Results 2,261-2,280 of 3,665 for speaker:Seán Power

Care of the Elderly. (1 Nov 2006)

Seán Power: The Deputy should allow me to answer because he has raised several questions. No one on this side of the House ever attempted to try to cover up this report. Following the television programme about Leas Cross the Health Service Executive asked Professor Desmond O'Neill to write a report on the deaths of residents in Leas Cross. That has been completed but there are difficulties and the...

Care of the Elderly. (1 Nov 2006)

Seán Power: The Deputy said a few weeks ago that the report would never be published, now that I have given him a date for its publication he wants me to comment on it before then.

Care of the Elderly. (1 Nov 2006)

Seán Power: Following the programme on RTE about Leas Cross I immediately wrote to the Garda Commissioner asking him to examine it to see if there was a case to be answered. The HSE asked Professor Des O'Neill to prepare a report, which has been done. This report has been completed and will be published next week. Leas Cross nursing home is no longer in operation and has been closed down. I do not...

Ambulance Service. (1 Nov 2006)

Seán Power: It is another opportunity for Deputy Cowley to protest.

Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (1 Nov 2006)

Seán Power: No, it will not; the Deputy has multiplied the figure by 52 weeks rather than 12 months.

Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (1 Nov 2006)

Seán Power: Two particular issues have been raised by Members and we must not confuse them, although they are related. One relates to the nursing home subvention scheme, the subject of this legislation, while the other is the funding of long-term care. Members have pointed out the faults and failings attached to the subvention scheme and the changes they would like to see introduced. I repeat,...

Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (1 Nov 2006)

Seán Power: Deputy Higgins made a wonderful contribution to this debate in explaining how he is highly insulted by the scheme as it operates. I remind him that the regulations were introduced by his colleague, Deputy Howlin, when he was Minister for Health and Children. Clearly, he was not insulted at their introduction in 1993 and they have been used by successive Governments since. Unfortunately,...

Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (1 Nov 2006)

Seán Power: We must attach a means test to it. While some €5 million was provided for it 1993, the corresponding figure for this year is €160 million. More than 8,000 people are in receipt of subvention. The amendments tabled by Deputies McManus and Twomey attempt to change the term "Dublin area" used in the Bill to "Greater Dublin area" and to include several local authority areas in the...

Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (1 Nov 2006)

Seán Power: Deputy Twomey's amendment includes County Westmeath, for example, which is not even adjacent to Dublin. If that county was to be included, so also would counties Longford and Offaly. We would end up including the entire country.

Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (1 Nov 2006)

Seán Power: Deputy McManus's amendment proposes doing just that by increasing the principal private residence threshold to €500,000 for the entire country. In responding to the Deputies' proposals it is crucial that I clarify a certain point in taking into account a property for the purposes of considering subvention applications. When carrying out financial assessment for the purpose of subvention,...

Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (1 Nov 2006)

Seán Power: I must make the point that what we are doing here is converting regulations into primary legislation. With regard to the financial assessment, we are not proposing any change here. We are not proposing any great change in the way the scheme will operate. From the point of view of looking after older people, the Government has treated them very much as a priority. We have seen that in...

Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (1 Nov 2006)

Seán Power: I hope they never oppose power in Kildare.

Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (1 Nov 2006)

Seán Power: As with all constituencies, old people live in Kildare and I am familiar with the difficulties and pressures exerted on those families that find themselves in the unfortunate position where they are obliged to provide for long-term care for a family member. The Deputy is asking me to exclude the principal residence from the Bill. While that proposal might be desirable, it is not possible to...

Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (1 Nov 2006)

Seán Power: More constructive debate.

Written Answers — Care of the Elderly: Care of the Elderly (1 Nov 2006)

Seán Power: My Department is currently examining, in consultation with the HSE, the Department of Finance and the Revenue Commissioners, the scope within the relevant EU directives to exempt the provision of homecare services by commercial suppliers from VAT. In relation to VAT already paid, the Department of Finance has advised that non taxable persons cannot recover VAT incurred on goods and services...

Written Answers — National Cancer Strategy: National Cancer Strategy (1 Nov 2006)

Seán Power: Prostate cancer is the second most common cause of cancer deaths in men. There are approximately 1,150 new invasive prostate cancer cases annually. It is predominantly a disease experienced by older men with the majority of cases occurring in the 70–74 year age group and the majority of deaths in the 80–84 year age group. The Department of Health and Children published a National Strategy...

Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (1 Nov 2006)

Seán Power: The recruitment process referred to is a function of the Health Service Executive, which has informed my Department that the campaign to fill these posts is proceeding. The closing date for applications was 6th October, 2006 and the HSE will now be proceeding to the next stage of the recruitment process.

Written Answers — Nursing Home Subventions: Nursing Home Subventions (1 Nov 2006)

Seán Power: As the Deputy may be aware, the Health (Nursing Homes) Act 1990 and the Nursing Homes Regulations 1993 provide for the payment of subvention for private nursing home care for applicants who qualify on both medical and means grounds. General rules for the assessment of means in respect of an application for nursing home subvention are set out in the Second Schedule of the Nursing Homes...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (1 Nov 2006)

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

Written Answers — Nursing Home Inspections: Nursing Home Inspections (1 Nov 2006)

Seán Power: The inspection of private nursing homes is the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health (Nursing Homes) Act, 1990. The 1990 Act provides for the registration of private nursing homes and procedures for attaching conditions to the registration and for de-registering homes. The Nursing Homes (Care and Welfare) Regulations, 1993 set out the standards which private...