Results 361-380 of 1,467 for speaker:Geraldine Feeney

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (9 Mar 2005)

Geraldine Feeney: It was not the arena in which to answer. Surely the Senator understands that.

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (9 Mar 2005)

Geraldine Feeney: As did the Opposition parties.

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (9 Mar 2005)

Geraldine Feeney: I welcome Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Brian Lenihan. I am delighted to speak on the Health (Amendment) Bill 2005. It is a short Bill with two purposes. First, to put reasonable charges for long-stay care on a legal basis and, second, to provide hundreds of thousands of people on low incomes with the opportunity to visit their GPs without worrying about...

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (9 Mar 2005)

Geraldine Feeney: It might suit the Senator to shout at us to go back to 1976. Of course we go back to 1976——

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (9 Mar 2005)

Geraldine Feeney: The Opposition is as responsible as any other Government for what happened in those days.

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (9 Mar 2005)

Geraldine Feeney: Yes, they were. If they read the Travers report——

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (9 Mar 2005)

Geraldine Feeney: They are only going through the Travers report now. We read it this morning.

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (9 Mar 2005)

Geraldine Feeney: They will see that section 4.25 points that out. It brings us all back to 1976 when it states that the practice did not derive from the Health Insurance (Amendment) Act 2001.

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (9 Mar 2005)

Geraldine Feeney: Lord, where would we be without Fine Gael? Senator O'Meara can turn to section 4.25 of the report now and see where Mr. Travers has asked us to bear in mind that the practice did not occur only after the passing of the Health Insurance (Amendment) Act 2001. It had been in place since 1976. I do not say that, it is said by Mr. Travers, the consultant.

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (9 Mar 2005)

Geraldine Feeney: Senators will either accept his report or not. This is not AIB. There is no one making money and there was nothing to be gained for anyone here. That point must also be borne in mind.

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (9 Mar 2005)

Geraldine Feeney: On the overall issue, there is no doubt that it is reasonable for people in long-term care to make a personal contribution. As Senator Quinn has rightly pointed out, no reasonable person would disagree with that. Section 4 provides for new medical cards that will make GP services free for thousands of people. I heard members of the Opposition as late as half an hour or 20 minutes ago making...

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (9 Mar 2005)

Geraldine Feeney: I took part in the debate and I remember asking the Tánaiste whether she could examine a system whereby families might be entitled to medical cards for either GP or pharmacy services only. A week later, I heard the Fine Gael spokesperson, Deputy Twomey, come out with it. I say to Senators Browne and Bannon that the Government did not hijack anything. On the contrary, they hijacked my idea...

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (9 Mar 2005)

Geraldine Feeney: ——banging the drum on the other side of the House. At present, there are families who cannot afford to bring their children to the local GP because of the high cost. People on low incomes, as we have said in this House, must prioritise what money they have. I am happy to see that these proposals will allow them access to their GPs without worrying about costs. I look forward to the Bill's...

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (9 Mar 2005)

Geraldine Feeney: The Senator should withdraw his remarks about the Tánaiste.

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (9 Mar 2005)

Geraldine Feeney: Fine Gael formed part of some of those Governments over the past 30 years.

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (9 Mar 2005)

Geraldine Feeney: The Senator must stick to the Bill.

Seanad: Report on Long-Stay Care Charges: Statements. (10 Mar 2005)

Geraldine Feeney: The point Senator Browne made about the Tánaiste is incorrect.

Seanad: Report on Long-Stay Care Charges: Statements. (10 Mar 2005)

Geraldine Feeney: Three cheers for Fine Gael, where would we be without it?

Seanad: Report on Long-Stay Care Charges: Statements. (10 Mar 2005)

Geraldine Feeney: This was going back 30 years.

Seanad: Report on Long-Stay Care Charges: Statements. (10 Mar 2005)

Geraldine Feeney: I welcome the Minister of State and his officials to the House. I congratulate Mr. Travers on producing such a comprehensive and speedy report. He was appointed on 16 December and worked throughout Christmas and the new year so the report could be put on the Tánaiste's desk. In summary, the Travers report states that the fundamental reason for the problems we now face lies in long-term...