Results 2,201-2,220 of 3,665 for speaker:Seán Power

Sexual Health. (18 Oct 2006)

Seán Power: I thank Deputy Fiona O'Malley for raising this matter on the Adjournment this evening. I welcome this report, the Irish Study of Sexual Health and Relationships, which is the first national study of its kind in Ireland. The study is based on the responses of 7,441 people and provides a wide range of data which will be of benefit to policy-makers and service providers alike. On foot of a...

Written Answers — Health Reports: Health Reports (18 Oct 2006)

Seán Power: I propose to take Questions Nos. 218 and 219 together. The Leas Cross Report was provided to the Minister in June 2006 and the Minister was briefed on the report at that time. The Minister has requested the Health Service Executive to publish the recommendations contained in the Leas Cross Report and to engage in a further process to overcome any outstanding legal obstacles to the publication...

Written Answers — Housing Aid for the Elderly: Housing Aid for the Elderly (18 Oct 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. This includes responsibility for the provision of the Housing Aid Scheme for the Elderly, on behalf of the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Accordingly, the Department has...

Written Answers — Genetically Modified Organisms: Genetically Modified Organisms (18 Oct 2006)

Seán Power: The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI), which is the competent authority in Ireland for the enforcement of EU legislation regarding genetically modified (GM) foods, carries out checks on the marketplace for compliance with GM legislation on an on-going basis. Ireland, in common with other Member States and as required by EU rules, applies EU legislation on GM foods whether produced...

Written Answers — Services for People with Disabilities: Services for People with Disabilities (18 Oct 2006)

Seán Power: Responsibility for the payment of grants to those voluntary organisations involved in health promotion, raising awareness or providing support services for people suffering from particular conditions now rests with the Health Service Executive (HSE). It is a matter for the Executive to decide the level of support it provides to the various voluntary organisations based on the funding...

Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006: Order for Report Stage (19 Oct 2006)

Seán Power: I move: "That Report Stage be taken now."

Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006: Report Stage (19 Oct 2006)

Seán Power: I will not accept the amendments, both of which relate to the application process for subventions. It is reasonable to request a statutory declaration, particularly if significant sums of money are involved. A statutory declaration may help a person to focus on the necessity to include all income assets and so on in his or her application. This is a standard provision included in Bills....

Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006: Report Stage (19 Oct 2006)

Seán Power: I have made inquiries, but I cannot state a percentage. While I am told that such statutory declarations are seldom sought, it is felt that this power is necessary. It will only be used in exceptional circumstances.

Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006: Report Stage (19 Oct 2006)

Seán Power: Deputy Twomey should not talk nonsense.

Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006: Report Stage (19 Oct 2006)

Seán Power: That is okay.

Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006: Report Stage (19 Oct 2006)

Seán Power: I thank the Members for their contributions. I will deal with the issue raised. Some people have accused me of saying things I did not say, but that is not unusual in this House. I want to make it clear that I never indicated at any stage that this Bill would be the be-all and end-all and that it would bring about major changes. I explained at the outset that we had taken advice from the...

Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006: Report Stage (19 Oct 2006)

Seán Power: I ask the Deputy to let me finish. If he wants to contribute, he can do so later——

Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006: Report Stage (19 Oct 2006)

Seán Power: ——and I will be more than happy to listen to him.

Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006: Report Stage (19 Oct 2006)

Seán Power: The legislation is not being brought forward in lieu of the publication of the report of the interdepartmental group on long-term care. This group reported to Government, which has agreed on a number of principles. These were reflected in the agreement with the social partners, Towards 2016. Such principles include appropriate and equitable levels of co-payment by care recipients based on...

Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006: Report Stage (19 Oct 2006)

Seán Power: I was coming to that point, if the Deputy would just listen. He may have tabled the amendment but other Deputies also spoke and asked questions and it is appropriate that I reply to them as well.

Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006: Report Stage (19 Oct 2006)

Seán Power: The HSE has advised the Department that a new appeals process and associated guidelines will be in place within eight weeks. It is unlikely that there will be significant changes in the current appeals process on foot of this Bill. The HSE has advised that the current appeals officers will continue to consider appeals under the new system. It has advised that a single appeals process will...

Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006: Report Stage (19 Oct 2006)

Seán Power: The appeal system is quite similar to the system operating in the Department of Social and Family Affairs. In this case we appreciate that in many cases, the people on behalf of whom subventions are being made might not necessarily be in a position to make the application themselves. For that reason we have the facility where family members or friends can make an application on their...

Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006: Report Stage (19 Oct 2006)

Seán Power: The Deputy mentioned——

Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006: Report Stage (19 Oct 2006)

Seán Power: I am making the point to the Deputies——

Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006: Report Stage (19 Oct 2006)

Seán Power: ——that we are not forcing anybody to sell their homes. By introducing this, we will bring into primary legislation something which has existed by way of regulation. It was introduced by the Deputy's colleague, Deputy Howlin, when he was Minister for Health.