Results 801-820 of 1,044,004 for in 'Dáil debates' OR in 'Committee meetings' (speaker:Damien English OR speaker:Ruairi Ó Murchú OR speaker:Danny Healy-Rae OR speaker:Roderic O'Gorman)

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (23 Oct 2024)

Michael Collins: Excuse me. There are a lot of things in health that the Minister knows more about than I do. In this case, however, the patients were paying €2,500 upfront and were getting €2,000 back, so it was costing about €500, and they were quite happy with that, although they would rather it was done locally. They are now getting €1,170 back, as I know because I am...

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (23 Oct 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Deputies for their support of the Bill, which is greatly appreciated. I look forward to going to Committee Stage. In the time I have, I will address some of the other issues that colleagues raised. Whether I should or not, I am going to start with the contribution of Deputy Boyd Barrett. I listened to probably five minutes of the misinformation that Deputy Boyd Barrett brought...

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (23 Oct 2024)

Richard Boyd Barrett: No, I did not. I did not say that.

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (23 Oct 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: He sets himself up as the champion of our healthcare workers and he says that no progress is being made towards universal healthcare or Sláintecare.

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (23 Oct 2024)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Yes, I did say that.

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (23 Oct 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: Our healthcare workers have halved the time that people wait for an outpatient appointment but Deputy Boyd Barrett says that is irrelevant. They have revolutionised women's healthcare but Deputy Boyd Barrett says that is irrelevant. They have brought in IVF and free contraception and are about to bring in free HRT, and they brought in specialist services in menopause and endometriosis, but...

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (23 Oct 2024)

Richard Boyd Barrett: The healthcare workers are great.

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (23 Oct 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: Is it better across the board? It is not. Our healthcare workers have brought waiting times in this country down from over 13 months to seven months and we are going towards the agreed Sláintecare target that no one waits more than ten to 12 weeks but, apparently, that is irrelevant. Apparently according to Deputy Boyd Barrett, all of the progress that our healthcare workers are...

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (23 Oct 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: Last year.

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (23 Oct 2024)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Yes, and we could not come up with a response to that in a year

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (23 Oct 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: I am sure it is being looked at.

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (23 Oct 2024)

Richard Boyd Barrett: That is why people are driven into the private health insurance market. People make money out of it but it perpetuates an unfair two-tier system and perpetuates the problems in the public health system.

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (23 Oct 2024)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: Deputy Boyd Barrett, your contributions are always colourful but you made a comment earlier about Mr. Goodman when you talked about moving from animal meat to human meat. I do not think that type of comment is appropriate.

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (23 Oct 2024)

Mattie McGrath: Hear, hear.

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (23 Oct 2024)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: It is dehumanising both of the people who received treatment in the hospital and of the gentleman you referred to. Will you withdraw that comment?

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (23 Oct 2024)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Out of deference to your good self, a Cheann Comhairle, I will do that.

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (23 Oct 2024)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: I appreciate that.

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (23 Oct 2024)

Cathal Berry: I very much welcome the opportunity to make some brief comments on behalf of the Regional Group on the Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2024. The Minister and I have interacted over the last four and a half years on health issues in this Chamber and, indeed, in the Convention Centre, so he knows my views. Very similar to, I would say, most Deputies in this Chamber, we are in favour of a...

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (23 Oct 2024)

Mattie McGrath: Does the Deputy know something we do not know?

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (23 Oct 2024)

Cathal Berry: I have brought a number of cases to the Minister's attention over the past four and a half years and I thank him for following up on them. It is hugely appreciated, especially by the patients. I remember there was quite a specialised drug a particular patient in Newbridge was looking for and it has had a transformative effect of their lives. I very much appreciate that as well. I thank...