Results 2,621-2,640 of 3,871 for speaker:Catherine Byrne

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

Catherine Byrne: I note the concerns of the Senator and will bring back to the Minister the points she has made. At present, all I can give her is the information I have been given, although I wish I could give her more. I understand the difficulties people have, particularly when children at a very young age are experiencing difficulties within families, and in terms of how this affects them when they...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Funding (24 Oct 2017)

Catherine Byrne: The Department of Health and the Health Service Executive 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 supporting...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Obesity Strategy (24 Oct 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 233, 234 and 236 together. The national Obesity Policy Implementation Oversight Group (OPIOG) - under the Chair of my Department - is comprised of representatives from the following Departments and Agencies: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Department of Children and Youth Affairs; Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection;...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Obesity Strategy (24 Oct 2017)

Catherine Byrne: In the context of the Deputy's question, my Department liaises with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) on a regular basis. The FSAI has been validating food industry salt reduction work for many years. It has carried out this work by sampling foods from the market and having them analysed in the HSE Public Analysts Laboratory in Galway. This data is published annually and is...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Strategies (26 Oct 2017)

Catherine Byrne: The Health and Well-being Programme in my Department is responsible for coordinating the implementation of Healthy Ireland which is the National Framework for Improved Health and Well-being 2013-2025. The Framework is based on evidence and experience from around the world which clearly shows that to create positive changes in health and well-being takes the involvement of the whole of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Funding (7 Nov 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: School Meals Programme (7 Nov 2017)

Catherine Byrne: The School Meals Scheme is an administrative scheme, operated directly by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, which provides funding towards the provision of food to up to 1,700 schools and organisations benefitting up to 250,000 children at a total cost of some €47.5 million in 2017. The Scheme aims to provide regular, nutritious food to children who are...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff Recruitment (7 Nov 2017)

Catherine Byrne: As the Deputy is aware, operational responsibility for delivery of the health services is a matter for the HSE, including the promotion of health and wellbeing. Therefore, this question has been referred to the Health Service Executive with a request that they respond directly to the Deputy with any relevant information with regard to staff recruitment relating to health promotion. ...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Pharmacy Regulations (7 Nov 2017)

Catherine Byrne: Pharmaceutical Assistants (PAs) are registered with the pharmacy regulator, the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI). Under section 30(1) of the Pharmacy Act 2007 (the Act) PAs may perform the same functions as a pharmacist, in the temporary absence of a pharmacist, with the exception of functions that are restricted to pharmacists under specific medicines legislation, such as vaccination...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Tobacco Control Measures (7 Nov 2017)

Catherine Byrne: Section 38(10) of the Public Health (Tobacco) Act 2002 to 2015 provides the Minister with powers to "make regulations in relation to the control and regulation of activities which are intended or are likely to promote the sale of tobacco products". At present the regulations made under this section of the Act do not specifically prohibit the sale of the so called combi boxes referred to by...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff Recruitment (7 Nov 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.

Topical Issue Debate: Infectious Diseases (8 Nov 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I thank the Deputy for giving me the opportunity to update the House on this matter. Measles is an acute and serious viral infection and is highly infectious. As Deputies are aware, there is an ongoing measles outbreak in north Dublin and Meath. The HSE east's department of public health has been notified of eight confirmed cases of measles in the north Dublin area and five in County...

Topical Issue Debate: Infectious Diseases (8 Nov 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I acknowledge the importance of vaccinations. The Deputy is right, in that not only children can be infected, but also adults. Unfortunately, people have died and will continue dying if outbreaks are allowed in any country. Thanks to the increase in the MMR vaccination uptake rate in Ireland in the past decade, measles had become relatively rare. However, 43 cases were notified in...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Strategies (8 Nov 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 (9 Nov 2017)

Catherine Byrne: Articles 15 and 16 of the Tobacco Products Directive (EU) 2014/40/EU (“the Directive”) establish an EU-wide tracking and tracing and security feature system for all unit packets of tobacco products manufactured in or imported into the Union. The aim of this system is to fight illicit trade in tobacco products which undermines the free circulation of compliant products and the...

Multi-Party Actions Bill 2017: Second Stage (14 Nov 2017)

Catherine Byrne: I will make a statement on behalf of the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Charles Flanagan. I thank Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire for introducing his proposed Multi-Party Action Bill 2017. At the same time, I assure the House that the Government will be monitoring the progress and outcome of the Central Bank's ongoing tracker mortgage examination process and will consider...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Childhood Obesity (14 Nov 2017)

Catherine Byrne: A range of health studies and surveys show that overweight and obesity, in both adults and children, is now a serious public health concern in Ireland. A national Obesity Policy and Action Plan was launched by the Minister of Health in September 2016. The national policy covers the period up to 2025 and aims to reverse obesity trends, prevent health complications and reduce the overall...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug and Alcohol Task Forces (14 Nov 2017)

Catherine Byrne: The North East Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force is responsible for coordinating the implementation of Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery - A health-led response to drug and alcohol use in Ireland 2017-2025, which replaced the previous drugs strategy which expired at the end of 2016. The table below shows the Task Force project funding for this Task Force from 2011 to 2013. The Department...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug and Alcohol Task Forces (14 Nov 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 2017-2025. 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 and Alcohol Task Forces (14 Nov 2017)

Catherine Byrne: UISCE is contracted and funded by the HSE to provide services under the 'Drugs Initiative', as recommended by the North Inner City Local Drug and Alcohol Task Force. In the circumstances, the Department of Health has asked UISCE to raise its funding issues with the HSE directly. In terms of UISCE's expanding role nationally, the HSE has advised the Department that it is currently...