Results 41-60 of 636 for speaker:Joan Freeman

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Feb 2017)

Joan Freeman: On the issue I highlighted last week about children and their mental health, it is important that the House take a moment to reflect on last night's RTE programme, "RTE Investigates: Living on the List". It illustrated the physical and emotional burden on sufferers waiting for long periods for life-altering operations and the impact of the waiting periods on their families and friends as...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Affordable Child Care Scheme: Discussion (8 Feb 2017)

Joan Freeman: It was really fantastic to hear about this programme. My view is probably coloured a little because it is 20 or 30 years since I was parenting young children. In the good old days, to use that awful expression, there was no such scheme as the one under discussion. My view has also been coloured because this is really the first time I have heard about the scheme fully. It sounds...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Mar 2017)

Joan Freeman: In The Kerrymanthis morning there is an article which reflects the environment and thinking of the people of the nation. The feeling regarding the HSE is one of complete and utter confusion. The HSE has promised a 40-bed mental health unit in Kerry. Believe it or not, this perfect, state-of-the-art, magnificent mental health unit has been idle for the past two years. The HSE has promised...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Mar 2017)

Joan Freeman: As young people are leaving the Gallery, I tell them I am delighted they have come here as their presence is apt to my comments. I presume they are approximately 15 years old. I will make a comment to Members while the students are present. Yesterday, a press release announced a 165% increase in young people self-harming who attend Pieta House. I am not here to advocate for Pieta House,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: General Scheme of Childcare (Amendment) Bill 2017: Discussion (8 Mar 2017)

Joan Freeman: I know Mr. Finlay of old and admire his work hugely, as I also admire the Children's Rights Alliance. I have no fear of what the witnesses are saying here today. I admire what they are saying and doing. I have a couple of questions, though, probably arising out of my own ignorance. Mr. Finlay mentioned that Barnardos has a panel of 32 guardians ad litemworking with 800 children each year....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: General Scheme of Childcare (Amendment) Bill 2017: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Apr 2017)

Joan Freeman: I agree with every single word that has been said here this morning. I fully endorse that this should not be attached to Tusla. That would be a very dangerous step. I made it quite clear when Barnardos attended this committee that we would be making a very serious mistake by having this service attached to and monitored and funded by Tusla. We would be creating more problems than we would...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: General Scheme of Childcare (Amendment) Bill 2017: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Apr 2017)

Joan Freeman: I want to clarify that my question was how the body would be created and who would create the body to oversee guardians ad litem.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: General Scheme of Childcare (Amendment) Bill 2017: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Apr 2017)

Joan Freeman: No, in the future.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: General Scheme of Childcare (Amendment) Bill 2017: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Apr 2017)

Joan Freeman: If we do not want it to go through Tusla, how will it be done?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: General Scheme of Childcare (Amendment) Bill 2017: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Apr 2017)

Joan Freeman: I am delighted to see the Minister here again. I am also delighted to hear she will have a child-centred approach to every aspect related to the child, which is terrific. I am equally delighted to learn that she will be contract holder for this service and will have control over what will happen in this area. I reiterate that my one concern relates to any involvement of Tusla in this...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: General Scheme of Childcare (Amendment) Bill 2017: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Apr 2017)

Joan Freeman: It is obvious that many of us, and certainly the public, have lost confidence in Tusla. Does the Department have confidence in Tusla?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: City and County Child Care Committees: Discussion (3 May 2017)

Joan Freeman: I thank the deputation for the presentation. I am new to the area of children. The members of the deputation will forgive me if I ask questions that they have answered 2,000 years ago. My question relates to the courses workshops and training that the committees are running. My area of interest is in mental health. How do the committees measure the success of their work? Usually in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: City and County Child Care Committees: Discussion (3 May 2017)

Joan Freeman: Is there an internal complaints committee or system that filters complaints in a very unbiased way? How does the system work?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: City and County Child Care Committees: Discussion (3 May 2017)

Joan Freeman: Is there a co-ordination of those complaints?

Seanad: Order of Business (9 May 2017)

Joan Freeman: I thank all of the Members of both Houses who participated in the Darkness into Light event. It was one of the biggest turnouts we had had. Up to 200,000 people participated in events across the country last Saturday morning and I thank all of those who took part. I am also grateful for the lovely warm congratulations I have received today. However, the dramatic cut in the mental health...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 May 2017)

Joan Freeman: I am sorry, no.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 May 2017)

Joan Freeman: No. We are talking about-----

Seanad: Order of Business (9 May 2017)

Joan Freeman: The €35 million-----

Seanad: Order of Business (9 May 2017)

Joan Freeman: The sum of €35 million about which I am talking was reduced to €15 million this year. That was grossly unfair. As usual, the mental health service is the Cinderella when it comes to dealing with all of the social issues. It is always the one from which money is removed which is used as a stopgap in some other area that the Taoiseach wishes to fill. I am surprised that the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Findings of HIQA Statutory Foster Care Service Inspection Reports: Discussion (17 May 2017)

Joan Freeman: Of course.