Seanad debates

Wednesday, 24 June 2009

11:00 am

Photo of Donie CassidyDonie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

I am speaking on the basis of my considerable experience in this area in my former place of work.

Senator Quinn spoke about organ donation which I am delighted to hear is on the increase in other countries. I urge Senators to do everything they can to address and discuss the matter. Perhaps I will raise the issue at next Tuesday's meeting of party leaders. I am aware that every Member of the House supports organ donation.

Senators Quinn, Hanafin and Twomey raised the issue of the threat of a jail sentence for the non-payment of debts and for the non-payment of family maintenance, payments which are necessary and urgently required by the families concerned. Regardless of the difficulty involved and while we do not believe that sending a person to prison is the answer to everything, there must be fear in terms of the threat of the application of the law. We must do whatever we can to retain that fear to make people accountable, particularly in respect of the maintenance payments. We must protect and support women who are single-handedly rearing families.

Senator Glynn pointed out that the CEO of the HSE will visit Mullingar regional hospital today and speak to the staff in all sections there. I commend Senator Glynn on arranging this visit. I wish the CEO well on his visit to one of the top three performing hospitals in the country. I am proud and privileged that it is located in our area. Senators McFadden and Glynn come from the same area. The Cathaoirleach and Senator Glynn both served as chairmen of the former Midland Health Board and I was a member of it for 18 years. It is wonderful to have such a successful hospital in the midlands region. The Minister, Deputy Harney, has said on the record of this House that she would reward those hospitals that produce returns in terms of standards of care and exercise financial responsibility in the handling of their budgets, as Mullingar regional hospital has done.

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