Results 2,041-2,060 of 3,665 for speaker:Seán Power

Written Answers — Care of the Elderly: Care of the Elderly (6 Jul 2006)

Seán Power: The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, the Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (6 Jul 2006)

Seán Power: The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, the Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Health Insurance: Health Insurance (6 Jul 2006)

Seán Power: I propose to take Questions Nos. 191 and 208 together. The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, the Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a...

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (6 Jul 2006)

Seán Power: The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) is the competent authority in Ireland for the enforcement of EU legislation regarding food derived from Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) — generally referred to as GM food. The authorisation and labelling of GM food within the EU is governed by the GM Food and Feed Regulation (EC No. 1829/2003). The labelling terms 'non GM' and 'GM free' are...

Written Answers — Sports Sponsorship: Sports Sponsorship (6 Jul 2006)

Seán Power: A number of the recommendations contained in the Interim Report of the Strategic Task Force on Alcohol concern a reduction in the exposure of children and adolescents to alcohol advertising, marketing and sponsorship. In response to these, my Department entered into negotiations with the broadcasting, media and drinks industries while at the same time pursuing the development of legislation...

Written Answers — Hospital Waiting Lists: Hospital Waiting Lists (6 Jul 2006)

Seán Power: The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (6 Jul 2006)

Seán Power: Section 49 of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland Act 1998 provides that the Board or Chief Executive of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) may appoint, in writing, persons to be authorised officers for the purposes of the Act. Authorised officers enforce food law, which is defined within the Act and set out in detail in the FSAI Act 1998 (Amendment of First and Second Schedules)...

Care of the Elderly. (27 Sep 2006)

Seán Power: The interdepartmental working group was established to review a number of complex and fundamental policy issues pertaining to long-term care for older people. Some of these issues were the subject of the Mercer report on financing long-term care and the O'Shea review of the nursing home subvention scheme. Following consideration of the group's report, a series of key principles to inform...

Care of the Elderly. (27 Sep 2006)

Seán Power: We have plenty of ideas, and the notion that we are all at sea on this could not be further from the truth. It is obvious that we have given the matter extremely serious consideration and that the entire issue has been through the social partnership process. That is one reason it has been delayed to some degree. However, it gives one an understanding of the priority we have accorded the...

Care of the Elderly. (27 Sep 2006)

Seán Power: We will certainly share our proposals, and if the Deputy has any views or suggestions he wishes to put forward, we will be more than happy to take them on board. He mentioned standards, and it is intended that the Health Bill 2006, whose heads were published for consultation some months ago, should establish the Health Information and Quality Authority. This Bill will also put the social...

Care of the Elderly. (27 Sep 2006)

Seán Power: Home care packages for older people deliver a wide range of services. They are delivered through the Health Service Executive by a range of providers, including the Health Service Executive, voluntary groups and the private sector. They consist of a mixture of grants, contracted care services, therapeutic input and equipment and other such community services to facilitate the older person...

Care of the Elderly. (27 Sep 2006)

Seán Power: Will the Deputy let us know if he has a magic wand or is doing something we are not? As I explained, the Government must comply with the relevant EU directive. Officials from the Department and the HSE are working with the Revenue Commissioners and officials from the Department of Finance to see if there is some way to overcome the issue. We appreciate the value of home care packages and...

Care of the Elderly. (27 Sep 2006)

Seán Power: It is not a matter of putting people before profit. As I explained, home care packages are provided by several different bodies, some of which are private and one of which is the HSE. The current VAT treatment of such services is in accordance with the EU's sixth VAT directive, with which we must comply.

Care of the Elderly. (27 Sep 2006)

Seán Power: We are developing a much more flexible approach in dealing with home care packages. In some instances, people are given the money when they can provide the required service themselves. We have entered into discussions, as I outlined already, with the view to reaching a situation where this service can be provided without VAT. If we can do so, we will be in a position to provide a far...

Care of the Elderly. (27 Sep 2006)

Seán Power: We had a number of pilot projects throughout the country providing these home care packages and the feedback suggested they worked exceptionally well. We decided, on that basis, to increase our investment from 1,100 to 3,000 home care packages throughout the country. The Health Service Executive and also the private sector provide this service and competition must be welcomed in this area....

Care of the Elderly. (27 Sep 2006)

Seán Power: We have not reached a conclusion on it. We are seeking a solution and our experts in different areas are examining it to see if it can be overcome.

Nursing Homes: Motion. (27 Sep 2006)

Seán Power: We are almost there.

Nursing Homes: Motion. (27 Sep 2006)

Seán Power: That is a complete misrepresentation.

Nursing Homes: Motion. (27 Sep 2006)

Seán Power: If it was that simple it would have been done.

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (27 Sep 2006)

Seán Power: I propose to take Questions Nos. 121 and 761 together. The enforcement of food labelling legislation is included in the service contracts between the official agencies and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI). The official agencies include the Health Service Executive, the Department of Agriculture and Food, the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, the Office of...