Results 101-120 of 636 for speaker:Joan Freeman

Seanad: Report on Dying, Death and Bereavement: Statements (4 Jul 2017)

Joan Freeman: I wish to share my speaking time with Senator McDowell.

Seanad: Report on Dying, Death and Bereavement: Statements (4 Jul 2017)

Joan Freeman: I am here more than anything to support Senator O'Donnell. She is marvellous. Her passion comes through every time she speaks, and what she has produced reflects exactly the kind of person she is. She is committed and has such enormous love of humanity, and it shows in her report. I was not going to speak either but I really wanted to say a few things. I watched my mother and my...

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Children's Mental Health Services: Discussion (6 Jul 2017)

Joan Freeman: Today is important. I am sure many of the witnesses, most of whom I have met at some stage during my previous life, would agree. I will give a very brief summary of what we are trying to do. We are trying to paint a picture of truth, a picture of what our mental health services for children are really and truly like. That truth is so important, because if we do not tell the truth we...

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Children's Mental Health Services: Discussion (6 Jul 2017)

Joan Freeman: I thank the Chairman and witnesses. I have three very brief questions, but beforehand I would like to address Dr. Begley. The Bill is also inclusive of exceptional circumstances. Her patient sounded like an exceptional circumstance but may I add that I am a little bit concerned with what she had to listen to when she approached two or three units and they said that they did not want to...

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Children's Mental Health Services: Discussion (6 Jul 2017)

Joan Freeman: My first of three questions is addressed to Dr. Brendan O'Shea. Will Dr. O'Shea indicate the changes that need to be made from the perspective of general practitioners? My second question is to Mr. Gilligan. I have visited mental health services all over the country and there seems to be a disconnect between public and private, or independent, services. Why is there a disconnect and what...

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Children's Mental Health Services: Discussion (6 Jul 2017)

Joan Freeman: Yes. I promise I will be brief. Two things came out of this morning's session. One is the witnesses' obvious passion for the children of our nation and that they really want to get this sorted. I promise that in my role as a Senator I will ensure that we will continue with this today. Second, this afternoon we will be speaking to the Minister of State with responsibility for mental...

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Children's Mental Health Services: Discussion (6 Jul 2017)

Joan Freeman: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly. I am delighted that he has been appointed and I congratulate him on that. I hope that he comes to this position with fresh ears and that he will not listen to all of the previous arguments that have been plied to questions on mental health services for children. I also wish to say "hello" to Mr. Jim Ryan, whom I have met several times. I...

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Children's Mental Health Services: Discussion (6 Jul 2017)

Joan Freeman: I will avoid asking the Minister of State too many questions this afternoon as he was only appointed a little over two weeks ago but I will get on his case in the autumn.

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Children's Mental Health Services: Discussion (6 Jul 2017)

Joan Freeman: I hope so.

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Children's Mental Health Services: Discussion (6 Jul 2017)

Joan Freeman: I will direct my questions at the mental health division. I have heard the presentation that Mr. Dodd has made a dozen times. The first time was by the previous Minister of State who was responsible for the mental health brief, the Minister of State, Deputy Helen McEntee. The current Minister of State has said something similar and I have heard the same from the mental health division many...

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Children's Mental Health Services: Discussion (6 Jul 2017)

Joan Freeman: Hear, hear.

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Children's Mental Health Services: Discussion (6 Jul 2017)

Joan Freeman: Hear, hear.

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Children's Mental Health Services: Discussion (6 Jul 2017)

Joan Freeman: While it may sound as if I am attacking Dr. Dodd and Mr. Ryan, I am attacking the system. I presume Mr. Ryan works in the administrative part of the HSE. He mentioned going through 400 cases. How was he able to determine who should be seen and who should not and who should go where? There seems to be a good relationship between Tusla and the HSE, which has not always been the case. Tusla...

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Children's Mental Health Services: Discussion (6 Jul 2017)

Joan Freeman: That is what I said.

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Children's Mental Health Services: Discussion (6 Jul 2017)

Joan Freeman: Mr. Dodd is not dealing with the parents of children.

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Children's Mental Health Services: Discussion (6 Jul 2017)

Joan Freeman: I thank everybody who was here today, particularly those from the mental health division who were subjected to a really strong attack from us. Again, it is not personal, but we must do it - we must ask those questions. The Minister of State has been handed, according to some, a poisoned chalice. Let us hope it does not infect him. I say to him publicly that I will pursue the matter of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Cyber Security: Discussion (27 Sep 2017)

Joan Freeman: I thank the witnesses for their presentation. It was very interesting. I need so much more time to absorb the report and to get my head around it. To follow on from something Deputy Sherlock said, the Department is depending on the goodwill of the teacher to implement these cyberbullying safety procedures. That is chronically wrong. My daughter is a teacher. Teachers are up to their...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Cyber Security: Discussion (27 Sep 2017)

Joan Freeman: Yes, smartphones in general.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Cyber Security: Discussion (27 Sep 2017)

Joan Freeman: Is that not again being very ambivalent, allowing schools to make their own individual decisions and allowing teachers to make their own decisions about whether they should take on the courses? It is leaving everything open to the school policy instead of having an absolute policy as to how we protect our children.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Cyber Security: Discussion (27 Sep 2017)

Joan Freeman: Why not? Why can the Department not do that?