Results 8,241-8,260 of 21,514 for speaker:Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Appeals (20 Mar 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a decision will issue regarding an appeal against the judgement to disallow a student grant application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14113/13]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Supply (20 Mar 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: To ask the Minister for Health if he accepts the concern of persons with epilepsy that generic substitution is not appropriate in the case of antiepileptic medications, AEDs; if he will frame an appropriate exclusion in the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill 2012, as is the case in other jurisdictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14000/13]

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Mar 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: It does happen if one is a Deputy.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Mar 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: And rightly so.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Mar 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I have not given prior consideration of the matter and the Deputy's point sounds relevant. No malpractice is suggested and that must be the clear critical determinant of whether somebody is suitable to practise as a pharmacist. It is without question that in times such as these situations can present that nobody could ever have planned for or catered to. It is within the bounds of...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Mar 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I have a question. I ask the Minister of State to tell us why the welfare of the patient is not included in the criteria listed in section 21.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Mar 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I do not know that it does what the Minister of State suggests. I refer to the therapeutic benefits of the item for patients who are likely to use the item, as against the welfare of the patient.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Mar 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: As I have raised this issue now, if the Minister of State has no further comment to make on it, an amendment may be tabled on Report Stage if a member was of the opinion that this would be helpful.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Mar 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: While it is not contained in the wording of Deputy Billy Kelleher's amendments and in order to guarantee the full dissemination of information, the IPU and the IMO should also be informed of any change. These are normal steps which should be taken in this regard. I have no particular knowledge of the extent of items being added to or deleted from the reimbursement list. However, I am well...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Mar 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: The Minister of State's observations on section 12 and my previous concerns are acknowledged. The case relating to this amendment is valid and stands on its merit. I wish to record my acceptance of it.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Mar 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I support amendments Nos. 9 and 10. I do not know if the phrase should go immediately after "decision"; I would opt to put it in after the reference to the supplier of the item. The case is irrefutable. Maximum dissemination of information is hugely important. Prescribers and pharmacists are key players in all of this. We are talking about maintenance and ongoing amendments. Decisions...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Mar 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I strongly disagree that section 15 will provide comfort for pharmacists.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Mar 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: The Minister of State made the link. It is my strong view that section 13 will not comfort pharmacists. It comes back to the myriad situations that can present. It is important, in giving effect to their professional judgment, that there be a degree of cover or comfort for pharmacists in order that, in the event that something is other than what was intended, they would be covered. If we...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Mar 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I will return to a question we considered earlier. The Irish Pharmacy Union has sent us a communication asking us to raise this matter with the Minister. All sorts of circumstances could present themselves if the "do not substitute" notation is not in the handwriting of the prescribing GP. Somebody could devise a brand. Any number of other situations might present. We were invited to ask...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Mar 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I know Deputy Naughten did not intend it would be taken from his remarks that it was not the practice of the professionals to communicate adequately with clients. We could all attest to the fact that pharmacists in the front line do as a matter of course - this is my personal experience and observation - take the time to engage with clients and present information on prescription fulfilment...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Mar 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: It does no harm to seek that patients be given a full explanation. Nobody in either profession would take offence at that. The critical issue is that patients, now as never before, need to understand the situation, because they are now being presented with a choice that heretofore they never had to make. Taking a little extra time with them and ensuring they have full knowledge and...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Mar 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: In the example I gave, there is generic substitution. The inclusion of the clarity for which we have been arguing in this legislation will immediately deal with that aspect. There have been recorded consequences. It is hugely important not to wait for the Irish Medicines Board's review and decisions. There is already ample evidence that there is an issue to be addressed and one way to...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Mar 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: As the Minister of State is aware, the Moran report - he probably has a copy of it in front of him - contains a recommendation to the effect that AEDs should be excluded from the terms of the promised legislation on generic substitution. That is my clear recall of what is contained in the report which was produced by a joint working group involving the Department of Health and the HSE. The...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Mar 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: This is an exceptional situation which merits an exceptional response.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Mar 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I would like to return to the earlier points I made-----