Results 3,761-3,780 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Children's Hospital Status (14 May 2013)

Alex White: The Deputy should respect the Chair.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Alcohol Sales Legislation (14 May 2013)

Alex White: The problems of alcohol misuse and the recommendations to deal with these in the report of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland are similar to those reported by the substance misuse steering group. Both reports provide a robust analysis of the problems of alcohol misuse and key recommendations based on a thorough review of national and international evidence. I will be submitting...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Alcohol Sales Legislation (14 May 2013)

Alex White: I agree very much with what Deputy O'Sullivan has said and the insight she has brought to this. I recently met with members of the Royal College of Physicians and had the opportunity to discuss these issues with them. The Deputy has outlined some of their concerns in her question. Although the proposals have not yet gone to Cabinet, the proposals I regard as important are also regarded as...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Alcohol Sales Legislation (14 May 2013)

Alex White: Each of the issues the Deputy has touched on has exercised me in the course of the preparation of this memo to Government and the intended preparation, for the first time, of public health alcohol legislation. We have a public health perspective on this issue. Traditionally, our only perspective on this in terms of public policy was the licensing laws. These laws are very important, of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: General Practitioner Services (14 May 2013)

Alex White: The Government is committed to introducing on a phased basis a universal GP service without fees within its first term of office, as set out in the programme for Government and the future health strategy framework. This policy constitutes a fundamental element in the Government's health reform programme. There has been no change to the Government's over-arching commitment to this goal....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: General Practitioner Services (14 May 2013)

Alex White: The funding allocated for the measure was not €17 million, but €15 million last year and a further €15 million this year. As such, the HSE Vote contains funding of €30 million for this year for an initial phase of the provision of general practitioner services as part of the programme for Government commitment. I touched on the legal issues in my initial...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: General Practitioner Services (14 May 2013)

Alex White: I know I do not have much time.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: General Practitioner Services (14 May 2013)

Alex White: With respect to Deputy Ó Caoláin, it is a pity he will not address the issue we are dealing with.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: General Practitioner Services (14 May 2013)

Alex White: From what I can see, the Deputy may need to take some chill pills. Let us try to be serious about a serious proposal. It will have been clear to anyone listening that going down the route envisaged would entail further delay. I will be straight with the Deputy: the delay is regrettable. We are now putting serious shape on something that looked like it would cause more delay. We are...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: General Practitioner Services (14 May 2013)

Alex White: Deputy Ó Caoláin's problem is that he does not like to be given an answer. He goes on about seeking an answer and then complains when one is provided. I will not be able to tell the House-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: General Practitioner Services (14 May 2013)

Alex White: That is rich coming from the Deputy. If he wishes to talk about blather, he had better look closer to home.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: General Practitioner Services (14 May 2013)

Alex White: The plan will be presented to the Government before the summer. That is the commitment and it will be met. I will be delighted to hear what the Deputy has to say at that stage.

Other Questions: Health Strategies (14 May 2013)

Alex White: The national asthma programme, which commenced in 2011, is one of a number of chronic disease programmes established in the HSE's clinical care directorate aimed at bringing a systematic approach to changes in how services for patients are delivered. The overarching aim of the programme is to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with asthma and to improve clinical outcomes and...

Other Questions: Health Strategies (14 May 2013)

Alex White: I can provide the House with the asthma statistics now or at another time. I take the Deputy's points about the importance of addressing this issue. However, the question was on the national asthma programme, which was the basis for my reply. In a previous debate, we discussed the GP card and the emerging difficulties associated with their allocation on the basis of medical illnesses. The...

Other Questions: Health Strategies (14 May 2013)

Alex White: The Deputy is correct that the curtailment of smoky coal is a progressive move. However, at the risk of irritating the Deputy any further than has already occurred, I say with respect to him that I am not sure there is any evidence to support a connection between the use of coal and other solid fuels in the home and the contraction of asthma. I accept his point. We are all in general...

Other Questions: Universal Health Insurance White Paper (14 May 2013)

Alex White: The Progressive Democrats health policy.

Other Questions: Disability Support Services Provision (14 May 2013)

Alex White: I am sorry; I thought we were all done. I beg the Acting Chairman's pardon.

Other Questions: Disability Support Services Provision (14 May 2013)

Alex White: Part 2 of the Disability Act 2005 was commenced on 1 June 2007 in respect of children aged under five. In 2008, the then Government decided, in the light of financial circumstances which the Deputies will recall, to defer further implementation of the Disability Act 2005 and the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004. Part 2 of the Disability Act, inter alia,...

Other Questions: Disability Support Services Provision (14 May 2013)

Alex White: It is Deputy Martin's question.

Other Questions: Disability Support Services Provision (14 May 2013)

Alex White: It was Deputy Martin's question.