Results 4,361-4,380 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Investigations (17 Jul 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...

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (17 Jul 2013)

Alex White: That was the first of three short points I wished to make: when initiated, the Bill had the Title it now has. We published heads of the Bill which were discussed in this Chamber and had a different title. For the record, however, it should be clear that the Title of the Bill has always been the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013. I know the Leas-Chathaoirleach does not wish us to...

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (17 Jul 2013)

Alex White: I stand by that.

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (17 Jul 2013)

Alex White: The Title is accurate and fairly comprehends the constitutional requirement to protect unborn life with due regard to the equal right to life of the mother. It does both and comprehends both requirements. It is a fair and accurate Title and there is no intention to review it between now and Report Stage. That is the Title that the Government proposes will remain.

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (17 Jul 2013)

Alex White: I do not propose to say very much more at this point because I know there has been a very good and wide-ranging discussion on these amendments and I thank the Senators who tabled them. They are very well motivated in what they have done. Senator Fiach Mac Conghail mentioned something I said, so I should respond briefly to his comments on this issue which were directed towards me.

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (17 Jul 2013)

Alex White: It is always to help the debate, of course.

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (17 Jul 2013)

Alex White: The first point is in regard to constitutionality. This is a human business. Politicians, members of Government, judges and doctors are all human beings. There is very little absolute certainty in any of this. There are very few things we can say with absolute certainty. Unless we have an opportunity in our laws to ask the court in advance whether it is of the view that something is...

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (17 Jul 2013)

Alex White: The main purpose of the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013 is to restate the general prohibition on abortion in Ireland in line with Article 40.3.3° of the Constitution while regulating access to lawful termination of pregnancy in accordance with the X case and the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in the A, B and C v. Ireland case. Section 22 which lays out the...

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (17 Jul 2013)

Alex White: On a point of information, there is no provision exempting hospitals or allowing them to say they would not provide the service the Senator is talking about.

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (17 Jul 2013)

Alex White: It is not in there.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Eligibility (18 Jul 2013)

Alex White: The Health Service Executive (HSE) has the operational responsibility for the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme, which includes the medical card and GP visit card benefits. When a medical card comes up for review, the current circumstances of the medical card holder are evaluated by the HSE to ensure that he/she continues to hold eligibility and that this involves a standard review...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Misuse of Drugs (18 Jul 2013)

Alex White: Draft Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Regulations are currently being prepared to introduce stricter prescribing and dispensing controls on benzodiazepines, anabolic steroids and z drugs. It is planned to finalise the draft Statutory Instruments shortly and publish these on the Department’s website as part of a written consultation process. This will be followed by a 3 month EU...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff Recruitment (18 Jul 2013)

Alex White: In 2012, the HSE completed a detailed analysis of the numbers and distribution of public health nurses, registered general nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and speech and language therapists. The analysis revealed considerable variation across the HSE's 17 Integrated Service Areas in ratios of health care professionals to population, and to population numbers in areas of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Water Fluoridation (18 Jul 2013)

Alex White: Water fluoridation and the use of appropriate fluorides is a major plank of public health policy in Ireland in the prevention and management of tooth decay. In 2002 the Forum on Fluoridation, which was established to review this policy, concluded that the fluoridation of public piped water supplies should continue as a public health measure. The Irish Expert Body on Fluorides and Health,...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Eligibility (18 Jul 2013)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 675, 677, 741 and 742 together. Under the provisions of the Health Act 1970, the assessment for a medical card is determined primarily by reference to the means, including the income and expenditure, of the applicant and his or her partner and dependants. There is no automatic entitlement to a medical card for persons with a specific illness, such as...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Applications (18 Jul 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: Medical Card Applications (18 Jul 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: Medical Card Applications (18 Jul 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: Medical Card Applications (18 Jul 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: Medical Card Applications (18 Jul 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...