Results 19,221-19,240 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Jul 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: It was the exception. The Minister is a member of the Green Party.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Jul 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: We have accepted it.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Jul 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: The first meeting of a cross-party Oireachtas group on mental health takes place at 2 p.m. today in the AVC room. I ask colleagues to support this initiative. Cross-party groups are common in other parliaments and this is a worthwhile initiative. I know Senators have a great interest in mental health and I ask colleagues to support this if they can. This is the first day of the new...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Jun 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: A number of significant reports have been made recently. There is the IMF report and the report of the National Competitiveness Council and I believe the Minister for Finance will tonight receive the report of an bord snip nua, identifying where there has been waste and where savings of, it is reported, as much as €5 billion could be made. Leaving aside the question of why the Government...

Seanad: Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (24 Jun 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: I welcome this amendment because it sets out in more detail the types of action one can take on behalf of a person not of full mental capacity. I welcome the precise wording of the amendment which states "but not limited to, any application, appeal, review or the giving of consent under section 7". This issue of reaching out appropriately to people and assessing them comprehensively would...

Seanad: Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (24 Jun 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: I move amendment No. 2: In page 9, between lines 12 and 13, to insert the following: " "multidisciplinary team" means medical staff, nursing team, discharge coordinator, community services discharge liaison officer, dietician, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, speech and language therapist, pharmacist, social workers, public health liaison nurse, chaplain/spiritual advisor.". This...

Seanad: Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (24 Jun 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank the Minister of State for a detailed reply which I do not find convincing. It will be to the detriment of those who will go into nursing homes that she will not accept this range of amendments and in their interests for her to accept them. Even if the Minister of State does not accept the amendments, she should have tabled amendments outlining a response to key concerns raised by...

Seanad: Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (24 Jun 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: The amendment pertains to the care needs assessment report.

Seanad: Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (24 Jun 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: We are not dealing with amendment No. 32. Government amendment No. 13: In page 22, to delete lines 31 to 34 and substitute the following: "(2)(a) Where the Executive has received a request for payment of ancillary State support and the Executive is satisfied that it is appropriate that payment of such support be made, the Executive shall make an order in accordance with this section. (b) The...

Seanad: Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (24 Jun 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: Quite a number of these amendments that the Minister of State proposes to insert on the advice of the Attorney General appear to be technical in nature. Amendment No. 13 seeks to ensure the executive is satisfied payment is in order before payment is made. That is fairly straightforward. I take it that amendment No. 14 is a routine legal procedure to register an order affecting the land.

Seanad: Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (24 Jun 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: If it is a routine legal procedure, why has it to be inserted in this way? Perhaps the Minister of State could explain that. It may well be simply a routine amendment that is inserted in legislation where property has to be registered or handed over. I have some questions concerning amendment No. 15. Will the Minister of State explain what was the problem with the previous provision and...

Seanad: Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (24 Jun 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: The other two amendments appear to be fairly technical.

Seanad: Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (24 Jun 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: I welcome amendment No. 17 which provides an additional safeguard and has regard to the expressed wishes, if known, of the relevant person concerned and his or her circumstances. The amendment also covers the appointment of a person to be a care representative. We had a lengthy debate on this matter on Committee Stage to which Senators Mullen and Norris also contributed. I am of the view...

Seanad: Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (24 Jun 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: I move amendment No. 21: In page 33, between lines 41 and 42, to insert the following: "(44) For the purposes of section 21(43) this Act shall ensure individuals are assisted by the Executive in their effort to demonstrate capacity— (a) The assessment officer should be obliged to provide an education service where it is guaranteed a person with appropriate expertise would assist in the...

Seanad: Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (24 Jun 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: Senator Prendergast has been speaking about appeals, while Senator Callely eloquently made some pleas. It is clear, however, that the Minister of State has not brought an amendment before the House to deal with the issue which is the source of great concern to Nursing Homes Ireland. There has been a lack of amendments from the Government in response to the points made both in the Dáil and...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jun 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: Senator Hanafin should tell that to the unemployed on the dole queues.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jun 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Government only briefs to the social partners and not the Parliament.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jun 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: Yes.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jun 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: I raised concerns yesterday about the cutbacks affecting Our Lady's Children's Hospital in Crumlin. There is a danger that the hospital will fall behind international norms for the treatment of various illnesses affecting children because of the cutbacks, not the quality of the service provided or the commitment of the staff. The cutbacks mean there will be longer waiting lists which mean...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jun 2009)

Frances Fitzgerald: We have asked the Government for report after report on these issues and the Minister to attend the House to discuss them, but we have not been briefed. No wonder the public has lost faith in the Government. If we do not have briefings as elected Members of this House and the Dáil, how can the public have faith in the processes and the way the Government is running the country? I propose...