Results 81-100 of 459 for speaker:Phil Prendergast

Seanad: Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 Jun 2010)

Phil Prendergast: When does the Minister expect to be in a position to have a meaningful assessment of how much this measure is liberating into the coffers and helping her case? Does she envisage it will take six months or a year or what kind of timeframe?

Seanad: Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 Jun 2010)

Phil Prendergast: If the scheme seeks to influence demand and patterns of prescription in the GMS, does she envisage a reduction in the amount saved other than the aforementioned €2 million per month? I refer to the intention to dictate prescribing practices or perhaps generic substitutions.

Seanad: Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2010: Second Stage (30 Jun 2010)

Phil Prendergast: We did not have time to watch it.

Seanad: Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2010: Second Stage (30 Jun 2010)

Phil Prendergast: They are considered to be an appliance.

Seanad: Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 Jun 2010)

Phil Prendergast: I have similar questions. Who will arbitrate on the individuals who wish to make a case if they are included or excluded and if the charge does not apply to them? Who will decide on this? Will it be such a person's medical doctor, a community welfare officer or a doctor at the Department's expense? How does the current system of payment operate and how will it incorporate the new charges...

Seanad: Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 Jun 2010)

Phil Prendergast: The Minister mentioned that half the people who are on hypertensive medication should not be on it. I agree with her. What was very common during my time in active nursing was what was called "white coat syndrome", whereby if one went to the doctor and one's blood pressure was taken immediately, the blood pressure was bound to be high as the nature of the visit to the doctor caused it to...

Seanad: Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2010: Second Stage (30 Jun 2010)

Phil Prendergast: I welcome the Minister. I am pleased to have this opportunity to contribute to the debate. The Labour Party is opposed to the proposed charge as it represents hardship for people with long-term illnesses. Will the projected savings of €2 million per month mean there will be a review of cuts to respite care, home help hours, special needs assistants in schools and home care packages? A...

Seanad: Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2010: Second Stage (30 Jun 2010)

Phil Prendergast: I have worked in the health service for many years and I know there are many crutches needed in the health service. I suggest there should be a more appropriate means of raising funds without putting a tax on people who can least afford to pay it. This charge would be levied on people who are already at a disadvantage, even a charge of 50 cent. This is not about the level of the charge; it...

Seanad: Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2010: Second Stage (30 Jun 2010)

Phil Prendergast: This is not a midwifery clinic. Generally speaking, unless poor women have had symphisiotomies or pubic symphysis dysfunction they do not need walking aids or crutches-----

Seanad: Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2010: Second Stage (30 Jun 2010)

Phil Prendergast: If anyone needs a midwifery clinic I am still on the register and if someone should spontaneously erupt into labour, I would be quite happy to attend to her.

Seanad: Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2010: Second Stage (30 Jun 2010)

Phil Prendergast: I get people out of labour and I hope I also get people supporting Labour.

Seanad: Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2010: Second Stage (30 Jun 2010)

Phil Prendergast: I appreciate we are in difficult times and that we need to look at everything but a levy of even 50 cent on people who are the end-users is not the right way to go about it. I acknowledge it is a small sum but for some people it is too much and there is scope within the system to influence a change in prescribing practices or the use of generic drugs instead of proprietary drugs. We can...

Seanad: Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2010: Second Stage (30 Jun 2010)

Phil Prendergast: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business. (22 Jun 2010)

Phil Prendergast: I refer to the debate on the Health Service Executive held in the House last week. I have never witnessed such blatant tactics by the Government side, engaging in time wasting, going over time, talking about smoothies and nothing to do with the HSE bearing in mind the kind of crises and scandals we have witnessed in recent times and not so recent times where the Government needs legislation...

Seanad: Order of Business. (22 Jun 2010)

Phil Prendergast: -----and conclude the debate and answer the questions that were put to her last week.

Seanad: Order of Business. (22 Jun 2010)

Phil Prendergast: She answered no questions.

Seanad: Order of Business. (22 Jun 2010)

Phil Prendergast: Will she answers questions put to her?

Seanad: Provision of Health Services by the HSE: Statements (16 Jun 2010)

Phil Prendergast: I had hoped the Minister would give her views on the way the HSE conducts its business. My experience of the HSE matches that of many others public representatives, including Fianna Fáil Deputies and at least one of the party's former Ministers. The executive has been described by many public representatives as a monster and a bureaucratic glutton, gobbling up much-needed funds that could...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 May 2010)

Phil Prendergast: I want to say a few words about the HSE. What was witnessed last night on "Prime Time Investigates" and "The Frontline" is not at all unusual. The continuation of the moratorium on recruitment and the fact there are 120 public health nurse positions vacant is crippling the provision of care for the elderly and others in the heath services. Carers provide care for millions of hours, many...

Seanad: Women's Participation in Politics: Statements (Resumed) (19 May 2010)

Phil Prendergast: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Cuffe. I also welcome the chair of the National Women's Council of Ireland and the representatives of the Irish Women Lawyers Association who are in the Gallery. As a former member of a 26-seat county council - I was one of two females who served on that body at the time - I am only too well aware that women are underrepresented at local government...