Results 21-40 of 704 for speaker:John Kelly
- Seanad: Medical Cards (22 Jun 2011)
John Kelly: I thank the Minister of State for attending the Chamber to respond to this issue. On 1 July, the HSE will take control of medical cards and centralise them in Finglas, Dublin . By doing so, the HSE is taking away the discretion shown by community welfare officers in regard to certain family situations that arise. The community welfare officer knows the clients and knows where there are...
- Seanad: Medical Cards (22 Jun 2011)
John Kelly: I am glad the Minister said in her reply that it was the theory because in my 29 years' experience as a community welfare officer the theory is never put in place in practice. When this is taken away from local involvement it will be a disaster. How does the gambler, for example, ring somebody in Dublin to tell them their wages have been spent on gambling? How does the alcohol abuser do...
- Seanad: Medical Cards (22 Jun 2011)
John Kelly: Thank you, a Chathaoirligh. We must address the issue of the cancer patients and give them medical cards. That will solve many of the problems.
- Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2011: Second Stage (23 Jun 2011)
John Kelly: I wish to share time with Senator Hayden.
- Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2011: Second Stage (23 Jun 2011)
John Kelly: I welcome the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Joan Burton, to the House. It is great to see she is not afraid to address us and listen to our gripes. The Minister has the most important job of anyone in Cabinet in dealing with our social welfare crisis. She has the largest budget and, unfortunately, everything negative that happens in the economy lands on her lap. There is a case...
- Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2011: Second Stage (23 Jun 2011)
John Kelly: Promises were made to increase unemployment assistance to more than â¬200 per week, to increase the pension to â¬300 per week and to give medical cards to millionaires aged over 70. Unfortunately this must now be addressed. Many things were done wrong in the past. People on social welfare benefit from free schemes attached to social welfare and do not have to make certain payments. We...
- Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2011: Second Stage (23 Jun 2011)
John Kelly: I do not know the reason people who earn more than â¬100,000 per annum continue to receive child benefit. The payment should be taxed. I appreciate the Minister's efforts to have child benefit paid at the same rate as in other countries. This would be of considerable benefit. On domiciliary care allowance, I do not believe the medical section of the Department of Social Protection fully...
- Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2011: Second Stage (23 Jun 2011)
John Kelly: Everyone.
- Seanad: School Transport (23 Jun 2011)
John Kelly: I will be very brief. I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I support fully the sentiments of Senator Reilly. It is an impending crisis coming down the tracks for school transport. I have raised the matter with the Minister of State, Deputy Alan Kelly. If we bring common sense to this we will solve the problem. We need joined-up thinking. These issues relate to rural Ireland....
- Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jun 2011)
John Kelly: In recent weeks some of my Labour Party colleagues have asked that the Minister for Health come into the House to explain to Members the whole reconfiguration process of small hospitals. There are issues in regard to Roscommon hospital, the accident and emergency unit at Portlaoise hospital, and many other hospitals. The HSE's policy seems to be to slash and burn and we are not aware of a...
- Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jun 2011)
John Kelly: Just to let Members know, last Friday evening I attended a meeting in the Department of Health with many other Oireachtas Members. The one issue on the table was the reduction in hours at the accident and emergency unit at Roscommon hospital, from 24-7 to 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and closed at weekends. Although the Minister, Deputy James Reilly, said that if he was able to recruit junior doctors...
- Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jun 2011)
John Kelly: He said-----
- Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jun 2011)
John Kelly: I have to conclude. He called for the senior official to go and get a rope and commit suicide. I want-----
- Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jun 2011)
John Kelly: I am getting to it. I call on Deputy Flanagan to withdraw that remark.
- Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jun 2011)
John Kelly: I think he should apologise to-----
- Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jun 2011)
John Kelly: I need to conclude.
- Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jun 2011)
John Kelly: I will park that, but I need to conclude.
- Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jun 2011)
John Kelly: After that, I have.
- Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jun 2011)
John Kelly: I have, but I need to explain the next part of this.
- Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jun 2011)
John Kelly: Okay.