effectiveness of vaccines is our absolute priority and any Covid-19 vaccine administered in Ireland will have to be authorised by the European Medicines Agency. While we await...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Covid-19 Pandemic (8 Dec 2020)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Deputies for giving me the opportunity, on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, to update the House on the Covid-19 immunisation programme. The Government is committed to the roll-out of a Covid-19 vaccination programme as soon as suitable products have been authorised and supplies are available. In this regard, a high-level task force has recently been established, under...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Drug and Alcohol Task Forces (8 Dec 2020)

Frank Feighan: The attached table details funding for drug and alcohol task forces for the last ten years, since the task forces came under the remit of the Department of Health. A further €750,000 was provided for strategic drug and alcohol initiatives in 2020, delivered by drug and alcohol task forces. ">Funding

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Health Services Access (8 Dec 2020)

Frank Feighan: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to unprecedented interruptions to normal healthcare activity, with most services affected, including STI clinics. STI Clinics are conducting virtual clinics where possible, with attendance in person limited to appointment only. Service restrictions are predominantly due to social distancing requirements; waiting rooms can now only hold a fraction of patients...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Addiction Treatment Services (8 Dec 2020)

Frank Feighan: The national drug strategy, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery, is the Government roadmap for a health-led response to drug and alcohol use. Expenditure on HSE addiction services increased from €94 million in 2016 to over €100 million in 2019. This funding is used by the HSE to deliver a wide range of national policy objectives as outlined in the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Health Promotion (8 Dec 2020)

Frank Feighan: Healthy Ireland, A Framework for Improved Health and Wellbeing 2013-2025, is the national framework for action to improve the health and wellbeing of Ireland.  The Framework is now past the mid-way point for the implementation. Since publication in 2013, there has been significant progress in implementation. This has included: - A focus on building an enabling environment for...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Abortion Services Provision (3 Dec 2020)

Frank Feighan: The Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, is aware of the research article to which the Deputies refer on foetal medicine specialists' experience in providing a new service of termination of pregnancy for fatal foetal anomaly. The research article to which the Deputies refer reports on interviews carried out with ten foetal medical specialists in Ireland. Foetal medicine focuses on the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Abortion Services Provision (3 Dec 2020)

Frank Feighan: In concluding the debate on the issues raised by the Deputies, I would like to clarify again, on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, that to provide a termination of pregnancy under section 11 of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018, two medical practitioners must have previously certified the reasonable opinion formed in good faith that the foetus...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Industrial Relations (3 Dec 2020)

Frank Feighan: It is important to reiterate the position in respect of this dispute. NASRA, which is affiliated to the PNA, is not recognised by the HSE and, therefore, does not have negotiating rights. Furthermore, the PNA does not have negotiating rights for ambulance personnel. The legal position is very clear. The HSE and the National Ambulance Service have no obligation to recognise NASRA or the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (3 Dec 2020)

Frank Feighan: It has long been the practice, both in this country and internationally, that registered health professions pay an annual registration fee to their respective regulator allowing it to perform its functions independently of State support. The regulation of the healthcare sector and its professionals has become increasingly important over recent decades to ensure the compliance of set...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Industrial Relations (3 Dec 2020)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue today. I again take the opportunity on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, to recognise the outstanding contribution our front-line workers make every day to enable the country to respond in the way it does to the Covid-19 pandemic. No profession is more front line than our paramedics. To move on to the particular issue raised, we are...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (3 Dec 2020)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. The NMBI is the regulatory body for the nursing and midwifery professions. Its role in setting standards and providing guidance for approximately 79,000 registered nurses and midwives focuses on public safety. The board is an independent body answerable to the Oireachtas with responsibility for ensuring that it has the financial capacity...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Addiction Treatment Services (3 Dec 2020)

Frank Feighan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 346 to 351, inclusive, together. As these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Addiction Treatment Services (3 Dec 2020)

Frank Feighan: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Counselling Services (3 Dec 2020)

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.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Gambling Sector (2 Dec 2020)

Frank Feighan: The national survey on drug and alcohol use is a general population survey of households in Ireland conducted by the Health Research Board (HRB) to estimate the number of people in Ireland who use drugs and alcohol. The survey conforms to best practice and standards established by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA). The first survey was conducted in...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Sexually Transmitted Infections (1 Dec 2020)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Senator for his remarks. The national AIDS strategy referred to by the Senator was published in 2000. Its most recent successor is the National Sexual Health Strategy 2015-2020, published in 2015. That strategy aims to improve the sexual health and well-being of the population and to reduce negative sexual health outcomes, including unplanned pregnancies and the transmission of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Sexually Transmitted Infections (1 Dec 2020)

Frank Feighan: Some 23 public STI services nationally provide free STI and HIV testing. HIV testing is also available as part of the national antenatal screening programme, with almost 100% uptake. The HSE sexual health and crisis pregnancy programme funds and collaborates with community partners to expand HIV testing among higher risk population groups such as gay men and migrants in order to identify...