Results 7,481-7,500 of 21,128 for speaker:James Reilly

Seanad: HSE National Service Plan: Statements, Questions and Answers (14 Feb 2012)

James Reilly: Senator Moloney referred to the long-term illness scheme extension also helping the wealthy. There is no perfect system. This is what was agreed in the programme for Government. However, in terms of benefit to the taxpayer and Exchequer, wealthy people can end up back in hospital. Having access to a GP card can keep them out of hospital and save us money. It may not be the most equitable...

Seanad: HSE National Service Plan: Statements, Questions and Answers (14 Feb 2012)

James Reilly: I am not aware that there is only one officer. As far as I am aware there are several. A group was established by me last year to address the issue of discretionary medical cards. The group is made up of doctors. Like the Senator I believe that people who are terminally ill should have a medical card and should not have to endure the stress of a lengthy application procedure. Also, there...

Seanad: HSE National Service Plan: Statements, Questions and Answers (14 Feb 2012)

James Reilly: Information on that issue will become available during the next couple of days. Senator Moran raised the issue of inclusion on the LTI of patients suffering stress. We have no plans to do that. However, everyone will have a medical card in the not too distant future. I hear what the Senator is saying but it is not possible to cover everyone in one go. One must go about this in a...

Seanad: HSE National Service Plan: Statements, Questions and Answers (14 Feb 2012)

James Reilly: I will, although I did not get to Senator John Crown's issue. I also apologise to Senator Jimmy Harte but thank him for his comments-----

Seanad: HSE National Service Plan: Statements, Questions and Answers (14 Feb 2012)

James Reilly: I would like to finish, if Members are agreeable. I will only take two more minutes.

Seanad: HSE National Service Plan: Statements, Questions and Answers (14 Feb 2012)

James Reilly: I thank the Senators. In response to Senator Jimmy Harte, the utterances of Dr. Humphreys were most unfortunate and ill-considered. He refers to a theory that went out 50-odd years ago. It was promulgated by a man by the name of Dr. Bettelheim and debunked initially by parents who had the good sense to speak out and point out that if they had four children, three of whom were perfectly...

Leaders' Questions (15 Feb 2012)

James Reilly: It would be made public in the forum tomorrow.

Leaders' Questions (15 Feb 2012)

James Reilly: That is rubbish. The Deputy is into Sinn Féin propaganda.

Leaders' Questions (15 Feb 2012)

James Reilly: Sinn Féin propaganda.

Health Service Staff (15 Feb 2012)

James Reilly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together. The most recent information available to me indicates that approximately 4,200 individuals will have left the health service between September 2011 and the end of this month. The corresponding wholetime equivalent figure is about 3,700. These figures are subject to change for various reasons, one being the time lags involved in collating...

Health Service Staff (15 Feb 2012)

James Reilly: In response to Deputy Kelleher, the Taoiseach is very clear, as am I, about the presence and completeness of the contingency plans in place. As I said, the situation is dynamic. We do not expect significant change between now and the end of the month but there has been much change heretofore. We had a very long meeting last night at which the CEO and four regional directors of the HSE were...

Health Service Staff (15 Feb 2012)

James Reilly: I see Deputy Adams is at Deputy Ó Caoláin's side. I was here this morning when he made his contribution. It seems to me when words such as "there will be a devastating effect" are used, it is almost as if Sinn Féin wished for there to be a disaster.

Health Service Staff (15 Feb 2012)

James Reilly: It is as if they hope there will be some sort of calamity or catastrophe so they can continue on shroud waving. The reality is that Dublin north-east, Dublin mid-Leinster, west and south have all got their contingency plans. Individual hospital managers have their contingency plans and are fully conversant with the number of staff leaving, as well as what must be done to maintain a safe...

Health Service Staff (15 Feb 2012)

James Reilly: He said "could", but the Deputy should finish the professor's sentence.

Health Service Staff (15 Feb 2012)

James Reilly: As regards Deputy Ó Caoláin's question about the three other service plans, there is not a need for the same number of exits. The lowest number of exits is from Dublin north-east. The contention that this is a recipe for disaster is utterly untrue - in fact, it is a formula to prevent any such disaster and ensure a seamless transition. We have put in place several different contingencies...

Health Service Staff (15 Feb 2012)

James Reilly: I have talked to the people in charge who have responsibility, including the national director and regional director of the operation who are in charge of hospital directors and managers. The contingency plans are in place and there is no way we will have an unsafe service. We have had two major meetings on this matter and will have a further one before the end.

Hospital Staff (15 Feb 2012)

James Reilly: I have explained in an earlier reply that reducing public service numbers is an integral part of the Government's drive to reduce public expenditure. Health service employee numbers must be reduced to approximately 102,000 by the end of this year and further reductions will be required over the coming years. The regional service plans are currently being finalised and the exact ceiling for...

Hospital Staff (15 Feb 2012)

James Reilly: It is not true to say the embargo is failing. The Deputy is right to point out the additional costs that agency staff incur. The agency staff directive, which insists that they be given the same terms and conditions as permanent staff, equally indicates that the base rate for agency staff will have to fall. The reason they were paid more was because they did not have the same rights. They...

Hospital Staff (15 Feb 2012)

James Reilly: The reliance on agency staff has been reduced considerably by the increased use of non-consultant hospital doctors. Waterford Regional Hospital is working with the National Treatment Purchase Fund and the special delivery unit to focus on the strict chronological management of patients. It successfully reached a 12 month maximum waiting time at the end of 2011 and it is making reasonable...

Hospital Staff (15 Feb 2012)

James Reilly: The note before me does not indicate how many, if any, beds are going to close but the closure of beds will not necessarily result in a reduction in services.