Results 2,581-2,600 of 3,871 for speaker:Catherine Byrne

Written Answers — Department of Health: Injecting Facilities (26 Sep 2017)

Catherine Byrne: On 25 August 2017, the HSE published an invitation on the Government's eTenders website for suitably qualified and experienced service providers to submit tenders to provide a medically supervised injecting centre in Dublin City Centre area on a pilot basis. Tenders must be submitted to the HSE by 25 September 2017. The HSE anticipates that the contract will be awarded by 1 November 2017....

Written Answers — Department of Health: Addiction Treatment Services (27 Sep 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I assume the Deputy is referring to Naltrexone implants which block the effects of opiate drugs. Naltrexone implants are not currently licensed in this country. The HSE has informed the Department of Health that its current Clinical Guidelines for Opioid Substitution acknowledge that Naltrexone may be a useful adjunct to psychosocial treatment for suitably motivated patients, but is not...

Topical Issue Debate: Drug Treatment Programmes Availability (28 Sep 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I thank Deputy O'Rourke for raising the issue of the provision of a drug treatment centre in Kildare. As the Deputy is aware, problem drug use continues to be one of the most significant challenges facing our country and is becoming more complex with a wider range of drugs being abused. I wish to emphasise the Government’s commitment to tackling the drug problem. In July this...

Topical Issue Debate: Drug Treatment Programmes Availability (28 Sep 2017)

Catherine Byrne: As I already said in my reply to the Deputy, one of the actions as part of the new strategy focuses directly on Kildare as well as a number of other areas as regards increasing the service on the ground. One of the problems that has arisen over the past couple of months is getting other tier 1 and tier 2 doctors to participate in methadone distribution and other services. I can only...

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Charges (28 Sep 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Simon Harris. I wish to thank Deputy Munster for raising this issue. I will address the charges for patients for venesections first. The Health Act 1970, as amended, provides that all people ordinarily resident in Ireland are entitled, subject to certain charges, to public inpatient hospital services, including consultant services,...

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Charges (28 Sep 2017)

Catherine Byrne: As I have explained in the reply from the Minister's office, there is no intention at present to provide the service free of charge for those patients. The service is provided, however, under the medical card to many other people with different long-term illnesses. According to the Minister for Health and the Department, there is no intention at present to include it on the list in to the...

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Facilities (28 Sep 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I will take this Topical Issue on behalf of the Minister for Health.

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Facilities (28 Sep 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I thank Deputy Connolly for raising this very serious issue. Saolta University Health Care Group has advised that on 4 September, a leak developed in the roof of a building in Merlin Park University Hospital that houses the hospital’s two orthopaedic theatres. Hospital management temporarily suspended operations for a week to allow the University Hospital Galway building and...

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Facilities (28 Sep 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I acknowledge the concerns and frustration of the Deputy. Unfortunately, this situation was unforeseen. I acknowledge the matter has gone on for some time but the Minister explained he will be visiting this week. What plan will be put in place will become more apparent at that stage as will the position regarding cancelled procedures and which patients will be brought into the system. I...

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Staff Data (28 Sep 2017)

Catherine Byrne: As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Data (28 Sep 2017)

Catherine Byrne: Methadone maintenance treatment is a critical stabilising treatment that enables people involved to counter their problem drug use and to rebuild their lives. In conjunction with other services and supports such as counselling, after-care and training, methadone maintenance treatment provides a pathway to recovery for the individual affected by problem substance use. In their 2014 annual...

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Properties (28 Sep 2017)

Catherine Byrne: As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Obesity Strategy (28 Sep 2017)

Catherine Byrne: A draft progress report along the lines described by the deputy will be submitted for consideration at the first meeting of an Obesity Policy and Action Plan (OPAP) Implementation Oversight Group. This meeting will take place in the coming weeks. In the meantime, I refer the Deputy to her previous questions that I recently answered with respect to progress with implementing the OPAP

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Funding (3 Oct 2017)

Catherine Byrne: As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Tobacco Control Measures (3 Oct 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 377 and 379 together. The EU Tobacco Products Directive 2014/14/EU introduced new rules for tobacco products and for nicotine-containing e-cigarettes and refill containers. The EU Commission indicated that as nicotine is an addictive and toxic substance, safety and quality requirements for nicotine-containing e-cigarettes were necessary. Reporting...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug Treatment Programmes (3 Oct 2017)

Catherine Byrne: With effect from 1 January 2014, operational and financial responsibility for the Kilbarrack Coast Community Programme was transferred to the Health Service Executive. Therefore, this service matter has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Tobacco Control Measures (3 Oct 2017)

Catherine Byrne: The HSE report referred to by the Deputy entitled "Roll Your Own Cigarettes in Ireland - Key Patterns and Trends" indicates a significant increase in the consumption of roll-your-own tobacco, particularly among those under 25 years of age. This is in the context of an overall decrease in the numbers who smoke tobacco products in Ireland in recent years. The Public Health (Tobacco) Acts 2002...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Promotion (4 Oct 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I am aware of the World Health Organisation protocol on monitoring food and beverage marketing to children via television and the internet and this has influenced our own Code of Practice for food and drink promotion, marketing, product placement and sponsorship that has been developed by a working group and will be published shortly. This Code, which specifically targets High Fat, Sugar and...

Written Answers — Department of Health: School Meals Programme (4 Oct 2017)

Catherine Byrne: The new Nutrition Standards for School Meals are available on the Department of Health and Healthy Ireland websites. They are also available as a link on the Department of Education and Skills and Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection websites. My Department will be liaising with the Department of Education and Skills in relation to opportunities to extend the use of the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: School Meals Programme (4 Oct 2017)

Catherine Byrne: The foodstuffs and beverages covered and reimbursable under the new Nutrition Standards for the School Meals Local Projects Scheme is provided in detail in the Standards Report. These are nutritious foods and drinks from the four bottom shelves of the Food Pyramid and are influenced by the funding allocation available depending on the meals- breakfast, snack, lunch or mid afternoon snack or...