Results 161-180 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (20 Dec 2007)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have indicated opposition to sections 10 to 21, inclusive. This section deals with the changes to the Medical Practitioners Act 2007. Clearly, these points have arisen as a result of hasty legislation last year in the form of that Act. Why else would we be revisiting the matter within a year? It was hasty legislation. There were problems that have now emerged in terms of its...

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (20 Dec 2007)

Frances Fitzgerald: I understand legal advice is given to the Government in confidence, but that does not mean it cannot be available. The Government can still make its own decision. This seems relatively straightforward. The precedent that exists that advice given from the Attorney General should not be made available should be revisited. I call on the Government to consider that. In the interest of good...

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (20 Dec 2007)

Frances Fitzgerald: I move amendment No. 2: In page 10, column (2), to delete lines 6 and 7. One of the issues which has emerged as a key concern to all sides of the House is the relationship between the Health Service Executive and the Department of Health and Children. That relationship has undergone a fundamental change following legislation a couple of years ago. This was illustrated clearly when the...

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (20 Dec 2007)

Frances Fitzgerald: I move amendment No. 4: In page 11, column (1) and column (2), to delete lines 3 to 56, to delete page 12 and in page 13, column (1) and column (2), to delete lines 3 to 30. Will the Minister of State address the issue I raise in amendment No. 4 in respect of Schedule 1? The Schedule states: An agreement to which paragraph (1) applies may include provision for— (a) the construction of...

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (20 Dec 2007)

Frances Fitzgerald: In reply to my query regarding the disposal of land, the Minister of State indicated that detailed discussions took place between the Parliamentary Counsel and the Department. This suggests some questions needed to be asked in respect of the language used. I wish to put down a marker that, regardless of the advice received by the Minister of State, to me the phrase "the disposal of land"...

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (20 Dec 2007)

Frances Fitzgerald: I would like to reiterate some of the points I made earlier about the three matters being dealt with in this legislation. I refer to the changes being made to the roles of the Minister and the HSE, the amendments being made to the Medical Practitioners Act 2007 and the strengthening of the legal basis of various bodies which, according to the Office of the Attorney General, do not have a...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Jan 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: We had a discussion last session about the time limits on the Order of Business. My understanding was that we would return to this matter in the appropriate committee. I will be opposing the Order of Business today on the basis that we should have further discussion about extending the time allowed.

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Jan 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: In the six weeks since we last met, we have seen worrying signs of an economic slowdown. Just this morning we heard of over 300 jobs which are to be lost in Arklow. Economic times are clearly getting tougher, but what is more worrying is that we have seen unprecedented wealth squandered. We have seen a lack of reform in the health service. Everybody should listen to recent recordings of...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Jan 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: Who is making the decisions and why has she been left waiting a year and a half? What is the explanation, who is accountable and who is responsible? I could go on. Yesterday a memorandum regarding cutbacks was issued. Given that we are moving into trickier economic times, what is going to happen now in the health service? There are to be cutbacks. Tallaght hospital has indicated its...

Seanad: Substance Abuse: Motion (Resumed) (30 Jan 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this all-party motion on alcohol misuse and illegal drug use. I listened with interest to what Senator Boyle had to say on the topic and the story about his daughter. Unfortunately, many families have experienced this. It is an all too common occurrence on our streets that young people are attacked unprovoked by people who are either drunk or on drugs....

Seanad: Health Services (30 Jan 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Gallagher, for attending but I regret that the Minister, Deputy Harney, is not present. I am happy to have an opportunity to discuss the urgent need for the Minister to provide the necessary and vital facilities required by young cystic fibrosis patients without delay. Although I am happy to have the opportunity to raise this issue, I am very...

Seanad: Order of Business (31 Jan 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: Yesterday Senators from across the political divide raised a concern at the judgment on the Ó Cuanacháin family and applied behavioural analysis, ABA, education. There were urgent calls for the Minister for Education and Science to attend the House so that we could have a debate on this matter. What progress has the Leader made in ensuring that we have discussion as soon as possible? I...

Seanad: Order of Business (31 Jan 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: We have an obligation to raise these issues.

Seanad: Order of Business (31 Jan 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: We have an obligation to raise these issues.

Seanad: Order of Business (31 Jan 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: Democracy is about raising the issues, it is not about——

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Feb 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: Members will welcome the extra ten minutes on the Order of Business, which has been requested by many Members. Today is the 90th anniversary of the Representation of the People Act, which gave women the vote. A number of calls have been made since this Seanad began to have a debate on broad equality issues. Given the appalling record of representation of women in Dáil and Seanad Éireann,...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (6 Feb 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: On a point of order, is it Government policy to advise pharmacists not to sign the contract? Perhaps the Leader would address that.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Feb 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: That is agreed. Last weekend, eight people died on our roads. Everybody saw the pictures of the horrific accidents on their television screens. On many occasions Senators on all sides of the House have raised the issue of road safety. We were assured that the Government intended to take tough action in this regard and that there would be greater commitment to road safety, both...

Seanad: Special Educational Needs (7 Feb 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: Once again, I am talking about families who have to go to court, but in this case I know the number involved. There are 150 families awaiting a hearing who have taken a case against the State to obtain services for their children. Why is the Department of Education and Science allowing this situation to develop? It is extraordinary that 150 cases await court hearings at present. How has...

Seanad: Special Educational Needs (7 Feb 2008)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank the Minister of State. I note his statement that he was sickened by parents, as the media commented, being dragged through the courts. The Department may not believe it is dragging people through the courts, but the parents believe they have no choice. That is the reality. Will the Minister of State ask the Government to pay the Ó Cuanacháin family's legal costs because it...