Results 2,921-2,940 of 6,533 for speaker:John Lahart

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Covid-19 Contact Tracing: HSE (28 Oct 2020)

John Lahart: I do not think that we used the period when the virus had been suppressed successfully. That is just an observation I am making and I do not need the witnesses to go into it. However, I am very concerned that we use the current period really well to prepare for and anticipate a third surge. I assume the witnesses are likewise anticipating a third wave of infections. My next question...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Covid-19 Contact Tracing: HSE (28 Oct 2020)

John Lahart: I am not sure whether Dr. Kelleher can hear me properly and I do not meant to sound abrupt. I am sorry if I seem rude, which is not my intention, but we are very restricted as to time. The HSE has a five-week window to get this right. Rather than giving a long narrative, will Dr. Kelleher say whether he thinks we will be in a place, in five weeks' time, to improve the tracking part of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Covid-19 Contact Tracing: HSE (28 Oct 2020)

John Lahart: That is why I am asking about it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Covid-19 Contact Tracing: HSE (28 Oct 2020)

John Lahart: The witnesses might keep the committee abreast of developments in this regard because it is a really important aspect of the effort to contain the virus. I have a brief question in regard to air travel. I do not think the airlines and airport authorities ever anticipated that the HSE or public health unit would cover the cost of operating, or take responsibility for operating, testing and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Covid-19 Contact Tracing: HSE (28 Oct 2020)

John Lahart: I appreciate that effort and I particularly appreciate that any measures will not impose an undue burden on the public health system. I thank the witnesses for their answers and apologise for bamboozling them with questions. My final question is to ask them if they can characterise the nature of some of the difficult calls that have had to be dealt with by tracers.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Policy (3 Nov 2020)

John Lahart: 103. To ask the Minister for Health the funding being provided in Budget 2021 for Sharing the Vision, the new national mental health policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33456/20]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services (3 Nov 2020)

John Lahart: 148. To ask the Minister for Health the number of children admitted to adult mental health units to date in 2020; the equivalent figure for the same timeframe in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33457/20]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Reliefs (3 Nov 2020)

John Lahart: 420. To ask the Minister for Finance the changes that have been made to benefit in kind in respect of electric vehicles; if he will address a potential anomaly (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32882/20]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: English Language Training Organisations (3 Nov 2020)

John Lahart: 1009. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to implement blended learning for English language schools; if there are plans to offer further advice to English language schools in relation to blended learning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32863/20]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Vaccination Programme (3 Nov 2020)

John Lahart: 1300. To ask the Minister for Health if his Department is working on legislation to introduce a no-fault compensation scheme for vaccine damages in line with commitments in the programme for Government and previous recommendations made by his Department and public health bodies; when he expects to introduce such legislation; if he expects to expedite such legislation in preparation for a...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Vaccination Programme (3 Nov 2020)

John Lahart: 1301. To ask the Minister for Health if his Department or bodies under its aegis have plans to introduce a national immunisation registry prior to the introduction of a mass immunisation programme for a potential Covid-19 vaccine; if there are views within his Department or public health officials on whether such a single national system for childhood and adult immunisation records will be...

Finance Bill 2020: Second Stage (4 Nov 2020)

John Lahart: It is difficult to understand how the previous speaker could have issues with this budget, of all budgets, or with the budgetary approach of the Government during the pandemic. Essentially, billions of euro have been spent on the most vulnerable in our society. As I have mentioned on a number of occasions, there is an unwritten social contract between the State and its citizens whereby the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Covid-19 and Review of Budget 2021: Minister for Health (4 Nov 2020)

John Lahart: I thank the Minister and the Ministers of State for all their work. I have around eight or nine questions, and I ask the Minister to be mindful of the clock. Some of the answers might be appropriate to make in writing, and I have no issue with that being done. First I ask the Minister to convey my thanks, as a public representative, to his officials and those in the HSE for the continued...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Covid-19 and Review of Budget 2021: Minister for Health (4 Nov 2020)

John Lahart: I will ask another question while the Minister is scribbling. I read at the weekend that Slovakia is antigen testing half of the population, some 2.5 million people. What is the view of the Minister and NPHET on this? Some 25,000 people tested positive. The regime of tracing and isolation and so on has followed that. Is it a useful exercise? What is the view?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Covid-19 and Review of Budget 2021: Minister for Health (4 Nov 2020)

John Lahart: I will come back to Slovakia briefly. Can the Minister, the HSE or NPHET communicate on whether they have established any underlying causes? Aside from the obvious reasons, why do areas of economic and social disadvantage find it more challenging? Can they elucidate the reasons in writing for us? Can the Minister comment on the Slovakian antigen exercise?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Covid-19 and Review of Budget 2021: Minister for Health (4 Nov 2020)

John Lahart: The Minister might keep the committee informed of that because I believe it is an interesting and developing area.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Covid-19 and Review of Budget 2021: Minister for Health (4 Nov 2020)

John Lahart: The Irish Pharmacy Union has been in touch with me and other Deputies looking for PPE. Pharmacists go through a considerable amount of PPE every day. For example, if a pharmacist takes a telephone call, he has to put on a new mask afterwards. There is a significant cost to this. I understand the HSE had approved the funding of PPE for pharmacies and that it is on the Minister's desk but...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Covid-19 and Review of Budget 2021: Minister for Health (4 Nov 2020)

John Lahart: We are one week into the traditional flu season. Does the Minister have anything to report on figures in hospitals?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Covid-19 and Review of Budget 2021: Minister for Health (4 Nov 2020)

John Lahart: What is the incidence of flu? Have we any figures on that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Covid-19 and Review of Budget 2021: Minister for Health (4 Nov 2020)

John Lahart: Will the Minister furnish the committee with information on that? There is anecdotal evidence from other countries that, because of behavioural changes relating to wearing masks and hand hygiene, flu incidence has not been as high as previously. Obviously, that will be monitored.