Results 101-120 of 309 for speaker:Keith Swanick

Seanad: Declaration of Independence Day Bill 2017: Committee Stage (17 Apr 2018)

Keith Swanick: Section 2 of the Bill specifies that 21 January will be known as Declaration of Independence Day, and that it will be celebrated annually, irrespective of the day on which it falls. This is an important aspect of the Bill because if we are to give the recognition that these events rightly deserve, we need there to be a consistent date in the calendar. It would be up to individuals,...

Seanad: Declaration of Independence Day Bill 2017: Committee Stage (17 Apr 2018)

Keith Swanick: Section 3 is a standard section providing the Short Title and commencement provisions. It is very important that the commencement element of this Bill is as follows: "This Act shall come into operation on the date of its passing." The 100th anniversary of the meeting of the First Dáil and the Declaration of Independence is less than one year away and therefore we need to act quickly on it.

Seanad: Declaration of Independence Day Bill 2017: Committee Stage (17 Apr 2018)

Keith Swanick: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire, Teachta Madigan, agus gach Seanadóir a ghlac páirt sa díospóireacht seo. I was heartened last July during the Second Stage debate when the then Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Humphreys stated:The convening of the First Dáil on 21 January 1919 will be one of the key historical events to be...

Seanad: Declaration of Independence Day Bill 2017: Committee Stage (17 Apr 2018)

Keith Swanick: Next Tuesday.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Hospital Services (21 Mar 2018)

Keith Swanick: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to take this matter. Two operating theatres in Merlin Park University Hospital, Galway were shut on health and safety grounds last September when significant leaks in the roof were discovered. Repair works were completed on 1 November and yet, more than three months later, the theatres are still not open. An independent clinical...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Hospital Services (21 Mar 2018)

Keith Swanick: I acknowledge the opening of the theatre in Merlin Park and I am delighted that one theatre is opening. However, there is a huge backlog of surgery with over 1,000 patients awaiting elective surgery in Merlin Park. When will the second theatre open? A huge phase of catch-up work needs to commence as soon as possible.I acknowledge that the contracts have been issued for the modular units...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Mar 2018)

Keith Swanick: Yesterday was the 25th anniversary of the Warrington bombing. Two bombs, placed in bins, were exploded without warning by the Provisional IRA on Bridge Street, Warrington. Three year old Johnathan Ball died at the scene, 12 year old Tim Parry died five days later from his injuries and 54 others were injured. Nobody was ever prosecuted for these murders and this barbaric incident shocked...

Seanad: Ratification of UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Statements (21 Mar 2018)

Keith Swanick: My colleagues and I obviously support the ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This has the potential to be an important moment for tens of thousands of people living with disabilities in this country. Ratification has been a long time coming and we have criticised the Government for delays on many occasions. Of course, ratification alone will not...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Evaluation of the Use of Prescription Drugs: Discussion (21 Mar 2018)

Keith Swanick: I apologise for coming and going; I had a few media interviews and a Commencement debate. I have been speaking about loneliness and have set up a task force to address the issue. We all know the devastating effects the epidemic of loneliness can have on both physical and mental health. It is estimated that 400,000 people in Ireland suffer from loneliness, and more than 9 million people in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Evaluation of the Use of Prescription Drugs: Discussion (21 Mar 2018)

Keith Swanick: I acknowledge that the witness is very busy, but he might take the time to make a submission to the Loneliness Taskforce at www.lonelinesstaskforce.com. We would be very grateful because we intend to publish a report in May.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Mar 2018)

Keith Swanick: The scale of community spirit or meitheal was evident throughout the recent storm and is still much in evidence. To the Garda, ambulance service, fire service, Defence Forces and other front-line staff rightly received much praise but an entire army of other people, who I would describe as good neighbours and great citizens, also deserves praise. Many people were left on their own, cut off...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Feb 2018)

Keith Swanick: I congratulate Senator Ó Clochartaigh on his new role and wish him the very best in the future and go n-éirí an t-ádh leat. Senators will recall that last October I asked that a debate be organised about the issue of loneliness and social isolation in Ireland which are some of the greatest public health risks today. In December I formally requested the Government to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of Assisted Human Reproduction Bill 2017: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Feb 2018)

Keith Swanick: I welcome all the witnesses to the meeting. I welcome the recent media coverage on infertility. I refer to the advertisements on television and I think that raises public awareness of the whole issue. I agree this is a complex issue because medicine is moving fast in this very sensitive area. I concur with my colleague Deputy Murphy O'Mahony. I am a GP. I listened to the contributions...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of Assisted Human Reproduction Bill 2017: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Feb 2018)

Keith Swanick: I will be brief. I am concerned about couples, who are very vulnerable and would like to make their IVF treatment journey as seamless as possible when they are embarking on an IVF cycle, having regard to the sensitivity about that treatment. I have heard anecdotally from many couples that clinics vary in this regard. With regard to the sharing of information with couples, and this probably...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Long Stay Residential Units (14 Feb 2018)

Keith Swanick: I have asked the Minister of State here today to discuss the planned closure of the Rosalie unit in my home town of Castlerea, County Roscommon. A public meeting about the threatened closure of this health facility took place on 8 February. To say that family members of the residents are upset would be an understatement. The unit was previously threatened with closure in 2015 but,...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Long Stay Residential Units (14 Feb 2018)

Keith Swanick: The Minister of State mentioned the 2006 policy document, A Vision for Change. He also mentioned that a move away from the traditional institution-based model of care is in train. This is not an institution. This is the residents' home. I have worked in St. Ita's Hospital and I have worked in psychiatry. I have worked in different units all over the country. This is the patients' home....

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Long Stay Residential Units (14 Feb 2018)

Keith Swanick: Despite everything else.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Long Stay Residential Units (14 Feb 2018)

Keith Swanick: It was taken to silence the advocates for the patients. That is why it was taken.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Long Stay Residential Units (14 Feb 2018)

Keith Swanick: I would be delighted to meet the Minister of State that day.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Long Stay Residential Units (14 Feb 2018)

Keith Swanick: That was convenient at the time.