Symphysiotomy Payment Scheme will be as simple and straightforward as possible

Meath East TD receives new assurances from Minister for Health

Fine Gael TD for Meath East, Regina Doherty, has been assured by the Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar, that the Surgical Symphysiotomy Payment Scheme will be as simple and straightforward as possible. Deputy Doherty received the assurances in response to an oral parliamentary question.

“The Surgical Symphysiotomy Payment Scheme began yesterday. The process is very straightforward, allowing the women affected to easily determine the payment range relevant to them. If women have suffered a disability as a result, they just need to provide a doctor’s verification and should receive payment, which will be exempt from tax.

“The process is very straightforward, allowing the women affected to easily determine the payment range relevant to them. If women have suffered a disability as a result, they just need to provide a doctor’s verification and should receive payment. 

“Those considering the scheme should not be deterred from seeking payment amounts above €50,000 because of a fear of onerous requirement. This is designed to be as simple as possible and to help determine the right payment in the most straightforward way.

“Judge Maureen Harding Clark, the retired High Court Judge who will oversee the scheme, has also given assurances that staff will be available to assist any queries, so a solicitor should not be needed unless women really want one.

“The closing date for the scheme is the 5th December and it is hoped that payments can be made to some women before Christmas. Women may opt out of the Scheme at any stage in the process, up to the time of accepting their award. 

“Awards of €50,000, €100,000 and €150,000 will be offered. Women who have had a surgical symphysiotomy may accept an award of €50,000. For women who have had a symphysiotomy and have suffered significant disability a higher award of €100,000 will be offered. Where a woman has had a symphysiotomy immediately following caesarean section, an award of €100,000 will be offered and where she has suffered significant disability following these procedures, €150,000 will be offered. For a woman who underwent a pubiotomy, an award of €100,000 will be offered and for women who have suffered significant disability following this procedure, €150,000 will be offered.

“I am very glad that progress is now being made on this issue. The speed and efficiency of this scheme should help to bring some of the women affected towards closure on this barbaric practice.”

Latest live register figures show jobs plan is working

Fine Gael TD for Meath East, Regina Doherty, has said that the latest live register figures show that 3,500 people were removed from the live register in October. As a result unemployment fell from 11.1% to 11%, the lowest rate since 2009.

“This demonstrates that the work the Government has done to stabilise the economy and restore growth is working. Fine Gael in Government has focused relentlessly on creating the environment for job creation. Over 70,000 new jobs have been created since the Action Plan for Jobs was launched in 2012.

“The continued decline in the number of people out of work is proof that the Government’s plan is working. Of course, there are still too many people unemployed and we will continue the relentless focus providing jobs and opportunity.”

Doherty encourages all Symphysiotomy victims to consider applying to redress scheme

Fine Gael Meath East TD and member of the Oireachtas Health Committee, Regina Doherty, has today (Thursday) encourages all Symphysiotomy victims to consider applying to the redress scheme announced today for women who underwent a surgical symphysiotomy. Former High Court Judge Maureen Harding Clark has been appointed as an independent assessor to oversee the implementation of the scheme.

Deputy Doherty is a long-time advocate of the women involved and has been urging the Government for many years to bring closure to the issue.

“I welcome today’s announcement which aims to help women whose lives have been permanently affected by symphysiotomy. I have been working closely with these women for some time, particularly the Patient Focus and Survivors of Symphysiotomy Limited.

“I would encourage all the women affected, including those who are currently proposing legal action, to look at the terms and conditions of the redress scheme and consider applying to the scheme. I would appeal to these women to look at their options and not rule anything in or out.

“Last July the Government approved the establishment of a scheme, amounting to approximately €34 million. Participants will receive awards at three levels of €50,000, €100,000 and €150,000. It is designed to be simple and straightforward and aims to minimise the stress for all the women concerned.

“This is another important milestone for those affected and the announcement of the scheme will hopefully be another step towards closure for these women, a lot of whom are over 75 years old.

‘Survivors of symphisiotomy have had their lives ruined by a barbaric procedure that had more in common with the Middle Ages than modern medicine. The Government understands what they have gone through, condemning the practice of symphysiotomies and describing them as ‘indefensible and wrong’.

“Judge Clark’s role will be to determine the appropriate level of award for each individual case. Women may opt out of the scheme at any stage if they wish to pursue an action through the courts instead, up to the time of accepting their award. No one will have to waive their right to proceed with a court cases as a pre-condition of applying to the scheme.

“Payments for the small number of women who have had a pubiotomy will be included. The Payment Scheme will start next Monday, November 10th and further details are being advertised.”

Dáil suspension a taste of Independent 'government'

Fine Gael TD for Meath East, Regina Doherty, has today (Wednesday) said the chaotic behaviour of Independent TDs in the Dáil this afternoon, which led to the suspension of Dáil business for the rest of today, reminds voters of the petty squabbling that is the hallmark of the independent benches. Deputy Doherty said that while the independents say they want to run the country, this episode demonstrates they cannot resolve their own issues among themselves.

"Legislation on strengthening the powers of GSOC, statements ahead of the Taoiseach's attendance at the European Council and the continuation of Fianna Fáil's private members' time on water charges have all been sidelined by political play-acting today. 

"The Independents have allowed their turf war to spill into the Dáil and derail the democratic business of the house. In doing so they are giving everyone a taste of what the result would be if they got the chance to run things - paralysis. This group likes to strike a holier-than-thou stance but the halo slipped a little today when they put individual self-interest ahead of the work of the parliament. There is a time and a place to sort out the issues around speaking time and this wasn't it."

New regulator for charities will reinforce public trust

Fine Gael TD for Meath East, Regina Doherty, has said today (Thursday) that the establishment of the Charities Regulatory Authority is a critical first step in reforming and strengthening the charity sector in Ireland. 

“The new Charities Regulatory Authority, announced today by the Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald TD, will be an independent regulatory agency for the charities sector and will reinforce confidence and trust in our charities.

“The charity sector plays a vital role in our society and economy, and contributes so much to both. The new Authority will, among other important functions, register and regulate all charities operating in Ireland and ensure they deliver public benefit and are accountable to their donors and beneficiaries.

“The Charities Regulatory Authority’s functions include the establishment and maintenance of a register of charitable organisations. An additional €500,000 has been allocated to the Authority under Budget 2015 which will bring the total budget for this agency to €1.4m in 2015. This represents an increase of over 50 per cent on the initial budget provided for its establishment phase and will support the reform and strengthening of the regulation of this sector.

“The charity sector as a whole has been unfairly tarnished by some recent controversies and the establishment of the Charities Regulatory Authority will ensure that these great organisations can carry out their work transparently and effectively.”

Extension of BreastCheck will save lives

Fine Gael Meath East TD, Regina Doherty has today (Tuesday) said the extension of BreastCheck to women aged 69 will save lives.

“The extension of the successful free national breast screening programme, BreastCheck, to women aged 65-69 will save lives.

“I have been calling for this change for quite some time and I strongly commend Minister for Health Leo Varadkar for fulfilling the commitment we made in our Programme for Government to extend BreastCheck to women over 65.

“Unfortunately breast cancer has touched a huge number of families in this country. According to the Irish Cancer Society, the incidence of female breast cancer is second highest amongst the 60-69 age group. It is great that BreastCheck will now include these women and will increase early detection rates.

“Early detection is key to good outcomes for women affected by breast cancer. With early detection and the right treatment there is hope for women who have received a diagnosis. As such today’s announcement to extend BreastCheck to women aged 65-69 is really positive for women’s health in Ireland.”

Why did Fianna Fáil wait until now to show their budget hand?

Regina Doherty, Fine Gael TD for Meath East, has today (Friday) questioned why Fianna Fáil has only now come clean and published their pre-Budget proposals.

“The Budget is next Tuesday and Fianna Fáil has waited until midday today to provide their proposals on Budget 2015, allowing no time for the Government or the Irish people to consider what they propose. 

“Fianna Fáil has been absent from and irrelevant to the public and parliamentary debate ahead of Budget 2015. Their finance spokesperson appeared on television on Tuesday night to discuss their unpublished proposals, but since then Fianna Fáil has absented themselves from the debate. 

“The fact that Fianna Fáil published its budget proposals on a Friday, four days before the Budget, and in the middle of voting in two bye-elections says a lot about the weakness of Fianna Fáil and shows a lack of confidence in its own policy positions. Their apparent belated acceptance of the Local Property Tax which they first proposed in 2010 is a case in point.

“For Fine Gael and the Government, the overriding objective of the upcoming Budget is to secure recovery by introducing measures to incentivise new jobs, more work and investment. The Government will make sure that recovery to date will not be threatened or wasted. In contrast to absent Fianna Fáil, people can trust us to make the necessary decisions to build a strong economy that can provide quality jobs and quality of life for the Irish people.”

Pathways to Work strategy targets youth and long-term unemployed

Fine Gael TD for Meath East, Regina Doherty, has welcomed the publication of the Pathways to Work strategy 2015 by Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Tánaiste Joan Burton and Minister of State at the Department of Social Protection, Kevin Humphreys.

“The Pathways to Work strategy and the Action Plan for Jobs, both launched in 2012, work side by side in creating new jobs and in accelerating the tran sition to work for people on the Live Register. These schemes are working; more than 50,000 people who were long-term unemployed are now at work and over 70,000 new jobs have been created. 

“The strategy published this week is important in ensuring that the performance of Intreo employment centres will be publicly benchmarked for the first time. Intreo centres will be obliged to ensure they are meeting targets to help jobseekers return to work. 

“Pathways to Work is extremely progressive in tackling long term unemployment through JobPath; this is a system by which professional recruitment companies will be tasked with finding jobs for people who are long-term unemployed. These recruitment consultants have targeted plans and they will not get paid if they don’t find work for these people. JobPath shows that this Government is serious about getting people back to work, about defining a route to employment.

“The Pathways to Work 2015 also commits that at least 50% of candidates considered for interview will be taken from the Live Register, a new accounts manager within the Department of Social Protection will interact with businesses and the rollout of Youth Guarantee initiatives will continue. This scheme also targets the welfare trap by introducing a Working Family Dividend which will allow people returning to work to retain, for a set period, welfare payments. 

“Unemployment has fallen from a crisis peak of over 15% to 11.1% now.  I realise that there are still far too many people out of work but the economy is recovering and that is because the Government’s plan is working, and because of the sacrifices made by the Irish people

“It is this Government’s priority to secure the recovery to make sure that those who have still not felt the benefits of recovery can look forward to a better future. The Pathways to Work scheme is a key part of this plan as it specially targetS youth and long-term unemployed.

New entrepreneurship plan to support start-ups in creating 93,000 jobs

Fine Gael TD for Meath East, Regina Doherty, says a new plan aimed at creating 93,000 jobs, launched today (Thursday), by Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD, Minister of State for Skills, Research and Innovation, Damien English TD and Minister of State for Business and Employment, Ged Nash TD, should act as a kick-start for local entrepreneurs.

“Having started my own business in 2001, I am keenly aware of the challenges that new businesses face. However, as start-up companies in the first five years of existence account for two thirds of all new jobs created in Ireland, they must be supported in every way possible.

“The plan launched today aims to increase the number of start-ups by 25%, meaning 3,000 new businesses will be created every year. It will provide additional support to improve the survival rate of new businesses, assisting 1,800 companies in their first five years, and the plan will improve the capacity of start-ups to grow.

“This Government is committed to job creation and so far over 70,000 jobs have been created. One of the biggest problems we face however is making the recovery local and spreading job growth throughout the regions. That is why the Government’s National Policy Statement on Entrepreneurship in Ireland launched today is so important. Start-up businesses provide essential employment in all parts of the country and I am delighted that a plan is in place to make this support available.

“Key measures in the plan include new mentoring services, entrepreneurship programmes, new marketing plans and doubling the funding to start-ups from angel investors, who are successful entrepreneurs reinvesting in other companies.

“This plan will specifically focus on promoting under-represented groups including women, young people, migrants and older people and it will introduce measures to assist start-ups to sell abroad.

“Taxation and administration have been barriers to starting a business. This plan has laid out taxation measures that would assist new business and I support Minister Bruton in his submission for Budget 2015 on these issues. Minister Bruton has called for relief on income tax, capital gains tax, incentives for employment and investment among other measures.

“This plan has drawn on expertise from people who have done it before, from academics and Government departments. In Ireland we have great entrepreneurs but we don’t have enough of them. The plan launched today is a very important step towards creating 93,000 additional jobs.”

Ireland is a world leader in the fight against smoking

Fine Gael Meath East TD, Regina Doherty has welcomed the news that France is to introduce standardised packaging for cigarettes, saying that Ireland is a world leader in the fight against smoking.

“The news that France is to introduce standardised packaging for cigarettes is remarkable and highlights Ireland’s position as one of the world leaders in the fight against smoking.

“We were the first European country to commit to standardised packaging for cigarettes in 2013 and the second country in the world to do so. The fact that France, a country considered to be tobacco friendly is now following in our lead, just proves how successful the measure is considered to be.

“I hope that many more European countries follow the Irish lead on this. It is good to see that the UK has also produced draft regulations on this matter.  Plain packaging was introduced in Australia in 2012 and the measure has been shown to have had an impact on the marketing power of tobacco companies and help reduce the numbers of young people taking up smoking.

“We must do whatever it takes to curb the numbers of young people smoking and plain packaging is a  good first step. It is great to see other countries following the Irish example on this.”