Results 1-20 of 4,883 for speaker:Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Cancer Services (7 May 2025)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I thank the Senator for telling those stories about the families affected by this. I see where she is coming from. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. The Minister and I are dedicated to enhancing Ireland's population screening programmes. These play a crucial role in our health services by facilitating early treatment and...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Cancer Services (7 May 2025)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: In summary, I reiterate that the matter of breast density measurements and screening is a complex one without clear scientific consensus on how best to proceed. I welcome the fact that work is due to commence shortly on this consideration. The Senator knows now at least it is being considered. The evidence review for the expansion of the BreastCheck, including potential introduction of a...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Primary Care Centres (7 May 2025)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I am a big believer in health facilities, care facilities or what we sometimes call injury clinics around the country. I am a big fan of those, in particular in rural areas. They are definitely needed and they are a great way for people to be able to come together in communities and have the services they need. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill....

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Primary Care Centres (7 May 2025)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I thank the Senator. I understand the need involved. Even on the basis of the most recent census, we can see the way the population is growing. It is important that we have the services in place. Unfortunately, from time to time, there can be delays within the development of primary care centres. There were a variety of circumstances in this instance, including the withdrawal of the...

Children's Health Ireland: Statements (29 Apr 2025)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I only need five minutes. The Minister should work away.

Children's Health Ireland: Statements (29 Apr 2025)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I thank the Minister for highlighting the importance of driving reform and improvements in healthcare services for children and young people. We all agree reform is necessary but reform for its own sake is not the goal. What matters is how these changes are experienced by the people who rely on our services every day. I am speaking about children, young people and their families. We owe...

Tariffs: Statements (9 Apr 2025)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: The tariffs announced by the US Administration have caused concern and anxiety over the impact on Irish businesses and job creation across the country. The uncertainty in respect of sectors such as pharmaceuticals adds to this. While I know the Government has been preparing for this, it is regrettable that the US Administration made the announcements. Nobody wins from tariffs. However, it...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Pension Provisions (9 Apr 2025)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I thank Deputy Healy-Rae for raising this issue. Before I start, it is important to acknowledge the incredible work performed by all nurses and the key role they play in delivering essential health services to those most in need across the country, not only during Covid but every day of the week. This Government is committed to supporting and continuing to grow the nursing workforce. We...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Pension Provisions (9 Apr 2025)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I can see the Deputy’s passion, and I do understand. It is important to reiterate our appreciation for the work carried out by all our healthcare workers throughout the pandemic, including those individuals who returned from retirement to help their colleagues and the public when they needed it most. I understand that. The temporary waiver of pension abatement was introduced at a...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health Strategies (1 Apr 2025)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I thank Senator O'Reilly for raising this matter. Successful national cancer strategies have delivered continuing improvement in outcomes in Irish cancer patients. The benefit of our strategic approach cancer control is shown by the improvement in the number of patients living after having received a cancer diagnosis: more than 200,000 people now compared with 150,000 when the strategy was...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health Strategies (1 Apr 2025)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I thank the Senator for her contribution on this matter. I acknowledge the efforts made by the NCCP and the HSE to improve compliance with radiation therapy targets of having at least 90% of patients beginning their treatment within 15 working days of being deemed fit for treatment. The most up-to-date figures, from January 2025, show compliance of 81% compared with last year's compliance...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Ambulance Service (1 Apr 2025)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I worked with the Senator in this Chamber for many years. I welcome the opportunity to address the House on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, regarding his request for information on National Ambulance Service, NAS, response times and staffing for Cavan and Monaghan. The NAS serves Cavan and Monaghan from four ambulance bases, in Cavan, Virginia, Monaghan and...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Ambulance Service (1 Apr 2025)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I know the Senator’s commitment and hard work and that he is very passionate about this. I concentrated in the first part of my opening statement on ambulance response performance and resourcing in the Cavan and Monaghan areas. I will now focus briefly on funding of services nationally. This Government has consistently committed to investing in the NAS in recent years. The total...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Sexually Transmitted Infections (6 Mar 2025)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Sexual health is a priority for this Government. Following expert advice, the second national sexual health strategy underwent an additional round of stakeholder consultation and feedback, which is now complete. The good news is that the strategy was approved to progress to design stage at the end of last week. Once design is completed, the strategy will be submitted for ministerial and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Sexually Transmitted Infections (6 Mar 2025)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: The rates of gonorrhoea and chlamydia had reduced slightly by the end of 2024 in comparison with the last two years. Better access to testing may be reducing onward infections. The national sexual health strategy supports positive sexual health information. It will have education, research, prevention and information, particularly on stigma. All this will be in the strategy.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Sexually Transmitted Infections (6 Mar 2025)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: The funding includes €200,000 for additional PrEP drugs and €350,000 for additional staffing in public STI clinics providing PrEP from July 2025. I understand the Deputy's concerns. As I said, this strategy is urgent for us. I assure him that hopefully in the next few weeks or maybe two or three months, I will definitely come back to him with this strategy. As he said,...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health Strategies (4 Mar 2025)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Programme for Government 2025: Securing Ireland’s Future sets out the Government's commitment to a health-led approach to drug use. The key actions to support this commitment include assessing the outcomes of the national drug strategy; publication of a new strategy; diverting those found in possession of drugs for personal use to health services, which is a matter the Senator is...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health Strategies (4 Mar 2025)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I thank the Senator. I know how passionate she is about drugs policy. As she said, she has been working on this area for a long time and working with people in her community. Regarding the answers I do not get to today, I guarantee to her that I will meet her in the next few days and come back to her, if that is fair enough.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health Strategies (4 Mar 2025)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I am delighted to be talking to the Senator about this matter today. The strategic action plan 2023-24 marked a significant milestone in the implementation of the national drugs strategy, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery. It contained 34 actions across six strategic priorities. These were to: strengthen the prevention of drug and alcohol use and the associated harms among children and...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Medicinal Products (4 Mar 2025)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: As I said, the HPRA has been notified by Xenon Pharmaceuticals of an expected return on 7 March. In relation to new HRT measures, the Minister for Health met the Irish Pharmacy Union on 11 February to discuss her objectives for expanding and reforming community pharmacy and to progress the HRT initiative in budget 2025. That is crucial. This was a constructive engagement and the Minister...