Results 21-40 of 636 for speaker:Joan Freeman

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: National Collaborative Forum for the Early Years Care and Education Sector: Early Childhood Ireland (19 Oct 2016)

Joan Freeman: On behalf of the joint committee, I thank Ms Heeney and her colleague, Mr. Geoghegan, for their obvious commitment to changing Ireland for our children. I feel a lot better for our children knowing there are people like Ms Hilliard who will care for them. It was a pleasure listening to the witnesses. It was also frightening listening to what the reality is like for children in Ireland. I...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Nov 2016)

Joan Freeman: I would like to move a motion calling on the Acting Leader to invite the Minister for Health to come into the Seanad to enable us ask him two important questions. The first is why is there such dishonesty and lack of transparency over what moneys have been allocated to mental health services? We were told €35 million would be allocated but only €15 million will be allocated...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Nov 2016)

Joan Freeman: Why is there such dishonesty about that? Second, why is it that a month after the budget was announced we still do not know how and into what areas this money will be allocated? Why is it that only the mental health services receive this treatment? It makes me wonder whether it is because having this lack of transparency means the Government can move the money around when it suits it to...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Nov 2016)

Joan Freeman: Having requested last week that the Minister for Health should attend the Seanad today to answer questions I am disappointed, but not surprised, that he has not turned up or given a positive response to my request. I repeat the request to invite the Minister to the House to debate the reduction of funding for mental health services and to question the misrepresentation of the €35...

Seanad: Mental Health Services Funding: Statements (24 Nov 2016)

Joan Freeman: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House. I am sure she is very busy, so I appreciate her taking the time to come here not only to clarify issues and address serious concerns facing the most vulnerable in our society, but because I truly believe she wants to have an effective dialogue about what we can do to help. We are both new to the roles we find ourselves in, yet we are no...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Undocumented Children: Discussion (30 Nov 2016)

Joan Freeman: Like everyone, I thank the delegation for its presentation. I will admit to a truth - my mind must be narrow, as I had no idea that being undocumented was not the same as being asylum seekers or refugees. I am sorry about that. I should have been aware of it because my other half works with the undocumented Irish in New York. As such, I know the horrendous problems that the witnesses have...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Undocumented Children: Discussion (30 Nov 2016)

Joan Freeman: In three sentences, what would the Migrant Rights Centre like to achieve for 2017?

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Dec 2016)

Joan Freeman: I second that.

Seanad: Public Bodies Review Agency Bill 2016: First Stage (1 Dec 2016)

Joan Freeman: I second the proposal.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Dec 2016)

Joan Freeman: I propose an amendment to the Order of Business that No. 15 be taken before No. 1.

Seanad: Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2016: First Stage (13 Dec 2016)

Joan Freeman: I move:That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to provide that all children must be admitted to child appropriate inpatient psychiatric units and providing that no child shall be admitted to an adult psychiatric inpatient unit (voluntarily or involuntarily) save in exceptional circumstances where such admission is in the child’s best interests.

Seanad: Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2016: First Stage (13 Dec 2016)

Joan Freeman: Next Tuesday.

Seanad: Order of Business (31 Jan 2017)

Joan Freeman: I want to join everybody else in congratulating Mr. Martin Groves on his appointment as Clerk of the Seanad. I am probably one of the Senators who depend most on him. My dependence on him is almost palpable. The only fear I have regarding his appointment is that my direct line to him might be severed.

Seanad: Order of Business (31 Jan 2017)

Joan Freeman: I would like to remind the House once more of the double standard that exists in the treatment of physical health care and mental health care. By the time the third or fourth week of January comes around, we have often forgotten the new year's resolutions we made at the start of the month. I have not forgotten my resolution to continue, during the Order of Business in 2017, to tell the...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Mental Health Services Provision (2 Feb 2017)

Joan Freeman: My Commencement matter is for the Minister of State, Deputy McEntee.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Mental Health Services Provision (2 Feb 2017)

Joan Freeman: It is a pity I did not know that because the purpose of my address this morning is to give out but not to the Minister of State, Deputy Catherine Byrne, to whom I have never spoken previously.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Mental Health Services Provision (2 Feb 2017)

Joan Freeman: It is déjà vu- I have been here before and asked the same questions. I find it a little bit upsetting that the Minister of State, Deputy McEntee, is not here because all the requests I have made to meet her have been completely ignored. She promised to set up a meeting but she has not done any of it. I will tell the Minister of State in a nutshell what the problem is. I launched...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Mental Health Services Provision (2 Feb 2017)

Joan Freeman: It is not in my personality to be angry or aggressive but I will leave it to the public. I will go on the airwaves if the Minister of State, Deputy McEntee, does not answer those questions as soon as possible.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Mental Health Services Provision (2 Feb 2017)

Joan Freeman: I do not mean to shoot the messenger but I must say that my eyes glazed as the Minister of State was speaking. I know she is reading the answer given to her by the other Minister of State. I have heard it all before. It is sad that I have come to realise that the Minister of State, Deputy McEntee, has gone to the same school of language that this Government and the HSE have gone to. They...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Mental Health Services Provision (2 Feb 2017)

Joan Freeman: I believe the Minister of State and I thank her for that. Could she also relay my frustration and anger?