Results 1-20 of 73 for speaker:Kieran Deeny

Northern Ireland Assembly: Committee Business: Obesity (16 Nov 2009)

Kieran Deeny: I take the Member’s comments on board, but that is no reason for not having the required level of physical activity in school. Obesity is a societal problem, and the fact that children do other things outside school does not mean that what schools do when kids are there is not important. A community approach must be taken. That happens in France under a project called Ensemble,...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Committee Business: Obesity (16 Nov 2009)

Kieran Deeny: Yes, I am afraid that it was. It means that together, we can prevent obesity in children. EPODE, which is referenced in the report, takes a holistic approach. It focuses not on obesity but on physical activity and healthy eating, yet its outcomes have a definite impact on obesity. I urge all Members to support the motion and the Committee’s report.

Northern Ireland Assembly: Committee Business: Obesity (16 Nov 2009)

Kieran Deeny: I also support the motion. Obesity is a societal problem; it is not a disease, but, as we have heard, it leads to very serious diseases. We should not medicalise obesity. It needs to be tackled by society as a whole, so we need to take a holistic approach, as has been said already, that involves communities and their representatives, such as politicians and policymakers. We need...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Regional Development: A5 Dual Carriageway (16 Nov 2009)

Kieran Deeny: My question has been answered partly, so I thank the Minister for his response. We keep hearing about a commitment from the Government in the South. Will the Northern Government confirm that the Northern sector of the A5 project will go ahead? How long will the project take? In what year is it likely to be completed?

Northern Ireland Assembly: Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Tyrone County Hospital: Maternity Services (16 Nov 2009)

Kieran Deeny: Before I ask my question, I want to put it on record that I disagree with the Minister: our patients are not being well provided for through maternity services. Does the Minister accept that there are people west of Omagh, including my own patients? Does he also accept that there is a need for a midwifery-led unit in Tyrone to serve the people of Tyrone? If he does, why did he approve and...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Committee Business: Efficiency and Contingency Deficit Proposals in the Health and Social Care Trusts (9 Nov 2009)

Kieran Deeny: I hope that the debate does not descend into party bickering. Ultimately, this matter concerns the health of the population of Northern Ireland; and I speak as someone who has also worked in the health service for decades. The debate is very important. The issue is about using money efficiently to ensure that our population is looked after to the standard that is expected in a developed...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Committee Business: Efficiency and Contingency Deficit Proposals in the Health and Social Care Trusts (9 Nov 2009)

Kieran Deeny: I accept the Member’s point; perhaps the Minister will answer it. We are being told that management is being scaled down to acceptable levels. Hopefully, that is the case. I suggest that the people in the trusts and the Department who provide healthcare should introduce themselves and tell the public what they do. They should remember that they, like public representatives, are public...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Committee Business: Efficiency and Contingency Deficit Proposals in the Health and Social Care Trusts (9 Nov 2009)

Kieran Deeny: As has been mentioned, community care is very important. For the most part, we in healthcare and health management have often put the focus of health services on the secondary care sector. That has to stop, because there has been a major move towards care in the community, and rightly so. It is often thought that community care is the cheaper option, but that is often not the case. We must be...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Regional Development: A5 Dual Carriageway (19 Oct 2009)

Kieran Deeny: I welcome the Minister’s comments. I also welcome the plans for the A5 from the points of view of infrastructure and safety. First, is there a time frame for construction to start on the A5? Secondly, with regard to safety, will the proposed dual carriageway of the A5 be based on that of the A4, with no right turns off or onto the carriageway?

Northern Ireland Assembly: Ministerial Statement: Swine Flu (15 Sep 2009)

Kieran Deeny: I thank the Minister for his statement. I also thank him and his Department for their work since this major health issue became a global one. The Minister’s statement has answered some of the questions that I intended to ask him, and I am delighted to see that the priority groups will be vaccinated by the end of November. Is the Minister happy that the vaccine safety checks have been...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Health, Social Services and public safety: Gynaecological and Obstetric Services (14 Sep 2009)

Kieran Deeny: We are, hopefully, talking about top-standard and high-quality junior doctors. Is the Minister not surprised how quickly those places were filled: in two weeks? Was there competition for those places, were there interviews, or were doctors simply found somewhere and put in place?

Northern Ireland Assembly: Health, Social Services  and Public Safety: Domiciliary Care (8 Jun 2009)

Kieran Deeny: I thank the Minister for his answer. Bearing in mind that, in future, much healthcare will be provided in the community, and with that will come an increase in demand for domiciliary carers, what measures will the Minister and his Department be taking to incentivise people to become domiciliary carers?

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: Diabetes Service Framework (8 Jun 2009)

Kieran Deeny: I support the motion and welcome the Minister’s presence during this important debate. Patients with diabetes deserve not only the best medication and treatment but the best management of their condition. Many Members referred to the cardiovascular service framework, and some argued that it is sufficient to tackle diabetes. I contend that it is not. I will use three standards in the...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: Diabetes Service Framework (8 Jun 2009)

Kieran Deeny: If we had our own diabetes service framework, we could ensure that the full range of health checks could be provided and that all patients would receive the same level of care with annual checks on blood pressure, weight and diet, foot care, peripheral vascular disease, blood measurements and full eye examinations. I urge Members to support the motion.

Northern Ireland Assembly: Adjournment: Gold-Mining at Cavanacaw, Omagh (2 Jun 2009)

Kieran Deeny: I, too, thank the Minister for taking the time to be here and for dragging himself away from canvassing, knocking on doors and shaking sweaty hands on this warm day. I also thank him for his commitment to our area. I concur with the remarks made by two of the three Members who spoke previously. There are serious concerns that the operations under discussion today are quarrying by stealth and...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (2 Jun 2009)

Kieran Deeny: That is why we need a good, powerful RQIA that is accountable to the public and to its elected representatives.

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (2 Jun 2009)

Kieran Deeny: On a point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker. I thought that this debate was about the RQIA — is it about party-political point scoring two days before an election? We are talking about a very important authority; perhaps we should stick to the subject of the debate.

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (2 Jun 2009)

Kieran Deeny: Unlike some Members, I will stick to the point. This is a very important debate. We want to ensure that we have good practice and high standards in our Health Service, and the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority must be an important cog in the Health Service’s future. It is essential that it be a powerful authority. That is why the debate is worth having. The Health Committee...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: Healthcare for Older People (18 May 2009)

Kieran Deeny: I support the motion. I am pleased to be speaking on behalf of the elderly, a section of our population whom I consider to be wonderful. I agree with Mrs McGill and disagree with Mr McCallister: the debate is worthwhile, if only to give much-needed public reassurance to the elderly from the House and the Minister that their health and social care needs will be met in the future. As has been...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: Healthcare for Older People (18 May 2009)

Kieran Deeny: I agree with Mr McCarthy. However, this debate is not the place for inter-party bickering. We are talking about the elderly, who are an important section of our community. I feel privileged to have worked with and for our elderly for well over 25 years as a front line health professional. They still have a major part to play in society and have a lot to offer. If one listens to the elderly,...