Results 49,161-49,180 of 49,836 for speaker:Stephen Donnelly

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Cards (24 Oct 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: Eligibility for a medical card is primarily based on a financial assessment which is conducted by the HSE in accordance with the Health Act 1970 (as amended). The HSE assesses each medical card application on a qualifying financial threshold. Current medical card income thresholds can be considered generally in terms of cohorts aged 70 or older, and under 70 years of age, with separate...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Staff (24 Oct 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: In relation to the particular query raised, 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 Facilities (24 Oct 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (24 Oct 2024)

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

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) and Health (Provision of Menopause Products) Bill 2024: Second and Subsequent Stages (5 Nov 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: Go raibh maith agat. I welcome all our guests. As Minister for Health, I extend a particular welcome to the nurses or retired nurses who are here with us today. I have had the great pleasure of visiting University Hospital Kerry on several occasions. There has been a transformation at the hospital in recent years. It has been under intense pressure. When I went there first, I was told...

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) and Health (Provision of Menopause Products) Bill 2024: Second and Subsequent Stages (5 Nov 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: The existing ones will apply.

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) and Health (Provision of Menopause Products) Bill 2024: Second and Subsequent Stages (5 Nov 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank both colleagues for their support. It is greatly appreciated. I will speak to the queries raised. The GMS levy will continue as is. There is a fairly modest prescription fee that applies to all GMS patients. That will still apply. The second question is an interesting one about whether we can in the future - and why we did not now - cover all associated costs.I am referring...

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) and Health (Provision of Menopause Products) Bill 2024: Second and Subsequent Stages (5 Nov 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank Senators for their cross-party support. The free HRT scheme is an important step in the right direction and builds on a very determined agenda from this Government in terms of women's healthcare. The free contraception scheme is going very well. We are getting very strong feedback from healthcare providers and from women who are using the scheme. We have the free IVF scheme....

Seanad: Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (7 Nov 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: The Dáil is obviously wrapping up today. This will be my last legislative act in this Dáil term, and it is a very positive one for us to be finishing on, which is essentially aimed at moving the age, from 18 to 21, at which cigarettes or tobacco is sold to a consumer. Ireland led the way with the workplace smoking ban some years ago and we will be leading the way on this as well....

Seanad: Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (7 Nov 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: Maybe I will not, as it will take more than 30 seconds and colleagues have it. What I will say, if the Acting Chair will indulge me for maybe 60 seconds, is that this Bill is essentially a public safety Bill that aligns with many of the protections we are trying to put in place for young people. We have already brought in vaping legislation and are bringing in more. We are taking a very...

Seanad: Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (7 Nov 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank colleagues for their contributions. Rather than giving a set-piece speech, I will address the various points that were made. With regard to retailers, I accept that we will have two separate ages, namely, 18 and 21, just like we did when, as was previously the case, cigarettes could be sold to 16-year-olds at the same time the legal age to purchase alcohol was 18. For many years,...

Seanad: Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (7 Nov 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: Nonetheless, we consulted to see whether we could do it.

Seanad: Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (7 Nov 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: The new government in New Zealand pulled back from it. It withdrew the proposal. A former Prime Minister in the UK said the Government there was going to do the same but we have not had any indication from the Labour Party Government as to whether it will do it. I have been in discussions on the issue with my counterpart in Northern Ireland. It is easier in terms of enforcement when...

Seanad: Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (7 Nov 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: The advice I have from the officials is that this is how it is used in other legislation and that it works very well. I assure Senator McDowell that there was extensive consultation back and forth with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel on this to make sure we had it right. It is very confident that it is right. I have confirmation that it is the law at present. This is how it is...

Seanad: Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (7 Nov 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: Everybody seems to be happy with it. I am sure it was not Senator McDowell's advice when he served as Attorney General.

Seanad: Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (7 Nov 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: If we need to amend the legislation we will do so. The advice we have is that the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel is confident it is correct.

Seanad: Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (7 Nov 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: We are here to listen.

Seanad: Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (7 Nov 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: I, the officials and the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel are confident the current approach is correct and is legally robust. I thank colleagues for their support. I appreciate that there are always challenges when we bring these measures in, as there should and must be. Ultimately, we are speaking about saving many lives. We are speaking about significantly reducing the number of...

Seanad: Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Nov 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank Senator McDowell for bringing this to our attention. In order to ensure there is no concern among Senators that the concerns raised will come to pass, I will read from section 45 of the Public Health (Tobacco) Act 2002, which is where this comes from. The section in question provides for exactly the same offence in the case of a person under the age of 18. Section 45(1) states: ...

Seanad: Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Nov 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: I will leave that to the House. I am satisfied that the Attorney General between 1999 and 2002 was an eminent individual for whom I have great respect. When this Bill was crafted, it will have received advice at the time which was solid because it has held up for 22 years. I am not concerned. It is more or less a copy and paste. It does not add to what is a very reasonable question on...