Results 1,961-1,980 of 3,842 for speaker:Mark Ward

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions (6 Jul 2022)

Mark Ward: 52. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas are excluded from current pension abatement arrangements for public service staff who complete their employment in one area of the public sector and who on completion of service take up employment in another area of the public service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36572/22]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Legal Cases (6 Jul 2022)

Mark Ward: 203. To ask the Minister for Health the cost to the State in defending court cases brought by parents since 2018 whose children did not receive an assessment of need in a timely manner; the number of cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36320/22]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Legal Cases (6 Jul 2022)

Mark Ward: 204. To ask the Minister for Health the cost to the State in defending the recent High Court case in which the judge ruled that a preliminary process used by the HSE to assess the needs of children with suspected educational and health problems does not comply with the disability laws; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36321/22]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (5 Jul 2022)

Mark Ward: 373. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of special school places there are in Stewarts Care, Palmerstown; if the school is at full capacity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36213/22]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Mental Health Services (5 Jul 2022)

Mark Ward: 491. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of third level college students aged 18 to 26 years who are on waiting lists for free counselling services; the average wait times, by college, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36080/22]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Mental Health Services (5 Jul 2022)

Mark Ward: 492. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the process by which third level college students aged 18 to 26 years can avail of free counselling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36081/22]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff (5 Jul 2022)

Mark Ward: 863. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide a report on exit interviews conducted in CHO7 for persons’ leaving the health service including the reason; the position the person held; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36211/22]

Education (Provision in Respect of Children with Special Educational Needs) Bill 2022: Second Stage (1 Jul 2022)

Mark Ward: I welcome this emergency legislation to shorten the notice period for schools being instructed to accommodate pupils with special educational needs. As my colleague Deputy Ó Laoghaire said, Sinn Féin has been calling for this for many weeks. While it will not solve every issue, it will be an important step forward. I commend the campaign by parents of children with special...

Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Second Stage (1 Jul 2022)

Mark Ward: I will focus the little time I have on the part of this Bill that attempts to deal with the Stardust tragedy. I was only six years old in 1981 and I do not remember the tragedy happening. What I remember is the lingering conversations over the years about how 48 young people went to a St. Valentine's eve disco and never came home. I remember how the adults in my life were upset not just by...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff (30 Jun 2022)

Mark Ward: 279. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide a report on the number of public health nurses in Dublin mid-west in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35040/22]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff (30 Jun 2022)

Mark Ward: 280. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide a report on the number of public health nurses per CHO area in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35041/22]

Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (29 Jun 2022)

Mark Ward: I will not repeat everything Deputy Cairns just said but the UN committee has made clear the functional test of mental capacity has no place in a true system of supported decision-making. I understand accepting this amendment would require further amendments to the Bill and the principal Act. However, it is preferable these amendments take place now to ensure this State is as close as...

Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (29 Jun 2022)

Mark Ward: There are always alternatives to forced psychiatric treatment which are more compliant with an individual's human rights if the Minister was minded to fund and resource peer-led human rights compliant initiatives. However, this amendment brings the law further from compliance with the UNCRPD.

Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (29 Jun 2022)

Mark Ward: There has been a shift in focus from deeming a person does not have capacity to an equal recognition of legal capacity. As per Article 12 of the UNCRPD, legal capacity is an inherent right owed to everyone. This is about moving to a recognition that everyone has legal capacity but still holds the understanding that where you may not be able to understand, will and preference decision-making...

Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (29 Jun 2022)

Mark Ward: I want to speak to amendment No. 65. The Disability Act 2005 takes an overly medical model approach to the definition of disability as compared with the conceptualisation of disability under Article 1 of the UNCRPD. The UN's understanding of disability is broader than that covered under the Disability Act and is more inclusive of and reflective of different experiences, including for people...

Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (29 Jun 2022)

Mark Ward: It is my understanding that, since Committee Stage, IHREC has changed its position in its recent recruitment campaign for new members of its disability advisory group by using the UNCRPD's understanding of disability rather than that in the Disability Act 2005. As I said, this is more inclusive and facilitates the participation of more people, including people with experience of mental...

Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (29 Jun 2022)

Mark Ward: We will be opposing this amendment as it gives a legislative basis to inherent jurisdiction. Inherent jurisdiction creates a loophole which allows the court to deny a person's legal capacity and makes decisions for them without following the rules of any specific legislation providing a specific basis for appeals or ensuring regular review. It allows the court to determine and forcibly...

Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (29 Jun 2022)

Mark Ward: I welcome that the Minister will seek a resolution in the Seanad and I will watch that intently. I am happy the Minister did not use the language he used on Committee Stage in saying people detained under the Mental Health Act 2001 could be a risk to themselves and others. That language caused upset and it was a generalisation that stigmatised people detained under the Mental Health Act....

Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (29 Jun 2022)

Mark Ward: I want to speak about the speed at which the Bill has progressed through the House. It has been quite difficult for people to engage in the process. On Committee Stage we heard people felt they were excluded from the process, particularly people with disabilities who felt the speed of the process excluded them. Nobody wants the Bill delayed but we want to get it right. The 90-minute...

Autism Bill 2022: Second Stage [Private Members] (29 Jun 2022)

Mark Ward: I too thank the Labour Party for bringing forward the Bill and allowing me the opportunity to speak to the challenges people with autism face. Some challenges they have are pronounced, such as those relating to social interaction and communication, repetitive and restrictive patterns of behaviour and sensory processing. These challenges are bad enough, but the greatest challenge they face...