Results 2,601-2,620 of 3,871 for speaker:Catherine Byrne

Written Answers — Department of Health: Alcohol Advertising (10 Oct 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 272 to 274, inclusive, together. The Public Health Alcohol Bill is in the Programme for a Partnership Government and is a priority. It is intended that it pass through both the Seanad and Dáil in this session of the Oireachtas. The Minister for Health has listened to the concerns raised around a possible financial burden on small shops arising from the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Promotion (10 Oct 2017)

Catherine Byrne: The Department of Health and the Health Service Executive (HSE) are totally committed to increasing breast feeding rates in Ireland. National health policy, including the Healthy Ireland Framework, the National Maternity Strategy 2016-2026, the National Obesity Policy and Action Plan 2016-2025 and the recently published National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026 all emphasise the importance of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Reports (10 Oct 2017)

Catherine Byrne: The National Strategy for Women and Girls, 2017-2020 (NSWG) was published in April, 2017, and is the framework through which the Government is pursuing actions to advance the rights of women and girls, and to enable their full participation in Irish society. Implementation is co-ordinated by the Department of Justice and Equality. The Department of Health was represented on the Strategy...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Lobbying Data (10 Oct 2017)

Catherine Byrne: The Minister for Health is a Designated Public Official under the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015. Information on meetings between Designated Public Officials and lobbyists is available at . The Public Health Alcohol Bill is in the Programme for a Partnership Government and is a priority. It is intended that it pass through both the Dáil and Seanad in this session of the Oireachtas.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Strategies (11 Oct 2017)

Catherine Byrne: A significant amount of work has been undertaken by the Health Service Executive in recent years to update the child health programme which is now called The National Healthy Childhood Programme. The new programme takes account of notable developments in newborn screening, emerging evidence on developmental surveillance and increased evidence of effective health promoting interventions, as...

Financial Resolutions 2018 - Financial Resolution No. 4: General (Resumed) (12 Oct 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I am delighted to announce that funding in budget 2018 has been allocated to target a number of key areas in health promotion and in supporting our most vulnerable health care users. Another €5 million will be available for the Healthy Ireland fund in 2018. Healthy Ireland is the national framework for action to improve the health and well-being of people living in Ireland. The fund...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Funding (12 Oct 2017)

Catherine Byrne: Together with An Taoiseach, and the Minister for Health, I recently announced the first allocations from the Healthy Ireland Fund, for national actions. This Strand of approximately €1.35m will promote partnerships and actions that support the implementation of key national policies and plans under Healthy Ireland dealing with issues such as physical activity, obesity prevention and...

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Waiting Lists (17 Oct 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I thank the Deputy for this Topical Issue matter. Unfortunately the Minister, Deputy Harris, cannot be present so he has asked me to reply. I will refer to one of the issues he raised in a little while. Tallaght hospital is part of the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group, and the hospital is the principal provider of elective orthopaedics in the group. The hospital's spinal orthopaedic...

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Waiting Lists (17 Oct 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I have taken note of the Deputy's concerns and I will certainly raise them with the Minister. Maybe my reply was not specifically dealing with some of the issues the Deputy raised. A permanent spinal consultant took a post on 17 September 2017. Some 50% of the consultant's capacity is already dealing with immediate, emergency and urgent spinal cases. Tallaght Hospital is in the process of...

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Waiting Lists (17 Oct 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I have that down here.

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Drugs Strategy Budget (17 Oct 2017)

Catherine Byrne: The Government’s response to addressing substance misuse in Ireland is set out in Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery -A health-led response to drug and alcohol use in Ireland 2017-2020. The strategy emphasises a health-led response to drug and alcohol use in Ireland, based on providing person-centred services that promote rehabilitation and recovery. It identifies a set of key actions...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug Treatment Programmes (17 Oct 2017)

Catherine Byrne: The Health Service Executive (HSE) has an agreed process in place for the agreement and prioritisation of projects that are proposed for inclusion in the Capital Plan for 2018. Any proposals must be considered in the context of the capital funding available to the Department of Health. Priority for funding must be based on verified service needs. The HSE will continue to apply the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Obesity Strategy (17 Oct 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 378 to 381, inclusive, together. The reformulation of foods, particularly those high in fat, sugar and salt is a priority area in the National Obesity Policy and Action Plan 2016-2025. Plans by the Department to establish an Obesity Policy Implementation Group for the National Policy and Action Plan are well advanced. The first meeting of this cross-sectoral...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug Treatment Programmes (17 Oct 2017)

Catherine Byrne: In January 2016, the Director General of the HSE submitted the final report of the Opioid Substitution Implementation Group to the Minister of State with responsibility for the national drugs strategy. The report recommends the phased increased access to buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone) for groups of patients in specific circumstances, subject to resourcing and the required legislation...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug and Alcohol Task Forces (17 Oct 2017)

Catherine Byrne: The budget allocation for the twenty four Local and Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Forces from the Drugs Initiative of the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive for 2015 to 2017 is set out in the table hereunder: LDATF 2015 DOH 2015 HSE 2016 DOH 2016 HSE 2017 DOH 2017 HSE Ballyfermot €255,446 €1,231,286 €255,446 €1,231,286 €255,446...

Topical Issues: Emergency Departments Services (19 Oct 2017)

Catherine Byrne: On behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, I thank the Deputy for the opportunity to update the House. I will reply to the issue as tabled and then maybe pick up on some of the Deputy's concerns. The emergency department in Cavan has been performing well this year. Performance information from the HSE shows a 51% reduction in trolley numbers at the hospital in comparison with the...

Topical Issues: Emergency Departments Services (19 Oct 2017)

Catherine Byrne: For the first time in a long time, there is a possibility of increases, particularly in capital spending in the budget for 2018. It is not acceptable that people entering an accident and emergency department do not have a proper room where they can speak one-to-one without everybody else listening to their business. I have never been in Cavan General Hospital, so I am not sure of its lay...

Medical Practitioners (Amendment) Bill 2017: Second Stage [Private Members] (19 Oct 2017)

Catherine Byrne: The Minister for Health will be here shortly. On behalf of the Minister, I wish to thank Deputy Kelleher for introducing this important legislative proposal. The Minister supports the reading of the Bill for a Second Time. He agrees with the overall objective of the Bill, which is to provide transparency regarding any funding or supports to medical practitioners by either medical device...

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Properties (19 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.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Medicinal Products Availability (19 Oct 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I thank the Senator for raising this very important matter. I am sorry the Minister cannot be here but he sends his apologies. Medicines play a vital role in improving the overall health of Irish patients. Securing access to new and innovative medicines in a timely manner is a key objective of the Irish health service. The challenge is to deliver on this objective in an affordable and...