Results 2,621-2,640 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Primary Care Centres (20 Nov 2012)

Alex White: I thank the Senator for raising this important issue. The key objective of the primary care strategy is to develop services in the community that will give people direct access to integrated multidisciplinary teams of general practitioners, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and members of other health care disciplines. This is central to this Government's objective to...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Primary Care Centres (20 Nov 2012)

Alex White: I thank Senator Burke for raising this issue. I would be more than happy to give him more information on the proposals for the St. Mary's campus. I can only share his frustration over the delay that has occurred. I have no information as to the reason for this delay. It is the Government's intention that these projects, however they are delivered, should be expedited. It is a crucial...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion with Minister for Health (20 Nov 2012)

Alex White: I welcome the opportunity to meet the committee and look forward to a fruitful engagement with the Chairman and members in the period ahead. Deputy Billy Kelleher spoke about free GP care. GP care without fees would be a more accurate way of describing it because nothing is free. The intention is to provide care that is free at the point of delivery. It is not true to say we are no...

Supreme Court Ruling in the X Case: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (21 Nov 2012)

Alex White: I thank the Ceann Comhairle for giving me this opportunity to respond to the debate. Before I do so, I would like to add my voice to the expressions of sympathy this House has extended in the course of this debate and elsewhere to Mr. Halappanavar and his extended family for their tragic loss in Galway. As the Minister for Health said yesterday, it is incumbent on us as public...

Supreme Court Ruling in the X Case: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (21 Nov 2012)

Alex White: That was the position taken by the Dáil on that occasion.

Supreme Court Ruling in the X Case: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (21 Nov 2012)

Alex White: The Dáil voted. The Deputy might be aware that we have a parliamentary democracy and a vote was taken.

Supreme Court Ruling in the X Case: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (21 Nov 2012)

Alex White: The Bill introduced by Deputy Daly was not accepted by the House on the basis that the Dáil would await the conclusion of the work of the expert group. Whatever validity there was to the argument that it represented a cop-out, it has disappeared now. The House has been told the report will be published on Tuesday. It will be published and available to all Members to consider and...

Supreme Court Ruling in the X Case: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (21 Nov 2012)

Alex White: No. Next week they will have a proper debate in this House as to which of the various options in the report - not whether we take action - is the proper way forward. I believe Deputy Mac Lochlainn said earlier that he would be opposed to addressing this by way of a statutory instrument. I am sure the Deputy knows it is not possible to have a statutory instrument other than in connection...

Supreme Court Ruling in the X Case: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (21 Nov 2012)

Alex White: We are not debating legislation - at least Deputy Clare Daly, as a parliamentarian, brought proposed legislation to the House. If we were to pass the Sinn Féin motion tonight, it would make absolutely no difference. It is a motion calling for something to happen and not legislation.

Supreme Court Ruling in the X Case: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (21 Nov 2012)

Alex White: Deputy Mac Lochlainn always gets very excitable when he is being challenged - he should just wait. Sinn Féin may be serious about the outcome it wants. Unlike others I am prepared to give at least some of its Members the benefit of the doubt that they are serious - although I wonder when I hear the remarks I have just heard. If they wanted the outcome they claim and wanted to serve...

Supreme Court Ruling in the X Case: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (21 Nov 2012)

Alex White: Whatever validity there was about this cop-out argument a year ago, there is none now. They will have the report next week and will have the chance to test all the options. They will see the various possibilities and be able to bring forward change. As all of us, including the Tánaiste, have said, doing nothing is not an option. What do we have now? We have the report going to...

Supreme Court Ruling in the X Case: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (21 Nov 2012)

Alex White: I do not know where the Deputy got that interpretation.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Review (21 Nov 2012)

Alex White: The HSE operates a standard practice whereby medical cardholders aged over 66 years are reviewed every 4 years in order to ascertain whether the person still qualifies for a medical card. From 1 January 2012 the length of validity for all standard medical cards for people under 66 is reviewed every three years. An examination of the national medical card database, held by the HSE, has found...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Back to Education Allowance Appeals (21 Nov 2012)

Alex White: I thank Senator Moran for raising this issue. The Department of Social Protection has estimated expenditure of more than ¤960 million on employment supports in 2012. This substantial expenditure, which is against a backdrop of significant fiscal consolidation, underlines the Government's commitment to enhancing support for activation and assisting people return to employment. As outlined...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Back to Education Allowance Appeals (21 Nov 2012)

Alex White: I understand the issue the Senator raised because I am familiar with it. I have come across it myself. The difficulty is that when a regime and set of requirements are in place it is difficult to see how they can be set aside in any individual case, but that does not take from the strength of the case the Senator made for the individual concerned. I will communicate what the Senator said...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Back to Education Allowance Appeals (21 Nov 2012)

Alex White: I know. I will communicate those sentiments to the Minister.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Medical Card Reviews (21 Nov 2012)

Alex White: I thank the Senator for raising this issue. As the Senator is aware, a new medical card scheme for persons aged 70 years or over was introduced with effect from 1 January 2009. Under this scheme, a person who is ordinarily resident in the State qualifies for a medical card so long as his or her gross income does not exceed the means test income limit. The income limit for a single person...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Medical Card Reviews (21 Nov 2012)

Alex White: It may be as much related to the assiduous manner in which the Senator conducts his business in respect of contacts being made in Donegal that these issues have been brought to our attention. I will pursue the issue by way of supplementary inquiries. I was not aware - and I do not think it was reflected in the Senator's original question although he makes the point now - that some cards...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Long-Term Illness Scheme Eligibility (22 Nov 2012)

Alex White: There are no plans to extend the list of conditions covered by the Long Term Illness Scheme. Under the Drug Payment Scheme, no individual or family pays more than €132 per calendar month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The scheme significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals incurring ongoing expenditure on medicines. In addition, people who...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Appeals (22 Nov 2012)

Alex White: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.