Results 3,481-3,500 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Numbers (20 Mar 2013)

Alex White: I am advised by the HSE that as at 1st March 2013, the number of eligible persons with medical cards was 1,857,833 and the number of eligible persons with GP visit cards was 130,169 (please see attached sheet). The information sought by the Deputy on the number of new cards that have been issued and the number that have been withdrawn is not readily available in the format requested. The...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Applications (20 Mar 2013)

Alex White: The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Applications (20 Mar 2013)

Alex White: The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (21 Mar 2013)

Alex White: I cannot find any reference to turf in the Bill.

Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (21 Mar 2013)

Alex White: I thank Deputies for their contributions on the Bill. It has been an interesting debate. The maintenance of health services is a priority for the Government in 2013 despite the undoubted need for significant and difficult financial savings to be made in the health sector. It has been our intention that front-line health services be protected to the greatest extent possible. None the less,...

Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (21 Mar 2013)

Alex White: Currently, 360,000 medical cards are issued to people over 70. Therefore, medical card coverage of the over 70s population is approximately 97%. In comparison, the medical card coverage of the under 70s population is approximately 35%. As I outlined yesterday to Deputies, it is estimated that approximately 20,000 people will have their medical card replaced with a GP visit card. That is...

Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (21 Mar 2013)

Alex White: I am actually making a serious point. We could take one day, say in July, and agree to abandon all of that and just talk about the health services and how we fund them - a day when there would be no ad hominem attacks at all and we would just discuss what is best. On the issue of universal health insurance, Deputy Kelleher, instead of just asking "Where is the brief?" or "Where is the...

Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (21 Mar 2013)

Alex White: It is far from a U-turn. The Deputy was not listening to the point I made earlier that we are continuing with our absolute commitment to the universal provision of GP visit cards. No one will lose a GP visit card under this legislation, so it is not inconsistent with that principle.

Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (21 Mar 2013)

Alex White: On Tuesday, 26 March 2013.

Topical Issue Debate: Access to Health Services (21 Mar 2013)

Alex White: The budget provision for 2013 represents a major challenge to the Health Service Executive and comes at a time of significant reform of the public health system. The gross current voted Estimate for the HSE is €13.4041 billion. Although there is a net increase of €71.5 million on 2012, as the HSE faces unavoidable spending pressures of €748 million, expenditure savings...

Topical Issue Debate: Access to Health Services (21 Mar 2013)

Alex White: I take the points made by both Deputies. On Deputy Calleary's remark on the desirability and necessity for consistency, I would be concerned about this and when I have an opportunity, I would like to find out more about it. It would not make sense if there was an inconsistency across the country for any service. I would not regard it, however, as bizarre that we should have a system in...

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Services (21 Mar 2013)

Alex White: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. It provides me with an opportunity to update the House on this matter. As the Deputy is aware, Government policy is to support older people to live in dignity and independence in their own homes and communities for as long as possible. Where this is not feasible, the health service supports access to appropriate quality long-term residential...

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Services (21 Mar 2013)

Alex White: I do not think I can say anything further other than to agree with the Deputy on the importance of consultation with regard to this matter. A project group has been set up. The terms of reference and a schedule of meetings have already been agreed. I wish all concerned well in that regard. I am sure there will be a productive process of consultation which will be in the interests of the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Licensing (21 Mar 2013)

Alex White: Under European and Irish legislation, before a medicine can be placed on the Irish market the manufacturer has to seek an authorisation from the Irish Medicines Board (IMB) or in the case of certain medicinal products, the European Medicines Agency (EMA). A determination on an application for authorisation of a medicine is based on a rigorous scientific assessment of the application against...

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Services (21 Mar 2013)

Alex White: As the Deputy's question relates to a service matter, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Speech and Language Therapy (21 Mar 2013)

Alex White: This Government is committed to reforming our model of delivering healthcare so we can reduce the cost of achieving the best health outcomes for our citizens. The implementation of the Primary Care Strategy continues to be a priority for this Government. The objective is to develop services in the community which will give people direct access to integrated multi-disciplinary teams of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Applications (21 Mar 2013)

Alex White: The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Applications (21 Mar 2013)

Alex White: The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Mar 2013)

Alex White: With regard to the consumer price index issue raised by Deputy Kelleher, that only relates to the rather restricted circumstances in which the Minister can increase or decrease the limits in accordance with the index. We had some discussion on this on Second Stage and the impression may have formed in some quarters that this is a kind of catch-all power for the Minister and that he could...

Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Mar 2013)

Alex White: That is incorrect.