Results 41-60 of 309 for speaker:Keith Swanick

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Implications for Health Sector of United Kingdom's Withdrawal from the EU: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Jan 2019)

Keith Swanick: Many of my points have been touched upon, but I welcome what Mr. Hennessy said earlier about the organ transplant programme at Great Ormond Street, and also the collaboration between the ambulance services in case of major incidences and emergencies. My colleague, Senator Burke, mentioned young health professionals going to the UK to gain experience. That is invaluable; I spent some time in...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Dec 2018)

Keith Swanick: I refer to the topic of Spinraza again. I have spoken about this in the past, as has my colleague, Senator Conway-Walsh. Representatives of the spinal muscular atrophy, SMA, patient group met the newly formed rare diseases review committee on 8 November. They presented for 40 minutes on what life is like with SMA, the disease burden of SMA, and the perceived impact of treatment with...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: National Dementia Strategy (21 Nov 2018)

Keith Swanick: I thank Senator Kelleher for sharing time. A recently published independent report, Evaluation of The Alzheimer Society of Ireland Dementia Adviser Service Report, by UCC, which was commissioned by the HSE's national dementia office as part of the implementation of the national dementia strategy, highly recommended an increase in the number of dementia advisers to meet the increasing demand...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Nov 2018)

Keith Swanick: I wish to speak on the topic of loneliness. As Members are aware, I founded the loneliness task force in association with Seán Moynihan from ALONE. We sought submissions from all over the country and these prove that loneliness crosses all demographics. Loneliness is a problem for young and old, urban and rural, and rich and poor. We all know it is corrosive in terms of people's...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Medicinal Products Availability (17 Oct 2018)

Keith Swanick: I asked that the Minister come to the House so that I could echo my colleagues, Deputies Calleary and Lisa Chambers, and my Seanad colleague, Senator Conway-Walsh, in calling for the drug Spinraza to be made immediately available. Spinal muscular atrophy, SMA, is a group of inherited diseases of the motor nerves that cause very debilitating muscle weaknesses and wasting. It is life...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Medicinal Products Availability (17 Oct 2018)

Keith Swanick: This is nothing personal but I am disappointed with the Minister of State's answer, which is pretty generic. What will the rare disease committee review? The information is exactly the same as that already received by the NCPE. The dossier is exactly the same, as are the patients and the medical evidence. That is not an adequate answer for people such as Grace and her parents. I have put...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Medicinal Products Availability (17 Oct 2018)

Keith Swanick: This cohort of patients is very small. As Biogen has offered the drug for the same price as that in the Benelux countries, we would not be paying any excess.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Oct 2018)

Keith Swanick: I echo the points made about the drug Spinraza. I also echo the comments of Senator Conway-Walsh on coastal erosion in the Erris region. I put some harrowing footage on my social media pages last week. It was very scary and hopefully the Minister of State, Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran, will visit us on the topic. I have raised the restoration of the FEMPI cuts and the general practice...

Seanad: Health and Social Care Professionals (Amendment) Bill 2018: Second Stage (17 Oct 2018)

Keith Swanick: I welcome the Minister back to the House. Fianna Fáil will support this Bill, which makes minor technical amendments to the relevant Act and will facilitate any non-Irish health and social care professional qualification which was recognised in the State prior to the introduction of statutory registration with CORU in 2005. Although a number of professions in 2005 had informal or...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Health Services Provision (10 Oct 2018)

Keith Swanick: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to address the issue of chronic pain, which I deal with on a day-to-day basis in my practice. More than 500,000 people in Ireland suffer from chronic pain, which is pain that lasts longer than three months. The prevalence of chronic pain is approximately 35% of the population. As we know, it increases with age and manual labour. Lower...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Health Services Provision (10 Oct 2018)

Keith Swanick: It is deeply disappointing to learn there are no plans to open a pain management clinic at Mayo University Hospital. While I acknowledge the Minister of State's comments on the expansion of the NTPF, what will inevitably happen is these people will still have to travel to Sligo or Galway to access the service. It is unfair to people who have chronic pain. There are 140,000 people living in...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Health Services Provision (10 Oct 2018)

Keith Swanick: I thank the Minister of State.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Oct 2018)

Keith Swanick: I also wish to comment on World Mental Health Day. This year's theme is young people and mental health in a changing world. Half of all mental illness begins by the age of 14, but most cases go undetected and untreated. As I have seen in my own practice, parents often chalk mental health issues down to puberty or hormones, but if left untreated and without supports, those who experience...

Seanad: Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2018: Second Stage (10 Oct 2018)

Keith Swanick: I welcome the Minister. Fianna Fáil supports this Bill, which restores the HSE board. The 2012 decision to abolish the board was a clear mistake which was contrary to good corporate governance. The establishment of a board was also recommended in the Sláintecare report, which pointed out that good leadership and governance are critical functions of any health system. The...

Seanad: Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (10 Oct 2018)

Keith Swanick: I will be brief. I welcome the passage of this landmark legislation. I congratulate the Minister. I have no problems with any of the amendments brought forward tonight. I compliment Senator Black on her steadfastness through the whole process. The Minister confirmed a point to my colleague on 3 October in the Dáil regarding section 22. He gave a commitment to liaise with retailers...

Seanad: Mental Health (Capacity To Consent To Treatment) Bill 2018: Second Stage (10 Oct 2018)

Keith Swanick: I welcome the Minister of State. As my colleague, Senator Devine said, today is World Mental Health Day. I commend her for bringing forward this very timely Bill. This year's theme is young people and mental health in a changing world. Half of all mental illness begins by the age of 14. Suicide is the second highest cause of death among 15 to 29 year olds worldwide but most cases go...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Scoping Inquiry into the CervicalCheck Screening Programme: Discussion (10 Oct 2018)

Keith Swanick: I had to step out to deal with a Commencement Matter in the Seanad. I welcome Dr. Scally and his colleagues. I welcome the call for the establishment of a national screening committee. That is an excellent call in terms of the introduction of new programmes and the modifying of existing ones. Does Dr. Scally consider it is acceptable that there is still no manager within the HSE in charge...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Scoping Inquiry into the CervicalCheck Screening Programme: Discussion (10 Oct 2018)

Keith Swanick: I agree with Dr. Scally that we do not want to get into the blame game but we need accountability for the 221 ladies who have been affected.

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Oct 2018)

Keith Swanick: Recent information from Galway City Council demonstrates that more than 150 lifesaving buoys are stolen from Galway city every year. We know it is not a problem unique to Galway and Cork City Council has a similar problem. It had to replace 300 lifebuoys last year due to theft or damage. This forces the State to replace these lifebuoys at great cost. In 2015, a 15 year old boy, Caolan...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation Strategy: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Keith Swanick: I thank the Minister for coming along and I congratulate Ms Magahy on her new role. I will speak initially about primary care. I welcome the Minister's comments on the funding of primary care, particularly multi-annual funding. Does the Minister see any possible rowing back on the financial emergency measures in the public interest, FEMPI, cuts applied to general practice? I agree with...