Results 161-180 of 1,978 for speaker:Matt Shanahan

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Non-Covid Healthcare Disruption: Waiting Lists and Screening (Resumed) (17 Jul 2020)

Matt Shanahan: I wish to highlight to Mr. Woods that I spoke to the former Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, in April on this subject. He agreed with the Department that this was classed as essential work. It is beyond understanding why it has been suspended for so long. Earlier, Deputy Cullinane mentioned the procurement process for the second cath lab. This has now been extended by another four...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Non-Covid Healthcare Disruption: Waiting Lists and Screening (Resumed) (17 Jul 2020)

Matt Shanahan: I imagine we would welcome the report, but what I would like to understand is how in 20 months we have only moved a project to design stage and planning permission. That took 20 months when a private laboratory was able to install a functioning cath lab in 12 weeks in the same area.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Non-Covid Healthcare Disruption: Waiting Lists and Screening (Resumed) (17 Jul 2020)

Matt Shanahan: One final thing, which was brought up earlier today but not developed to any degree, was the use of e-health solutions as we go forward. A person can walk into a hospital in Switzerland or France, present a card and get all his or her diagnostic tests or medical information pulled up on a screen. When will we get to that situation in Ireland?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Non-Covid Healthcare Disruption: Waiting Lists and Screening (Resumed) (17 Jul 2020)

Matt Shanahan: Today, as a member of the Regional Group, I called for Covid-19 testing at all of our airports. We are in great danger of bringing infection into the country with people travelling abroad to hotspots. It is absolutely feasible to do this using both public and private laboratories. I hope the group we are addressing today will bring that message to NPHET. We need to get this implemented as...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (21 Jul 2020)

Matt Shanahan: 11. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the learning that has occurred from Covid-19 planning; and the measures that can be implemented into the future regarding public policy planning from recent experience gained. [17332/20]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (21 Jul 2020)

Matt Shanahan: I congratulate the Minister on his appointment and wish him the very best of luck in his new role, which the country will certainly need. What learning has occurred from Covid-19 planning? What measures might be implemented in the future regarding public policy planning and procurement as a result of the recent experience gained?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (21 Jul 2020)

Matt Shanahan: I thank the Minister for his response. One of his areas of responsibility is expenditure and its management and oversight. One of the issues arising in Covid-19, in particular, is the issue of procurement of supply chains. We have had to run to China and spend inordinate amounts of money to try to secure the supply of PPE, when in fact there are a number of companies in this country which...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (21 Jul 2020)

Matt Shanahan: I thank the Minister. I look forward to engaging with him. One thing that must be considered is that the State is the largest purchaser in the country. We have to get far more radical about how we procure services and products in this country. I point out to the Minister that there is a list of necessary pharmaceuticals, with about 175 in total. Some 135 are made only in China and India....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Labour Employer Economic Forum (21 Jul 2020)

Matt Shanahan: 22. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will consider implementing a policy to allow an organisation (details supplied) to have a seat on the Labour Employer Economic Forum, LEEF; the steps he can take to remedy the lack of access for small and medium enterprises, SMEs, to Department of Finance officials in view of recent statements by representatives of SMEs at the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Labour Employer Economic Forum (21 Jul 2020)

Matt Shanahan: Will the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform consider implementing a policy to allow the organisation, details of which have been supplied, to have a seat on the Labour Employer Economic Forum, LEEF, and the steps he can take to remedy the lack of access by small and medium enterprise, SME, representatives to Department of Finance officials in view of recent statements by those...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Labour Employer Economic Forum (21 Jul 2020)

Matt Shanahan: I thank the Minister of State. He mentioned an engagement on 10 July but I spoke about a lack of engagement that has gone on for many months, and even longer than that. ISME represents approximately 700,000 employees, which is quite a large portion of our smaller employers. That group finds it very difficult to get any access and I referenced the unavailability of senior departmental...

Credit Guarantee (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (21 Jul 2020)

Matt Shanahan: As I said in the Chamber recently, I find myself in agreement but Deputy Boyd Barrett at times. I certainly could not disagree with much of what he said just there, particularly in respect of the banking sector. The credit guarantee scheme of €2 billion, based on the relaxation of state aid rules for a limited time, will be given primarily to primary producers, SMEs and mid-caps....

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (21 Jul 2020)

Matt Shanahan: 220. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views as to whether the procurement process is fit for purpose for the battle against Covid-19, Brexit and other international economic challenges. [17333/20]

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Infection Rate among Healthcare Workers (21 Jul 2020)

Matt Shanahan: I thank the witnesses, particularly Ms Murphy and all other front-line nurses. They have done an incredible job. At last Friday's committee meeting, I said that I thought a level of exasperation was quite evident over the course of the day. It has been evident at this committee for a while and is evident again here today. Anyone listening to the evidence and reading the submissions could...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Infection Rate among Healthcare Workers (21 Jul 2020)

Matt Shanahan: I agree with Ms Ní Sheaghdha wholeheartedly on that. I also previously brought up the donning and doffing of PPE at this committee and was told the HSE had provided videos on it. I was contacted by a nurse in Cavan hospital many weeks ago who highlighted the issue of donning and doffing of protective clothing and two weeks later, we had one of the highest spikes in the healthcare...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Infection Rate among Healthcare Workers (Resumed) (21 Jul 2020)

Matt Shanahan: I thank our contributors this morning. I refer to an item in the HPSC report regarding sources of transmission, within which is a figure of 11.4% for close contacts confirmed. The figure for travel is down at 1.7%. Have the witnesses looked at that ratio since flights have started to open up in a larger way? Do they know from what time period that data set was taken?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Infection Rate among Healthcare Workers (Resumed) (21 Jul 2020)

Matt Shanahan: Can I ask Dr. Cuddihy to put a percentage on that with reference to the previous one of 1.7%?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Infection Rate among Healthcare Workers (Resumed) (21 Jul 2020)

Matt Shanahan: Dr. Cuddihy highlighted that the take up of contacts who had been identified was relaxing quite a bit. Do the witnesses have plans to seek a legal remedy to be implemented to require those on a contacts list to take a Covid test when they are so approached?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Infection Rate among Healthcare Workers (Resumed) (21 Jul 2020)

Matt Shanahan: The HSE should put some urgency into that. I mentioned infection-control protocols through the winter in our earlier session. I have witnessed some things that most people would see in hospitals. There are healthcare workers coming down to community areas such as canteens in their scrubs and then going back up to the wards. It may not be happening in Covid wards but it is certainly...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Infection Rate among Healthcare Workers (Resumed) (21 Jul 2020)

Matt Shanahan: I mentioned the idea of extending diagnostic lists on Friday, considering machine time and people are available who are less busy because of the Covid protocols, and would be able to do additional hours. There is the possibility of bringing in expanded working through use of an instrument from the NTPF. I would appreciate it if Mr. Woods could get back to me regarding the cath lab at...