Results 1-20 of 37 for drugs speaker:Fiona O'Loughlin

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 May 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...was made with Kildare County Council that it would be for people aged over 55 and for people with disabilities. There are very unfortunate rumours and people are peddling stories that it is for drug addicts and people with mental health issues. People are going up to the school which is beside the convent and giving out utter rubbish in terms of information. I want to call this out in...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Nov 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...and Heritage. That is important. We need to put a plan in place and we need to be able to support farmers with grants. Senator Seery Kearney spoke about industrial action. I gather it affects the drugs task forces but I was not aware of it. There is a concern with the delivery of services that because people cannot act up, the task forces cannot draw down funding. That absolutely is...

Seanad: Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill 2023: Second Stage (14 Nov 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...younger people. We need to be very clear about the health risks associated with vaping. It is not cool or trendy; it is a significant health hazard. According to the Health Research Board in its 2019-20 national drug and alcohol survey, 17.4% of respondents indicated that they had smoked in the prior 30-day period, corresponding to 680,000 of the general population in Ireland aged 15 and...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Oct 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...access to free general practitioner care in the history of the State. That is part of Sláintecare and supporting primary care. It has been extended to more than 500,000 people in the past three years. The drugs payment scheme threshold has been reduced. Diagnostic scans have been funded. There is free contraception for women up to the age of 30. There is public funding for...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (4 Oct 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...violence. There are two other issues I want to raise. We spoke last week about the dramatic seizure of cocaine valued at around €157 million. I refer to it again this morning in relation to the illegal drugs trade in Ireland, the havoc it causes in communities and the heartbroken families at the centre of it all. In last week's Sunday Independentthere was a poll that showed that...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Jun 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: .... It is very important that we put something on the Statute Book in this regard. I also want to raise something that I know is common to all of the communities and towns that we live in; namely, drug taking. People feel very intimidated when they see drug dealing going on in streets and on estates, among other places. It is a very difficult and sensitive area for families. We all know...

Seanad: Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2023: Second Stage (20 Apr 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...situation compares very unfavourably with most of our European counterparts.The cost of IVF realistically, with blood tests and consultations, comes out at nearly €10,000. At the moment, only fertility drugs are covered by the drugs payment scheme or a medical card. Private patients can claim tax relief on fertility drugs, but that is it. There is nothing else to support those in...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Feb 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ..., it is estimated that 300,000 people are living with a rare disease. However, Irish rare disease patients are forced to wait over one third longer than their EU counterparts to access approved orphan drugs. This is an appeal on behalf of those who need better access to life-saving treatments. I want to give a shout out to a number of people. I have spoken here many times about my...

Seanad: Gambling (Prohibition of Advertising) Bill 2021: Second Stage (23 Mar 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...are often torn apart, trust is broken and finances are affected. Recovery is hard for any addict but regret is harder still. We must do what we can to ensure people do not go down this road. Drugs and alcohol have a physical manifestation and, as such, others become aware of the issue and can help, intervene, encourage and support. However, gambling is different and it is a silent...

Seanad: Citizens' Assemblies: Motion (23 Feb 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...on the local government structures best suited to Dublin, a directly elected mayor for Dublin could drive forward transport, planning, investment plans and municipal services and could deal with issues such as drugs in a clear and coherent manner. I acknowledge that there will be 80 members, 67 of whom will be randomly selected from the public living in Dublin city and county and the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (9 Feb 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...". That just shows us the huge urgency regarding this matter, and that is without all of the other impacts on people's lives. We all know lives that are absolutely being destroyed by addiction and by drugs. We need to put a huge focus on this matter. I disagree that there is a lack of urgency because there is work happening behind the scenes and we need to show that. We will seek a...

Seanad: CervicalCheck Tribunal (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (15 Jul 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I take this opportunity to thank the Minister for sanctioning the drug patisiran last weekend. It was wonderful news for the cohort of 35 patients who have amyloidosis. I am delighted for Pat Tinsley, about whom I have spoken to the Minister and whose situation I have raised several times in the House. This is a life-changing drug. While I appreciate that the access programme has to be...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 Jul 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: .... We must seek to make our country a safer place for women and for all. That Bill certainly would be another piece of the armoury. I thank the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, for his sanctioning the drug, patisiran, at the weekend. Members would have heard me speak about Pat Tinsley and his need for this lifesaving drug. Only this day last week I raised this issue in the Seanad. I was...

Seanad: Future of Gambling Regulation: Statements (23 Apr 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...supports. That is where we come in. Recovery is hard for any addict but regret is harder still.I say that having spoken to several of my friends who, unfortunately, have suffered with addiction. Drugs and alcohol have a physical manifestation and, as such, others become aware of the issue and can help, intervene, encourage and support. However, gambling is different. It is a silent...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health Services Provision (1 Feb 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...or no support within the public health system. Those in need of IVF and other fertility programmes find themselves having to pay between €6,000 and €10,000 per cycle. At the moment, fertility drugs are only covered by the drugs payment scheme or a medical card and private patients can claim tax relief but that is it, and it is just for fertility drugs. The State absolutely...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Medicinal Products (16 Dec 2020)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...by this degenerative disease. This debilitating and fatal illness attacks the heart and nervous system of patients.As it progresses, it causes loss of sensation, limb weakness and pain. The drug patisiran, which helps alleviate and manage symptoms, is available in the UK and the US but is not available here. Pat is running out of time and desperately needs this drug, as do approximately...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Medicinal Products (16 Dec 2020)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...game changer. I accept, of course, that there has to be criteria for the spending of public money on medicines. However, the 30 people who we are speaking about are lucky that we know that there is a drug that can absolutely help to support them with their difficult symptoms. That is hugely important. I accept that the whole reality of trying to negotiate with commercial pharmaceutical...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Sep 2020)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...three weeks would be a life support for all those who suffer from this illness. It is available in Northern Ireland, the UK, across Europe and the United States, but the HSE has said it is a novel drug and is not covered by the National Treatment Purchase Fund.As stated by Pat, penicillin was a novel drug at one point in time. In 2018, Irish patients with a rare disease only had access...

Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill 2019: Second Stage [Private Members] (11 Dec 2019)

Fiona O'Loughlin: It is no coincidence that last week I was at two public meetings in my constituency of Kildare South within three days on drugs. Drugs have invaded every village, town and community throughout the country. Every day we hear stories of families and communities being ravaged by drugs. Research shows that drug crime has increased. Drug use is up by 20%. In fact, the majority of the increase...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Availability (11 Dec 2019)

Fiona O'Loughlin: 237. To ask the Minister for Health the reason for the continued delay in access to medication for persons with multiple sclerosis in view of the fact drugs have recently become available and accessible in other EU countries, for example, siponimod; the steps he will take to expedite access of such drugs for patients; and the timeframe for same. [52036/19]