Results 3,561-3,580 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Seanad: Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Bill 2013: Second Stage (27 Mar 2013)

Alex White: That happened more quickly than I expected. I thank Senators who contributed to this important and interesting debate. Senator Cullinane of Sinn Féin and the Fianna Fáil Senators are opposing the Bill for the reasons they explained. Those are reasons on which we all have views, one way or the other. However, no one actually made a strong case against the alterations to the eligibility...

Seanad: Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Bill 2013: Second Stage (27 Mar 2013)

Alex White: Shoehorning it into this provision might be difficult. It is unlikely, but I will not express a definitive opinion on it, as it is not for me to do so. Senator Mullins asked about the administration of the medical card system, in particular its appeals system. That Ministers repeat the global figures on the scheme's success is sometimes a source of irritation for colleagues, but I should...

Seanad: Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Bill 2013: Second Stage (27 Mar 2013)

Alex White: The move to centralise under the Primary Care Reimbursement Service, PCRS, has had a beneficial effect on the way the system is being administered. Some Senators are shaking their heads. As diligent public representatives, individual cases present to them. I have examined some cases, as I have also been approached. I have taken Adjournment debates and parliamentary questions. We have...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Applications (28 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 Eligibility (28 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 Eligibility (28 Mar 2013)

Alex White: Under the provisions of the Health Act 1970, eligibility for health services in Ireland is based primarily on residency and means. Any person who is ordinarily resident in Ireland is entitled to either full eligibility (medical card holder) or limited eligibility (all others) for health services. Determination of eligibility for a medical card is the responsibility of the HSE. Medical...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Appeals (28 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 (28 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 Eligibility (28 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.

Seanad: Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Mar 2013)

Alex White: The Senator has not explained how he is of the view that the section goes against the principle of universal health care. He merely asserts it, as his colleagues have, without explaining it. If he reads the section he will see that it does not go against the principle of universal health care. As he has acknowledged - although he seems to fail to recognise the implication of his words - he...

Seanad: Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Mar 2013)

Alex White: Today we have Committee Stage and of course questions of order are a matter for you, a Chathaoirligh, and not for me. However, I simply point out that I addressed that issue yesterday. It remains a commitment of the Government to extend free GP care to all in the community by the end of its term of office. I do not say that is necessarily a particularly easy task. I accept it is a big...

Seanad: Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Mar 2013)

Alex White: At the risk of my own colleagues wondering why I would put it this way, I will say it anyway because I believe it. There is fear across the community in society, not only in Ireland but internationally. Unfortunately, there is much basis and reason for fear. One should not create fallacious fear. The Senators here can read the Bill as well as anybody else can. We all are intelligent...

Seanad: Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Mar 2013)

Alex White: I do not propose to accept the amendment. There is no intention to roll back or renege on the position as set out in the 2012 Act, nor will it be the effect of section 7(9). I understand and accept the argument Senator Barrett made yesterday on the opening up of the system. He made some compelling points with which I agree and which were properly dealt with through the legislation to which...

Seanad: Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Mar 2013)

Alex White: I understand the Senator's concerns but I respectfully suggest that they were addressed in the 2012 Act. The operation of that Act is beginning to bear fruit. Everything is related but the right of access into the system of newly trained GPs was addressed in the 2012 Act and this section is perhaps not the vehicle to address that issue. If the Senator was concerned the 2012 Act had not...

Seanad: Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Mar 2013)

Alex White: I certainly will take on board much of what has been said, both by Senator Barrett and his colleagues. For reasons I will indicate in a moment, I am not in a position to accept the amendment proposed but I very much acknowledge the context and argument proposed by him and supported by his colleagues. The amendment is in the general spirit of section 8, which refers to data exchange. These...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Regulation of Health and Social Care Professions (28 Mar 2013)

Alex White: I thank the Senator for raising this issue and giving me the opportunity to update the House on the ongoing regulatory programme being undertaken by the Department of Health, including the regulation of health and social care professions. The Health and Social Care Professionals Act was passed by the Oireachtas in 2005; it was amended last year. The Act provides for the establishment of a...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Alcohol Sales Legislation (16 Apr 2013)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1114 and 1197 together. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that real and tangible proposals are currently being finalised on foot of the recommendations in the National Substance Misuse Strategy report. These proposals cover all of the areas mentioned in the report, including legislation on minimum unit pricing which is about setting a statutory floor price...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Applications (16 Apr 2013)

Alex White: The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Provision (16 Apr 2013)

Alex White: There are a total of 67 methadone dispensing Level 2 General Practitioners operating across the country. The breakdown by HSE region is as follows: HSE Dublin Mid Leinster - 41 HSE Dublin North East - 24 HSE West - 1 HSE South -1 A total of 9,455 people were recorded as being in receipt of methadone maintenance on the Central Treatment List at the end of February 2013. Of these...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Provision (16 Apr 2013)

Alex White: The information sought by the Deputy is not readily available. However I have asked the Health Service Executive to supply this information to me and I will forward it to the Deputy as soon as it is available.