Results 1-20 of 20 for mother and baby homes speaker:Catherine Byrne

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Fourth Interim Report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes: Statements (Resumed) (21 Feb 2019)

Catherine Byrne: I might say a few words before reading the response from the Minister's office. I thank Deputies Burton, Maureen O'Sullivan, O'Loughlin, Martin Kenny and Wallace. I am sorry if I left anybody out. We all know about the unbelievable cruelty that happened in this country in the past and is probably still happening in some places and the loss of those children's lives and the loss for the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: General Scheme of Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill 2015: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Nov 2015)

Catherine Byrne: I sincerely apologise to all of the delegates for missing the debate. I am normally a full-time attendee of the committee, but, unfortunately, something came up to which I had to attend and I was delayed as a result. I have, however, read most of the statements received. Since the committee started to debate this issue, we have heard from a wide spectrum of people. What comes to mind...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Health Services: Quarterly Update (6 Oct 2015)

Catherine Byrne: ...the 400 additional beds to be opened for the winter. The introduction of evening discharges would also be helpful. I also welcome the €74 million in additional funding for the fair deal scheme and the designation of the Hollybrook centre in the Inchicore-Kilmainham, Dublin 8 area as a nursing home. The roll-out of GP cards for children under six years of age has been a huge...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Babies Born to Mothers with Substance Abuse Issues: Discussion (24 Sep 2015)

Catherine Byrne: I thank the Chairman and committee staff for organising this meeting. I have been concerned about this issue for some time and am delighted to have had the opportunity to hear expert views on it and to hear the witnesses speak about it with such passion. I live very close to the Coombe hospital which is in the area I represent and I meet mothers regularly who I know to have substance abuse...

Topical Issue Matters (10 Jun 2015)

Catherine Byrne: I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 27A and the name of the Member in each case: (1) Deputy Patrick O'Donovan - the need for the Office of Public Works to establish consultative groups to improve the visitor experience at OPW heritage sites; (2) Deputy Terence Flanagan - concerns regarding the presence of lead in...

Protection of Life in Pregnancy (Amendment) (Fatal Foetal Abnormalities) Bill 2013: Second Stage [Private Members] (6 Feb 2015)

Catherine Byrne: ...bringing this Bill to the House. If there was ever a Bill I would like to support, it is this one. However, as the Minister already stated in his opening remarks, this Bill is unconstitutional and a referendum would be required to amend the Constitution. However, I believe Deputy Clare Daly knows this very well and, therefore, I cannot support this Bill at this time. I, like many...

Protection of Life in Pregnancy (Amendment) (Fatal Foetal Abnormalities) Bill 2013: Second Stage [Private Members] (6 Feb 2015)

Catherine Byrne: ...bringing this Bill to the House. If there was ever a Bill I would like to support, it is this one. However, as the Minister already stated in his opening remarks, this Bill is unconstitutional and a referendum would be required to amend the Constitution. However, I believe Deputy Clare Daly knows this very well and, therefore, I cannot support this Bill at this time. I, like many...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Medical Indemnity Insurance Costs: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Jan 2015)

Catherine Byrne: I thank the delegates for their presentations. I have two questions. Having read Ms Courtney's statement, I was astonished to learn she had to go to England to have a doctor make a diagnosis or participate. It was unfortunate that no Irish doctor would support the case. I find that tragic. It tells us an awful lot about what happens when people fall victim to medical negligence. Ms...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Developing a National Strategy for Coeliac Disease: Discussion (15 Jan 2015)

Catherine Byrne: I thank everybody for their presentation. On cross-contamination in hospitals and so on, particularly around a toaster, a friend of mine was in my local hospital last week for an operation and when she asked for a slice of toast a few hours later, she was told that they do not make toast anymore because of health and safety. I do not think it was anything to do with being coeliac, but that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Best Practice Access Guidelines: Irish Wheelchair Association (4 Dec 2014)

Catherine Byrne: ...my office. A number of years ago I was involved in a local school that ran a very interesting project during transition year. A number of students came up with the idea of borrowing wheelchairs and spending a day or two in them. This initiative made all of us, not just the young people, feel how it would affect an individual to be in a wheelchair 24/7. I remember from my interaction...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Coping with Stillbirth Loss: Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Association (16 Oct 2014)

Catherine Byrne: I apologise for having to leave the meeting to take a call. I thank the witnesses for their presentation. As a mother and grandmother, I could feel Mr. Roche’s loss, love and most of all, his compassion for other people in a similar position. I live near the Coombe hospital and there is a mass there every year. Attendance has grown over the years rather than subsiding and more...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Update on Children and Youth Issues: Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (17 Jul 2014)

Catherine Byrne: I congratulate the Minister on his new appointment. I hope the approach he will take will have the same energy and wisdom which he brought to his last portfolio. As a doctor and a father, he knows too well the difficulties children face and the urgent need to address these. I welcome the establishment of the commission of investigation into mother and baby homes, as well as the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Early Years Strategy: Discussion (6 Mar 2014)

Catherine Byrne: I apologise for being late but I heard some of the presentations in my office. I am probably old-fashioned in that I believe the longer one spends at home with one's children the better chance one has of connecting with them, but sadly, that it is not possible for many young people, particularly when they have mortgages and have found themselves in negative equity. I would agree with the...

Early Childhood Care and Education: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (12 Feb 2014)

Catherine Byrne: I welcome the debate on the child care as it is an issue which affects most of us at some time in our lives. I was very lucky when I had my children in that I was able to stay at home and spend time with them and see them grow up, flourish and do all their activities. I spent many a time running around bringing groups of children from one end of the street to the other. Today things are...

Topical Issue Debate: Tobacco Control Measures (14 Nov 2013)

Catherine Byrne: ...of State for answering in such great detail. It is shocking to see the figure of how many people die yearly from smoking. I am concerned, as I have seen many children smoking on their way home from primary school. The Minister of State has given me some figures with which to work. For example, approximately 21% of pregnant women smoke. It is a matter of education, which begins at...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Public Health Nurses: Discussion (27 Jun 2013)

Catherine Byrne: I thank the witnesses for their presentations. I recall when I came home with my first baby and the fear and anxiety I felt when the public health nurse first called to my door. It is something most young mothers experienced at the time. When one closed the door after the public health nurse left there was a sigh a relief that one was taking care of one's baby properly and doing all the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Implementation of Government Decision Following Expert Group Report into Matters Relating to A, B and C v. Ireland (8 Jan 2013)

Catherine Byrne: I thank the witnesses for being here this morning. I hear Dr. Mahony loud and clear when she asks to be allowed to do her job and be protected as well. I have five children and have had my own misfortunes in having miscarriages. It is very difficult after the great joy of learning that one is pregnant when things do not go as one would like. That happens. What happens in such...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: World Prematurity Day 2012: Discussion with Irish Premature Babies Organisation (22 Nov 2012)

Catherine Byrne: As a mother of three healthy children who were born on time, I do not have the experience of giving birth to a premature baby but I know others who have gone through the experience and how it affects their extended families. It is difficult to manage sick children at home because we have not made the connection between services. Is there a reason for the global trend of rising rates and is...

Health Services: Motion (5 Oct 2010)

Catherine Byrne: ...she hears the contributions from this side of the House. It is difficult to know where to begin when talking about the cuts in the health service. Deputy Reilly has already alluded to some of them and I will give some examples. A 97 year old woman's home help service was cancelled because she had overstayed her time in hospital while having a surgical procedure. The community nursing...

Adoption Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (26 Nov 2009)

Catherine Byrne: I welcome the Bill to the House because it offers genuine hope to thousands of couples who desperately want a family but for various reasons cannot have children of their own. It opens the door to giving children a loving home, with an extended family in a new country. The Bill provides for the incorporation of the Hague Convention into Irish law, a welcome move which will implement...