Results 21-40 of 309 for speaker:Keith Swanick

Seanad: HSE Capital Plan 2019: Statements (23 Oct 2019)

Keith Swanick: It is the way she asks.

Seanad: Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2019: Second Stage (23 Oct 2019)

Keith Swanick: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I commend Senator Devine on her work on this area and the Bill that she is bringing forward and also commend Senator Freeman on the vast amount of work she has done in this area. I welcome Deputy Pat Buckley to the House and commend him on the work he does in the Lower House with my colleague, Deputy James Browne. As a general practitioner, GP,...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Home Help Service (15 Oct 2019)

Keith Swanick: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath, to the House. The home help scheme is under pressure. As the Minister of State will be aware, two weeks ago the Irish Independentreported a harrowing story regarding a 70 year old woman who spent 105 hours on a trolley in Limerick hospital and her family's expressed fears that she would die if a fire started. This is the direct result...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Home Help Service (15 Oct 2019)

Keith Swanick: I appreciate what the Minister of State said about the figure of €446 million and the 50,000 people who are benefiting from it. However, the population is getting older and people have more complex health issues that require more care. Will the Minister of State give a commitment that vulnerable persons for whom home care is sanctioned will be allocated hours and receive them within...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Oct 2019)

Keith Swanick: In recent months, we have seen escalating bluster from across the Irish Sea. Prime Minister Johnson's non-proposal proposals for a no-man's land between the Republic and Northern Ireland reflect the seriousness of those who say they are attempting to resolve the issue. We need our Government to be open and honest with people. A breakdown in trust regarding our preparedness for the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Voluntary Organisations in the Health Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2019)

Keith Swanick: I thank the delegates for their attendance. I agree with the comments of Deputy O'Connell. As someone who works on the ground, I often wonder whether the figure of 5,000 is accurate because people may under-report or diminish their symptoms. I know of certain patients who are almost afraid to say they have had a seizure because their livelihood may depend on driving or working with farm...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Hospital Services (3 Jul 2019)

Keith Swanick: I thank the Minister of State for coming into the House. I express my sincere thanks to him for making the long trek from west Cork to Belmullet in north Mayo last Monday to engage with staff and patients in Belmullet District Hospital. They found it a fruitful experience. I genuinely thank the Minister of State for making the effort and recommending the preservation of the 20 acute beds...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Hospital Services (3 Jul 2019)

Keith Swanick: I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive reply. I am somewhat heartened that he might come back to us with further updates because for the HSE to pay a private facility to look after patients, usually at very high cost, at a time when there are 11 unfilled beds in New Houghton Hospital is nonsensical. Families, patients, employees and local representatives are very concerned. I...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Jul 2019)

Keith Swanick: I welcome the family of Senator Lawless to the Chamber and hope they enjoy their day in Leinster House. I refer to a health matter, namely, asthma and air quality. This comes on the back of the great work of my Fianna Fáil colleague, Deputy James Brown, and subsequently by the party leader, Deputy Micheál Martin, on Leaders' Questions a few weeks ago. They have highlighted the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 Jun 2019)

Keith Swanick: I wish to raise the issue of the district hospital network, specifically with regard to Belmullet hospital. On Friday, 31 May the HSE announced that all temporary staff would not have their contracts renewed and that all agency staff would be let go with immediate effect. This came as a bolt from the blue for the staff, the community and the GPs, including myself. If staff numbers are...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (10 Apr 2019)

Keith Swanick: I wish to speak about general practice. As most Members know, I am a GP working at the coal face. I will explain some of the changes that were announced recently. Last Saturday, the Taoiseach and Minister for Health announced some preliminary agreements for changes to contracts for GPs. A full general medical services contract has been promised since April 2017 - two years ago....

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Apr 2019)

Keith Swanick: It is now 19 days since the horrific massacre in New Zealand. I praise the manner in which the Prime Minister of that country, Ms Jacinda Ardern, handled the aftermath of the Christchurch mass shooting. I know that other Senators have spoken about this recently but events could easily have been mismanaged by someone with a lot less tact or compassion. Given that my sister lives in New...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 Mar 2019)

Keith Swanick: I first welcome to the House my friend, Mr. Patrick Hughes, who is in the Public Gallery today. I wish to speak briefly on the waiting list issue. Ireland is spending more money than ever on healthcare but there is no correlation between accessibility to healthcare and the money spent. Our waiting lists have reached record levels. The Euro Health Consumer Index, EHCI, rates Ireland last...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (6 Mar 2019)

Keith Swanick: I also congratulate the Youthreach programme on its 30th anniversary and Ms Sabrina McEntee, who is the Cavan co-ordinator. I was glad that Ms McEntee was a member of my task force on loneliness. She played an important role in that regard. Today, I would like to highlight the Life Saving Equipment Bill 2017 which I drafted. This Bill passed Second Stage in this House in January 2018. It...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2019)

Keith Swanick: I raise today the matter of medical requirements of our homeless population. We are all aware homelessness has reached unprecedented levels in this country, with more than 10,000 people homeless in Dublin alone. Homeless people, especially rough sleepers, suffer higher levels of infection and are at risk of developing severe medical conditions, including dental problems. I can give an...

Seanad: Loneliness Task Force Report: Statements (13 Feb 2019)

Keith Swanick: As the chairperson of the loneliness task force, I am pleased to discuss the report entitled A Connected Island: An Ireland Free From Loneliness. I express my sincere appreciation to the organisations and individuals who helped prepare the report and made submissions to same. Their input was vital in informing the task force's work and ensuring we all had a thorough understanding of the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: General Practitioner Contracts (6 Feb 2019)

Keith Swanick: I welcome the Minister to the House. I have asked him here today to discuss the state of negotiations with general practitioners regarding a new contract, to outline a timetable for the reversal of cuts under financial emergency measures in the public interest, FEMPI, legislation to general practitioners; and to ask what contingency plans are in place to ensure the retention and recruitment...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: General Practitioner Contracts (6 Feb 2019)

Keith Swanick: I note the Minister of State did not comment on any possibility of reversal of FEMPI, which I mentioned in my opening contribution. There seems to be an air of secrecy regarding the new contract, which is a cause of deep frustration for many GPs throughout the country. Why was the National Association of General Practitioners, NAGP, excluded from the contract discussions, bearing in mind it...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (6 Feb 2019)

Keith Swanick: I wish to raise an issue in regard to health. I spoke in the Commencement debate earlier on the issue of GPs marching today, FEMPI cuts and the provision of an adequate contract for GPs. I was contacted this morning by the parents of a child with spinal muscular atrophy, about which I and many Senators have spoken in the House. They are still awaiting a date for final approval of the drug,...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Jan 2019)

Keith Swanick: I highlight the global health crisis of septicaemia and sepsis which affects approximately 30 million people every year across the world and kills 9 million. In Ireland 3,000 people die from sepsis each year. It claims more lives than heart attack, breast cancer or lung cancer. It can kill a person within 12 hours, as the parents of Sean Hughes from Finglas, Joe and Karen, know all about....