Results 21-40 of 1,253 for speaker:John Crown

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Dec 2015)

John Crown: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Dec 2015)

John Crown: On the day on which the Bill to ban smoking in cars where children are present, which was originated in the House, is being implemented by ministerial decree, I thank the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy James Reilly, who adopted the Bill and shepherded it through the Oireachtas. I also thank the Minister for Health, Deputy Leo Varadkar. I particularly thank Senator Mark Daly...

Seanad: Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015: Second Stage (17 Dec 2015)

John Crown: I welcome the Minister to the House. I am sure the points I make will be duplicative. I have been asked by the Royal College of Physicians in Ireland and others who are the experts in the area to make a few points. The following is the fantasy scenario that would happen if everybody in Ireland stopped drinking alcohol completely tomorrow. There would be a colossal decline in the incidence...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral Reform Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Dec 2015)

John Crown: Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil leis an Aire Stáit. I thank the Minister of State for coming to the Seanad today. I am conscious of the fact that, at a busy time in the dying embers of the current Oireachtas, the Government has generously made 29 minutes available to me to discuss Committee and Final Stages of this legislation, legislation which would cause a fundamental...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Dec 2015)

John Crown: When I made my acceptance speech in Seanad Éireann in 2011, I stated that I would never again run for the Seanad under the existing electoral system, which I described as an affront to democracy. It was, is and remains an affront to democracy. It is unacceptable that we still have not had Seanad reform. We recently had a statement from the Taoiseach, two years after the referendum...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Dec 2015)

John Crown: May I speak?

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Dec 2015)

John Crown: We are not pressing the amendment but I acknowledge that the Leader has undertaken to do his best. I understand, with the vicissitudes of the scheduling between now and the Christmas recess, he will give us time, hopefully the week after next, to debate that Bill.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Nov 2015)

John Crown: Following on from Senator Norris's comment about the very hypocritical admonition of alcohol companies to drink carefully, they mean "don't spill it". The truth is that alcohol companies have one ambition and that is to sell more alcohol. I have said here and in the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children that any attempt by the authorities to engage with the alcohol industry as...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Nov 2015)

John Crown: I join in the thanks and praise to Bernard Hand. Will the Leader clarify if he will make time available for outstanding Bills on Committee Stage before the expiration of the current Oireachtas? If not, I will press for a division on the amendment today.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Independent Advocacy Services for Health Service Users: Discussion (26 Nov 2015)

John Crown: I apologise for not being here for the earlier presentation. I will also try to be brief. We clearly need better advocacy services. I am very supportive of it. I am a supporter of transparency and openness in all areas of the public service, from Government down to doctors and hospitals. There should be an automatic right of access to all records which does not have to go through any kind...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Independent Advocacy Services for Health Service Users: Discussion (26 Nov 2015)

John Crown: The Government's record is very clear.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Independent Advocacy Services for Health Service Users: Discussion (26 Nov 2015)

John Crown: I am setting the record straight, not advocating. I have been accused of being untruthful on a matter of public record.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Independent Advocacy Services for Health Service Users: Discussion (26 Nov 2015)

John Crown: I reminded the meeting of the point of view of the Government in 2011.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Nov 2015)

John Crown: Will the Leader bring to the attention of the Minister my concerns on the issue of whistleblower protection and the attitude towards those who point out deficiencies in the health service? This issue has been alluded to on a number of occasions but it is fairly obvious from recent events - I will not personalise the issue by mentioning the name of the doctor or the hospital - that there is...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Nov 2015)

John Crown: Perhaps we should schedule a debate in this House to discuss the issue of whistleblowing and have the Leader consider arranging one of our special sessions to examine some specific examples of whistleblower intimidation which have occurred.I propose an amendment to the Order of Business that No. 48 be taken before No. 1.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Nov 2015)

John Crown: Yes.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2015)

John Crown: I bring to the attention of Members that yesterday was Back to the Future day. It was the day depicted in the famous 1985 movie starring Michael J. Fox, following the intervention of Christopher Lloyd and a DeLorean encapsulated time machine. If Marty McFly had been Dr. Marty McFly and had been transported from the Irish health service in 1985 to the health service in 2015, he would have...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2015)

John Crown: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: National Maternity Services and Infrastructure: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Oct 2015)

John Crown: I am at this stage officially despondent about any attempts to reform the health system or about meaningful practical actions to improve the service for patients taking place on foot of administrative reports. Forgive me if I sound browbeaten at this stage. I have been harping for 22 years since I came back to this country about the absolutely mediocre health system. People talk about it...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: National Maternity Services and Infrastructure: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Oct 2015)

John Crown: That would leave us way below the average.