Results 23,501-23,520 of 24,567 for speaker:Róisín Shortall

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Legislative Measures (2 May 2024)

Róisín Shortall: That is a really disappointing response that the Minister expects the heads of the Bill to go to Government in a short number of months when, at most, there is a year left in this Government. It is quite clear that even if we do see the heads of this legislation in the next few months, it will entail pre-legislative scrutiny, drafting and then the passage of legislation. I do not see any...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Legislative Measures (2 May 2024)

Róisín Shortall: There is no evidence of that.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Legislative Measures (2 May 2024)

Róisín Shortall: There is not a hope in hell of this legislation being through before the general election. That is the bottom line on this.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products (1 May 2024)

Róisín Shortall: 296. To ask the Minister for Health to provide an update on implementation of each of the recommendations from the review of governance arrangements to support the HSE drug reimbursement process, prepared by a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19698/24]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Aids and Appliances (1 May 2024)

Róisín Shortall: 297. To ask the Minister for Health the reason the Midwest Cancer Centre does not have access to a device (details supplied); if a device will be provided to this centre; if this device is available in any of the other designated cancer centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19699/24]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Challenges Relating to the Provision of Dentistry Services: Discussion (1 May 2024)

Róisín Shortall: I thank the witnesses for their presentations. There is no doubt that dentistry seems to be the forgotten branch of healthcare. While progress has been made in most other branches of healthcare, it is baffling that dentists are stuck in a pre-FEMPI situation and that the legislation is so outdated. I would love to know why this is the case. Is the blockage or deaf ear in the Department,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Challenges Relating to the Provision of Dentistry Services: Discussion (1 May 2024)

Róisín Shortall: Okay. It is good that something has happened in recent months.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Challenges Relating to the Provision of Dentistry Services: Discussion (1 May 2024)

Róisín Shortall: Has the Irish Dental Council been dealing with the Department all along? It is obviously the Department from the point of view of legislation.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Challenges Relating to the Provision of Dentistry Services: Discussion (1 May 2024)

Róisín Shortall: Where is the blockage for the IDA?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Challenges Relating to the Provision of Dentistry Services: Discussion (1 May 2024)

Róisín Shortall: Okay. I will ask the Irish Dental Council representatives about the three short-term measures it proposed. Do these entail primary legislation or are they talking about a statutory instrument or change in regulations?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Challenges Relating to the Provision of Dentistry Services: Discussion (1 May 2024)

Róisín Shortall: Is there no possibility of that being done by regulation?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Challenges Relating to the Provision of Dentistry Services: Discussion (1 May 2024)

Róisín Shortall: I will ask the IDA about the schemes involved. What exactly is the problem in respect of medical card patients? Is it the reimbursement rate or the fact there is a supply-and-demand issue? The FEMPI cuts were spoken about. Where do we currently stand regarding the reimbursement rates relative to what IDA members charge for private patients?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Challenges Relating to the Provision of Dentistry Services: Discussion (1 May 2024)

Róisín Shortall: Leaving aside the IDA's concerns about treatments that are covered, is the reimbursement rate close to what dentists charge?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Challenges Relating to the Provision of Dentistry Services: Discussion (1 May 2024)

Róisín Shortall: Will the IDA provide us with some information on what the average charges for private patients are relative to what the reimbursement is for medical card patients? I am not asking for that now. Could it provide a note for us?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Challenges Relating to the Provision of Dentistry Services: Discussion (1 May 2024)

Róisín Shortall: Maybe the IDA could arrange a note for the committee on that. I will move on to the issue of HSE dentists. What exactly is the issue there? Is it that sufficient posts have not been created? Are there vacant posts? Why is there an insufficient supply? Is there an issue regarding salaries and so on? Will the witnesses explain some of that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Challenges Relating to the Provision of Dentistry Services: Discussion (1 May 2024)

Róisín Shortall: A point was made about the current recruitment embargo, but what about prior to that? What is the issue? Were there not enough posts or were people not applying?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Challenges Relating to the Provision of Dentistry Services: Discussion (1 May 2024)

Róisín Shortall: Whether there is a future, okay. That tendency to outsource what should be public work has, unfortunately, become a feature of the current approach to the provision of services, which is very regrettable. Is the salary and so on adequate? Does it recognise the training and what would be expected?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Challenges Relating to the Provision of Dentistry Services: Discussion (1 May 2024)

Róisín Shortall: To get back to the issue of supply and demand, which seems to be an underlying issue impacting many of these problems, how is the number of training places determined at present? I do not know whether Mr. O'Flynn has covered this, but will he clarify what is happening in existing dental schools regarding the number of places for Irish trainees? What is that number relative to the number of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Challenges Relating to the Provision of Dentistry Services: Discussion (1 May 2024)

Róisín Shortall: How is that number determined?