Results 37,541-37,560 of 49,836 for speaker:Stephen Donnelly

Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (10 May 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Deputies. The amendment raises a very important issue. I appreciate that it is being sought by the profession. I am in full agreement that dentists, along with other healthcare professions, should strive to maintain professional competence and that regulators should have appropriate powers in this area. I fully agree. We have a reputable dental profession and we all know that...

Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (10 May 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: I will go through that in a moment. I am in agreement with the intention behind the amendment, and there is work taking place. I just cannot accept the amendment in the context of this Bill, and I will explain why. However, this is a matter on which we need to work. My Department is consulting the Dental Council of Ireland to identify the steps needed to support mandatory continuing...

Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (10 May 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: I will revert to the Deputy with a timeframe. I do not have one now but I will revert to him with a timeframe in that regard. We are looking at bringing in mandatory continuous professional development but we do need further engagement with the Dental Council of Ireland and with dentists, and further general consultation. That is the reason I cannot support the amendment, although I...

Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (10 May 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: I will do so, if I may.

Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (10 May 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: Respectfully, Deputy-----

Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (10 May 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: I am in the Chair's hands.

Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (10 May 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: I have one request of Deputies, which is that they would support my request of the Irish Dental Association and dentists to recognise that the scheme needs to be made fit for purpose. In the meantime, there are men, women and children in this country who cannot afford private care.

Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (10 May 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: We need dentists to re-engage with the dental treatment scheme in the short term while it is being updated.

Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (10 May 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: I take Deputy Connolly's point but the continuous professional development piece is not related to that case and would not have had an impact. In response to Deputy Shortall's point, she can divide the House if she wants. She is a seasoned and experienced Member of Parliament and has been a Minister of State at the Department of Health herself. She is fully aware that there is no chance...

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 38 - Health (Further Revised) (19 Apr 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: There was a lot there but I agree with everything the Deputy said. Essentially, we have one goal, which is universal healthcare, and there are three elements to that. The first is cost, which is largely a Department of Health and Government issue. The HSE does not need to be overly involved in that. It is about reducing costs to patients and a lot of progress is being made in that regard....

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 38 - Health (Further Revised) (19 Apr 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: There are different layers to the proposal. We discussed the first layer when Deputy Cathal Crowe asked whether consideration could be given to localised housing. In other words, accommodation attached to hospitals. That option used to exist. It would make a great deal of sense now, particularly for healthcare professionals who move around quite a lot. The Irish Nurses and Midwives...

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 38 - Health (Further Revised) (19 Apr 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: I fully agree. There is funding in the budget here before us to expand the service. Up until now, there has been very limited clinical access for women. As the Deputy quite rightly says, there has been limited knowledge in general practice. The GPs have not had the kind of specialist support they need. There have been very limited specialist services available for referral from the GPs....

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 38 - Health (Further Revised) (19 Apr 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: I had a suspicion Deputy Burke would ask me about this so I very specifically asked for the most up-to-date information on the matter. As the Deputy will be aware, in December, the Government approved the preliminary business case, the site was selected, the procurement strategy was put in place and the pre-tender process was carried out in line with the revised public spending code. The...

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 38 - Health (Further Revised) (19 Apr 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: The outcome of the review is the national work that Professor Nolan was doing. I have not received it yet. We were meant to get it some time ago but Professor Nolan ended up leading the Covid analytics work, which unfortunately delayed the cardiac work. However, I am expecting it soon and I agree with the Taoiseach’s position that any consideration of 24-7 care will be in the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (9 May 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: As Minister for Health I do not have a role in providing assistance to avail of treatment abroad for individual patients. As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Status (9 May 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual. In relation to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (9 May 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Dental Services (9 May 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: The Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) provides dental care, free of charge, to medical card holders aged 16 and over. Services available annually and on demand include an examination including preventative elements, two fillings, emergency extractions, and a scale and polish. More complex care, such as dentures, and a broader range of treatments for patients with additional needs and...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Information and Communications Technology (9 May 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: My Department requires that all applications must be used in line with the Department’s policies and procedures in compliance with GDPR. The specified application has not been used by my officials to conduct business and my Department is not currently considering the use of such applications. Access to the application has been denied pending a risk assessment of its use, and we...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (9 May 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.