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Hospital Waiting Lists and How They Are Compiled
[Speaking in the Seanad during Order of Business] I am sorry if I sound like a broken record, but we will need to have a fresh debate on the issue of hospital waiting lists in the aftermath of data and...
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Nurses Retention Fee: Further hospital crisis imminent if NMBI don’t respond...
Speaking in the Seanad during my commencement debate on “the urgent need for the Minister for Health to outline the contingency plan to prevent an effective shutdown of hospitals in the event of mass...
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Health Reform
[Speaking in the Seanad during a Fianna Fail Private Members Motion on Health Services] Again, I welcome the Minister. He is a young man and is about the same age as I was when I first became a...
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Overcrowding of Hospital Beds is a Symptom of bigger problem
[Speaking in the Seanad during Order of Business] I have noticed substantial speculation in recent days which is a result of the welcome attention that has been placed on a very unwelcome problem,...
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Last debate on tobacco plain packaging legislation before President signs it...
Watch video here: [Speaking in the Seanad during debate on Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2014: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages] The Minister deserves...
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The Need for Transparency Around Health Data
[Speaking in the Seanad during Order of Business] I wish to comment on reports over the weekend about wide disparities in survival from cardiac events or heart attacks in hospitals across the country....
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Potential Problems Accessing Assisted Human Reproduction and Fertility...
[Speaking in the Seanad during Second Stage of the Children and Family Relationships Bill] I express my gratitude to the Minister, her officials and her predecessor for tackling this extremely complex...
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Responding to legal threats from the tobacco industry
[Speaking in the Seanad during Order of Business] I call on the Leader to ask the Minister for Health, the Taoiseach and the Minister for Justice and Equality to consider some radical approaches to...
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Intimidatory Behaviour of the Tobacco Industry
[Speaking in the Seanad during Order of Business] A few weeks ago I asked a question of the Leader which he was unfortunately unable to answer because he developed a very dry throat. He had a coughing...
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Unprecedented Meltdown in the Health Service
[Speaking in the Seanad during Order of Business] I know that I am beginning to sound like a broken record and that the attention of many in the Oireachtas has been distracted by other events which...
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New effective but expensive cancer treatments and tax changes for revenue...
[Speaking in the Seanad during Order of Business] I will give some good and some bad news and in the process ask the Deputy Leader and the representatives of the Government parties to communicate to...
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A little box ticked for an election promise but a long way to go
[Speaking in the Seanad during Second Stage of the Health (General Practitioner Service) Bill 2015) I welcome the extension of the provisions to the over-70s. It is overdue and while it is, as the...
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Social and Educational Factors of Obesity
[Speaking in the Seanad during Statements on Tackling Obesity in Ireland] I welcome the Minister and I am sorry I was not in the House for his opening address. I welcome the priority he and the...
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Heart (TAVI) Operations Suffering Due to a Lack of Co-ordinated Planning and...
Speaking in the Seanad during Commencement Matters on “The need for the Minister for Health to address the inadequate and inefficient organisation of the TAVI (transcatheter aortic valve implant)...
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Seanad Reform
[Speaking in the Seanad during Statements on the Report of Working Group on Seanad Reform 2015] I welcome my two esteemed colleagues and thank them for the great work they have done in a spirit of...
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Health – Transplant Services; Waiting Lists; Breast Cancer Drugs; Vaccination...
[Speaking in the Seanad during Order of Business] I also request that the Minister come in and update us on the transplant situation. Over the past few years, those in charge of transplant policy in...
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Transplant Services – any forward planning?
[Speaking in the Seanad on a Motion on Transplant Patient Services] I thank the Minister for coming in at short notice. I know it is difficult. I should mention at the outset that I have a dog in this...
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National maternity services in Ireland – Health Committee hearing
I thank Dr. Fitzpatrick. That was a fantastic, passionate presentation. I have seldom been as impressed by or as proud of a professional colleague sitting in that chair as I am of him right now,...
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Back to the Future day
I bring to the attention of Members that yesterday was Back to the Future day. It was the day depicted in the famous 1985 movie starring Michael J. Fox, following the intervention of Christopher Lloyd...
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