Results 341-360 of 25,195 for speaker:David Cullinane

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Public Health and the Commercial Determinants of Health: Discussion (14 Feb 2024)

David Cullinane: With respect, it is much bigger and deeper than all that. It probably would have been better if we had invited in the academic before the Minister of State, but she will get a copy of her opening statement and can read that. What the academic is talking about is much deeper than any of the responses we have so far got from the Minister of State. We can all measure any action plan or...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Public Health and the Commercial Determinants of Health: Discussion (14 Feb 2024)

David Cullinane: I am talking about evidence for-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Public Health and the Commercial Determinants of Health: Discussion (14 Feb 2024)

David Cullinane: I might put the question differently. What is the evidence of the success in decreasing the levels of obesity and the impact that is having on people?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Public Health and the Commercial Determinants of Health: Discussion (14 Feb 2024)

David Cullinane: What metrics does the Department use to measure success or a lack of it?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Public Health and the Commercial Determinants of Health: Discussion (14 Feb 2024)

David Cullinane: The experts are telling us, however, that it is not as difficult as the Minister of State is suggesting. How are we ever meant to have a sense of whether a strategy is working if we cannot measure its success or failure?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Public Health and the Commercial Determinants of Health: Discussion (14 Feb 2024)

David Cullinane: I am not convinced of that at all. It is understandable, however. When I look at preventative healthcare, issues such as obesity and what Healthy Ireland does, I am not at all critical. Much good work is done on health promotion. There are a lot of leaflets, information on websites and encouragement of what individuals should do, but my point is that alone will not address the problem....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Public Health and the Commercial Determinants of Health: Discussion (14 Feb 2024)

David Cullinane: I welcome all our witnesses. We have very limited time, so I just want to put a number of questions first to Dr. Campbell and then Dr. Gilheany. I am not looking for everybody to answer them and I will not get through some of the questions I have. My first observation on the opening statements is that we obviously need to simplify this message as best we can for people. We need a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Public Health and the Commercial Determinants of Health: Discussion (14 Feb 2024)

David Cullinane: I must cut in because of time. I apologise. I have a related question. One of the issues raised by Dr. Campbell today is the need for us to look at fiscal levers, taxation, and other fiscal measures and tools we can use to shift that power imbalance. What additional practical measures would Dr. Gilheany advocate that would make a difference in this space?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Public Health and the Commercial Determinants of Health: Discussion (14 Feb 2024)

David Cullinane: My question is, in what areas? Obviously, there has been some progress in measures around nicotine, alcohol and sugar. Will Dr. Gilheany give us examples of areas where we need to do more?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying: System for Assisted Dying and Alternative Policies: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Feb 2024)

David Cullinane: Go raibh maith agat. I will start with Dr. Ní Bhriain. For the purposes of clarity, she said the HSE does not have a policy position. I think we can all accept this because it would be a matter for government anyway. There is no government policy now. Dr. Ní Bhriain also said that there is no commissioned research, but that through the Health Research Board, if I understand her...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying: System for Assisted Dying and Alternative Policies: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Feb 2024)

David Cullinane: I refer to outside of the response for today.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying: System for Assisted Dying and Alternative Policies: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Feb 2024)

David Cullinane: The HSE has looked at other countries and jurisdictions in terms of assisted dying only for the purposes of today's session.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying: System for Assisted Dying and Alternative Policies: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Feb 2024)

David Cullinane: That is it. What was that process? Was it undertaken over the course of a day or two days? Were there discussions among those who are witnesses? Was there a wider team involved in that discussion?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying: System for Assisted Dying and Alternative Policies: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Feb 2024)

David Cullinane: In the course of those discussions, was any consideration given to what sort of safeguards and issues would have to be examined in a context where legislation of this type was to come about?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying: System for Assisted Dying and Alternative Policies: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Feb 2024)

David Cullinane: I understand that, but I am looking at the HSE's opening statement and it very clearly sets out safeguards and a range of issues that would need to be considered. I do not see this in the Department's opening statement. I am saying the opening statement has not identified what the safeguards would be.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying: System for Assisted Dying and Alternative Policies: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Feb 2024)

David Cullinane: At this point in time, however, the Department has not looked at those safeguards. Why not?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying: System for Assisted Dying and Alternative Policies: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Feb 2024)

David Cullinane: I know there is no current policy, but at the same time there may be policy. It is possible that at some point in the next 12 months there could be policy. What I am saying is that the HSE has looked at this. I will go through all of the different issues the HSE has identified as potential safeguards. They are: citizens who may be vulnerable; potential impact on healthcare workers; patient...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying: System for Assisted Dying and Alternative Policies: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Feb 2024)

David Cullinane: The Department has not been asked to do it and because the Department has not been asked to do it, then it was not done.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying: System for Assisted Dying and Alternative Policies: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Feb 2024)

David Cullinane: The opening statement of the HSE reads: "The CEO of the HSE has asked us to confirm that should draft legislation be forthcoming, the HSE will respond in more detail at the Committee Consultative stages", and I assume at pre-legislative scrutiny stage, etc. In a second, I will inquire from the HSE about its structure to do this work. It seems obvious to me that the HSE's CEO is looking...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying: System for Assisted Dying and Alternative Policies: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Feb 2024)

David Cullinane: Not the HSE. The HSE has at least been asked to look at this in order to be in a position to respond. If there was movement on this issue, at this point in time there is zero work done by the Department. I imagine the Department would have to respond very quickly but without having, at this point in time, any work done, despite the fact this committee has been in place for some time.