Results 5,521-5,540 of 11,979 for speaker:Billy Kelleher

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Applications (21 Nov 2013)

Billy Kelleher: 185. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for the delay in the review of the disadvantaged area aid in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; when a decision will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49892/13]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Trusts (21 Nov 2013)

Billy Kelleher: 216. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form details of the model 4 hospitals in each new hospital group, details of the model 3 hospitals in same and details of the model 2 hospitals in same; and in regard to this category, if it is a model 2D, a model 2S or a model 2R; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49935/13]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Trusts (21 Nov 2013)

Billy Kelleher: 217. To ask the Minister for Health with regard to the nine smaller hospitals which are to be model 2 hospitals, if he will provide in tabular form for each hospital a list of services that are currently available in those hospitals that will will no longer be available when the framework is put in place; the timeline for these changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49936/13]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Autism Support Services (21 Nov 2013)

Billy Kelleher: 218. To ask the Minister for Health the amount of the €3 million funding for autism services that he announced in January 2012 that has been spent to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49937/13]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospitals Capital Programme (21 Nov 2013)

Billy Kelleher: 219. To ask the Minister for Health if capital works have been stalled or ceased in the three children's hospitals in Dublin in view of the plans for the new hospital that have been announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49941/13]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Primary Care Centres Provision (21 Nov 2013)

Billy Kelleher: 220. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the current status of the primary care centre projects announced on 17 July 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49942/13]

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Alteration of Eligibility Criteria) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (21 Nov 2013)

Billy Kelleher: It is difficult to accept this ruling simply because a case has been made by the Minister of State and his party and the Taoiseach and his party and the current Minister of Health, when he was in opposition, to the effect that introducing eligibility criteria for the over 70s would impose a cost on the Exchequer because people would be discouraged from accessing primary care. The commentary...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Alteration of Eligibility Criteria) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (21 Nov 2013)

Billy Kelleher: I accept that but I felt I had to put-----

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Alteration of Eligibility Criteria) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (21 Nov 2013)

Billy Kelleher: Yes. However, the arguments put forward over many years indicate that increasing access to primary care and GPs is a cost-saving measure. That has been identified-----

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Alteration of Eligibility Criteria) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (21 Nov 2013)

Billy Kelleher: I wish to place on the record the fact that I am of the view that the ruling in this case is incorrect, particularly if one examines the evidence as outlined by the Minister for Health.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Alteration of Eligibility Criteria) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (21 Nov 2013)

Billy Kelleher: That is fine. I just wanted to place my views on record.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Alteration of Eligibility Criteria) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (21 Nov 2013)

Billy Kelleher: The difficulty I have with the legislation before us is that it will lead to the numbers of those over 70 years of age who qualify for medical cards being reduced. There is no way around that. All of the evidence the Minister for Health has cited in respect of free GP care for the under fives indicates that it will be a cost-saving measure. Logic dictates that if the latter is true, then...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Alteration of Eligibility Criteria) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (21 Nov 2013)

Billy Kelleher: They will lose their private health insurance because they will not be able to afford it and they will find they will not qualify for a medical card. The people who are slightly over the threshold of €900 a week are those who possibly could afford private health insurance until recently but will no longer be able to do so. They will not be able to access medical care through the...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Alteration of Eligibility Criteria) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (21 Nov 2013)

Billy Kelleher: My point is this is an attack on older people. The increase in the prescription charge further undermines the ability of older people to access medical care in primary care settings. Older people will have to pay for their GP, medical care and prescription costs and some will lose their health insurance. For all these reasons, the Bill is distasteful to say the very least because it will...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Alteration of Eligibility Criteria) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (21 Nov 2013)

Billy Kelleher: We could be going around in a circle for the day. The Minister of State said I, more than anyone else in this room, should be aware of cost savings. I should be, to say the very least, but the fact is that the current programme for Government was drafted in February and March 2011.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Alteration of Eligibility Criteria) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (21 Nov 2013)

Billy Kelleher: One should consider its impact.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Alteration of Eligibility Criteria) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (21 Nov 2013)

Billy Kelleher: The legislation runs contrary to everything in the programme for Government. I can go through it line by line. It states: Where—(a) a person—(i) was married to another person until that other person’s death, (ii) was living with another person as husband and wife until that other person’s death, or (iii) was a civil partner as respects another person until that...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Alteration of Eligibility Criteria) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (21 Nov 2013)

Billy Kelleher: There will be embarrassment for lots of people in looking forward.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Alteration of Eligibility Criteria) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (21 Nov 2013)

Billy Kelleher: We had a discussion but I do not think it has been fair.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Alteration of Eligibility Criteria) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (21 Nov 2013)

Billy Kelleher: I do not want to delay because I know I will inevitably be crushed by a massive majority. At the risk of being accused of being repetitive, we have already discussed the eligibility. Under this section a person who has been notified that he or she is eligible for a medical card shall "at any time after such notification, furnish to the Health Service Executive such information regarding...