Results 221-240 of 309 for speaker:Keith Swanick

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Health Services Provision (10 May 2017)

Keith Swanick: I thank the Minister of State. I welcome that the HSE has advised no decision has been made to close the health centres in Elphin and Strokestown. While the Minister of State has said some services may be relocated, she acknowledged that where a GP remains in a health centre, it will remain open. It is a very important point. Once a health centre is staffed by a GP, the health centre...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Hospital Closures (10 May 2017)

Keith Swanick: I will be very brief. I thank my colleague, Senator Gallagher, for allowing me to share his time on this very important issue. The closure of the Sacred Heart unit in Dungarvan is absolutely devastating to the community and will send shivers down the spines of other community hospitals which are experiencing the same issues with recruitment. Most hospitals are only a couple of staff away...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Hospital Closures (10 May 2017)

Keith Swanick: I acknowledge the temporary measure of this arrangement. However, as the Minister of State will accept from my experience working in medicine, when hospital beds are closed temporarily, they tend not to open again. I also acknowledge the measure was introduced for patient safety arrangements. Can the Minister of State put a timeline on this? How long will it take for these beds to...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 May 2017)

Keith Swanick: I welcome Mr. Darren Aylward and his colleagues from Scoil Aireagail in Ballyhale. I propose an amendment to the Order of Business, that No. 16, Declaration of Independence Day Bill, be taken before No. 1. It seeks to have 21 January 1919 declared as independence day.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 May 2017)

Keith Swanick: Yes.

Seanad: Declaration of Independence Day Bill 2017: First Stage (10 May 2017)

Keith Swanick: I move:That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled Bill entitled an Act to recognise the meeting of the First Dáil and the Declaration of Independence made on 21 January 1919 and to provide for a “Declaration of Independence Day” to be held on 21 January annually and to provide for related matters.

Seanad: Declaration of Independence Day Bill 2017: First Stage (10 May 2017)

Keith Swanick: Next Tuesday.

Seanad: Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injecting Facilities) Bill 2016: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 May 2017)

Keith Swanick: The Fianna Fáil Party did not propose any amendments to this Bill. We believe that the measures that have helped to avoid drug-induced death should be taken, yet we see this as a pilot programme that will lead to regular reviews. We have many questions regarding the function of such facilities that we hope will be teased out through protocol. An amendment we had considered submitting...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Apr 2017)

Keith Swanick: I wish to inform the House that the other day I wrote to the management, shareholders and directors of MidLink M7/M8 Limited to complain in the strongest terms about the treatment of the Carrick-on-Suir water rescue service. As we all know, a Herculean effort is being made in Erris to bring home the bodies of Paul Ormsby and Ciarán Smith. Last weekend almost 1,000 people were involved...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Cannabis for Medicinal Use Regulation Bill 2016: Discussion (5 Apr 2017)

Keith Swanick: I thank Senator Mullen. I will be going to the Seanad in a few minutes and so will be very brief. From a medical viewpoint, we know that cannabinoids bind with receptors in the brain. Some of those receptors are in the amygdala, which is involved in processing fear, stress and paranoia. My first question is to Professor David Finn. Would he agree or disagree that these products could...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Primary Care Centres (5 Apr 2017)

Keith Swanick: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy McEntee, for coming to the House to answer questions which have been worrying the community of Kinlough, County Leitrim. While canvassing the area during the Seanad elections, I had the pleasure of visiting the health centre and speaking with the local public health nurse. It was clear from speaking to the various people I met in the area that they felt...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Primary Care Centres (5 Apr 2017)

Keith Swanick: I thank the Minister of State. I have liaised closely with local councillor, Justin Warnock, on this issue. There are a few important issues arising which I will refer to briefly. Over 10% of the total population of Leitrim live in the Kinlough area. Currently, hearing and dental checks are not being conducted in the health centre, but in the local school which has 270 pupils. This...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Apr 2017)

Keith Swanick: I concur with the sentiments of my colleague, Senator Rónán Mullen, in respect of post-traumatic stress disorder and the supports necessary for our Defence Forces. I have first-hand experience of the bravery shown by the navy divers and the Garda underwater unit in Blacksod Bay last weekend, when I spent some time on the ILV Granuailein a medical capacity. It is vital that we...

Seanad: Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injecting Facilities) Bill 2017: Second Stage (5 Apr 2017)

Keith Swanick: In the words of Deputy Michael Harty, "The aim of this piece of legislation is to provide for the licensing of supervised injecting facilities in order to enhance the dignity, health and wellbeing of those who inject in public places." Fianna Fáil supports this Bill, which would introduce supervised injection facilities. It is designed to avoid drug-induced deaths. It is obviously not...

Seanad: Adult Safeguarding Bill: Second Stage (5 Apr 2017)

Keith Swanick: I, too, commend Senator Kelleher on the effort she put into this Bill. It is fantastic. Fianna Fáil is happy to support and co-sponsor this Bill which aims to put additional protections in place to protect all adults from the possibility that at some stage in their lives they may be at risk of abuse or harm. I also welcome members of the Support and Advocacy Service for Older People,...

Seanad: Critical Health Professionals Bill 2017: Second Stage (4 Apr 2017)

Keith Swanick: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Corcaran Kennedy as bheith anseo inniu. I mo thuairim féin agus mo pháirtí Fianna Fáil, tá an Bille seo an-tábhachtach agus ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil le mo pháirtí Fianna Fáil agus ár seanadóirí. Freisin,...

Seanad: Critical Health Professionals Bill 2017: Second Stage (4 Apr 2017)

Keith Swanick: I thank Senator Davitt for seconding the Bill and I welcome everybody's comments. I acknowledge Senator Colm Burke's work in the health sector. This Bill is not confined to consultants although the Senator spoke extensively about them. It involves many health professionals. It is important to realise that this Bill will allow the Minister to revise and review periodically the categories...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Mar 2017)

Keith Swanick: An tseachtain seo caite, labhair mé anseo mar gheall ar an obair thábhachtach i gceantair Iorras i gContae Mhaigh Eo. Leanann an obair go stóchúil agus Dé Domhnaigh seo caite tugadh isteach corp Captain Mark Duffy. The dignity with which Captain Mark Duffy, from Rescue 116, was borne ashore on Sunday last is something that will stay with me forever. He gave his life...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Mar 2017)

Keith Swanick: On behalf of myself and Senator Conway-Walsh I would like to welcome pupils and parents from Corclough national school in Belmullet here today. Today we read in the newspapers that Ireland tops the list internationally for people drinking alcohol at home prior to going to the pub, with 85 % of people engaging in this practice. Considering that one in three hospital admissions is a direct...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Mar 2017)

Keith Swanick: Ba mhaith liom ar son Fhianna Fáil agus ar mo shon féin comhbhrón a dhéanamh le clann agus le cairde Martin McGuinness agus lena pháirtí, Sinn Féin. Polaiteoir den scoth ab ea é. Bhí ról an-tábhachtach aige i bpróiseas na síochána. Cuimhním go maith ar an lá stairiúil deich mbliana ó shin nuair a...