Results 181-200 of 309 for speaker:Keith Swanick

Seanad: Nursing Homes Support Scheme: Statements (3 Oct 2017)

Keith Swanick: The fair deal scheme is fundamentally a good scheme and the former Tánaiste and Minister for Health, Mary Harney, deserves credit for its introduction. It was, of course, introduced at a time when there was a desperate need for a solution to the financial hardship faced by people who had to sell their homes, in some cases to pay up to €1,000 a month in fees for private nursing...

Seanad: Nursing Homes Support Scheme: Statements (3 Oct 2017)

Keith Swanick: Would the Minister of State agree with me that we cannot really make the necessary changes within the fair deal system or regarding home care provision without liaising with some of the stakeholders that provide that care, be it the general practitioners, GPs, or the public health nurses? Often within the Department, through no fault of anyone, there can be disjointed thinking. Will the...

Seanad: Nursing Homes Support Scheme: Statements (3 Oct 2017)

Keith Swanick: -----multidisciplinary team members? Will he look at that in the coming weeks?

Seanad: Nursing Homes Support Scheme: Statements (3 Oct 2017)

Keith Swanick: Especially the public health nurses?

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Carbon Monoxide Poisoning (26 Sep 2017)

Keith Swanick: Cuirim céad fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. Is mór an onóir dom labhairt anseo tráthnóna mar tá an seomra seo speisialta, stairiúil agus ornáideach. Ba mhaith liom moladh a thabhairt don Chathaoirleach, an Seanadóir Denis Ó Donnabháin; don Cheann Comhairle, an Teachta Seán Ó Fearghaíl; agus do Choimisiún Thithe...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Carbon Monoxide Poisoning (26 Sep 2017)

Keith Swanick: When the Minister, Deputy Naughten, was in the Seanad last December, he said: "Taking off my energy hat and putting on my climate change hat, it is important that all boilers are serviced on an annual basis because that improves their efficiency". There is a simple solution to this issue. During the summer I drafted proposed legislation, the health and safety carbon monoxide Bill 2017. I...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Sep 2017)

Keith Swanick: I echo the sentiments of my colleague. Democracy is sacred and from it flows all other rights and freedoms. The peaceful co-existence across the EU and the senseless carnage of two world wars remind us that democracy, elections, and dialogue are always preferable to war and violence.The Catalan Parliament has called a referendum, to be held on Sunday, 1 October, with a simple binary...

Seanad: National Disability Inclusion Strategy 2017-2021: Statements (26 Sep 2017)

Keith Swanick: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I am glad to see on Twitter today that #MakeWayDay has been trending. Stickers have been placed on objects which have obstructed access for people with disabilities. As a society, we all have to be more mindful of this. Fianna Fáil welcomes the publication of the new strategy but, at the end of the day, it is the Government’s...

Seanad: National Disability Inclusion Strategy 2017-2021: Statements (26 Sep 2017)

Keith Swanick: Will the Minister of State keep Members of both Houses updated in regard to progress on signing the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities?

Seanad: National Disability Inclusion Strategy 2017-2021: Statements (26 Sep 2017)

Keith Swanick: Will the Minister of State keep Members of both Houses updated in regard to progress on signing the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities?

Seanad: National Disability Inclusion Strategy 2017-2021: Statements (26 Sep 2017)

Keith Swanick: I thank the Minister of State.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jul 2017)

Keith Swanick: Everyone knows people in their communities or families who are able to stay in the comfort of their own homes rather than a nursing home or hospital. Often only minor adjustments are required to allow this to happen but each day I encounter inordinate delays to home care packages. Six months ago, my Fianna Fáil colleague, Deputy Willie O'Dea, introduced legislation to provide for a...

Seanad: Autism Spectrum Disorder Bill 2017: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Jul 2017)

Keith Swanick: As a medic, I am delighted to wholeheartedly support the Bill. It is good, pragmatic, solution-driven and concise. The Fianna Fail Party is happy to see it proceed through the respective Stages as it provides for a cross-departmental, multi-agency strategy. We are happy to support the principles behind an autism spectrum disorder strategy which seeks to address the specific needs of people...

Seanad: Autism Spectrum Disorder Bill 2017: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Jul 2017)

Keith Swanick: With regard to the cost of the implementation plan, I see from the notes that the strategy would be published at least every three years. Would it be the Senator's wish and intention to have this as an annual publication to keep both Houses up to date with progress?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Evaluating Orphan Drugs: Discussion (12 Jul 2017)

Keith Swanick: I concur with many of the points my colleague mentioned, particularly in respect of Respreeza. It is bad enough to have a chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, COPD, condition due to smoking but it is a terrible condition to have as a result of alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency. I would also like a timeline for when that product may be available. I know there was some discrepancy about...

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Children's Mental Health Services: Discussion (6 Jul 2017)

Keith Swanick: I thank all the contributors. I will be brief. It comes as no surprise to me that only 3% of the health budget is spent on general practice, which facilitates 25 million consultations per year with a satisfaction rating of greater than 95%. It also comes as no surprise to me but it saddens me that for the first time ever in the history of the State, GP training posts this year are...

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Children's Mental Health Services: Discussion (6 Jul 2017)

Keith Swanick: I agree wholeheartedly that psychologists should be attached to general practitioners. It would be a good idea to have one psychologist shared among three or four practices. Sometimes there is an overemphasis on the bricks and mortar of primary care centres rather than on the activity within those centres, and this needs to be addressed. I call on the Minister to facilitate a rapid...

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Children's Mental Health Services: Discussion (6 Jul 2017)

Keith Swanick: Dr. Brendan Doody said that there were 12 inpatient beds in 2007 and there are 76 now, some of which are not always filled due to staffing problems. What is the number of beds filled in an average week?

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Children's Mental Health Services: Discussion (6 Jul 2017)

Keith Swanick: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Hospital Waiting Lists (5 Jul 2017)

Keith Swanick: I also welcome Councillor Coyle to the Chamber. I thank the Minister for coming to the House to discuss this very important issue. As he is aware, my patients are in fear because the treatment they so badly require could be in jeopardy due to the constant staffing crisis which is crippling our health system. I have listened with great sadness and shame, as has the Minister of State, to the...