Results 7,601-7,620 of 15,268 for speaker:Kathleen Lynch

Topical Issue Debate: State Pathologists (5 Dec 2013)

Kathleen Lynch: Before I begin, I wish to express my admiration for Deputy Charles Flanagan. The way in which he spoke about this matter just shows how long years of involvement in a particular area can be used to one's benefit. I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. The Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Alan Shatter, is unable to take the matter as he is attending a meeting of the Justice and...

Topical Issue Debate: State Pathologists (5 Dec 2013)

Kathleen Lynch: The works are due for completion in 2014. Given the type of work required when refurbishing an old building, I expect the project will be completed as quickly as possible next year. I fully accept the points the Deputy makes about people coming through the system in terms of training and expertise and the recruitment process will take place at a high level. We are prepared to offer a...

Topical Issue Debate: NAMA Operations (5 Dec 2013)

Kathleen Lynch: I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Finance. As Deputy Maloney knows, the Minister is otherwise engaged, but he has given me an extremely comprehensive answer to his question. The Deputy is correct; we were very dubious and cynical about NAMA, but it is seldom that we see an organisation set up to do a specific task hitting all its targets. That comes from a combination...

Topical Issue Debate: NAMA Operations (5 Dec 2013)

Kathleen Lynch: Perhaps I can finish the paragraph. I can give what I have to the Deputy. It is a substantial response and this is a matter of extraordinary importance.

Topical Issue Debate: NAMA Operations (5 Dec 2013)

Kathleen Lynch: This includes a number of significant property and loan portfolio sales recently brought to the market in response to the increasing absorption capacity of the market here. These portfolios are attracting interest from large institutional buyers, including the promoters of recently established REITS. This is a substantial reply.

Topical Issue Debate: NAMA Operations (5 Dec 2013)

Kathleen Lynch: This is an extraordinary success story. It points out to me, as somebody in the Government, the talent we have in Ireland for managing these issues. I will give the rest of the reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Expenditure (5 Dec 2013)

Kathleen Lynch: I propose to take Questions Nos. 215 and 232 together. Voluntary/non statutory service providers such as the Central Remedial Clinic have a long history of providing health and personal social services in Ireland. The primary legal framework under which the Health Service Executive provides financial support to voluntary/non-statutory providers is set out in the Health Act 2004, which enables...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Agencies Staff Remuneration (5 Dec 2013)

Kathleen Lynch: The Government is determined to ensure that public pay policy is respected and complied with across the health service including the Central Remedial Clinic. Governance arrangements for the Central Remedial Clinic are a matter for the organisation itself and the Minister has no role or function in appointing members to its board.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing Home Services (5 Dec 2013)

Kathleen Lynch: The first stage in the application process for the Nursing Homes Support Scheme is a care needs assessment. This identifies whether or not long-term nursing home care is the most appropriate option for the particular individual, or whether they can be supported to continue living at home. Therefore, every individual on the placement list has been assessed as needing long-term nursing home...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Services for People with Disabilities (5 Dec 2013)

Kathleen Lynch: The Health Service Executive National Service Plan for 2014 was submitted to Minister Reilly on Monday 25th November and is under consideration at present. The National Service Plan is prepared in accordance with the Health Acts and outlines the type and volume of health and personal services including acute hospitals, ambulance, primary care, mental health, older people and disability...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Accommodation Provision (5 Dec 2013)

Kathleen Lynch: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing Homes Support Scheme Applications (5 Dec 2013)

Kathleen Lynch: As the Deputy is aware, the total amounts available to fund health services in 2014 will be considerably lower than for this year. Accordingly, all expenditure headings are being scrutinised. The funding that is available must be balanced across all of the various service areas in a way that achieves the best possible outcomes for the greatest number of service users and prioritises areas of...

Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs Staffing (10 Dec 2013)

Kathleen Lynch: I thank Deputy Mulherin for raising this matter which reaches into every corner of Ireland. I have no doubt that everyone in the House is aware of the pressures on the health system to maintain services within the parameters of its budget. It has been a topic for discussion over many weeks. Deputy Kelleher has been actively engaged in that discussion. Notwithstanding these financial...

Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs Staffing (10 Dec 2013)

Kathleen Lynch: I take on board everything the Deputy said and would disagree with very little of it other than to say I am always reluctant to move back to the medical model when it comes to disability because most people within the disability sector, and I am talking about the people who have a disability rather than those who would speak on their behalf, tell me clearly that they do not want a medical...

Topical Issue Debate: HSE Staff Remuneration (10 Dec 2013)

Kathleen Lynch: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. The current director general of the HSE was in receipt of an allowance of approximately €26,000 between 2006 and 2012. This allowance was granted by the HSE to the Director General when he was chief executive of the National Cancer Screening Service in recognition of very significant additional responsibilities which he took on as project...

Topical Issue Debate: HSE Staff Remuneration (10 Dec 2013)

Kathleen Lynch: It is unfair to ask that question when we simply do not know. The only people who know are Mr. O'Brien and those who were present at that meeting. It is unfair to ask a question like that because it simply leaves it hanging there. The question will probably get a lot of publicity but if the answer is "No", it will get very little airtime and we will have to come back to the House and make...

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2013: Order for Report Stage (10 Dec 2013)

Kathleen Lynch: I move: "That Report Stage be taken now."

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2013: Report Stage (10 Dec 2013)

Kathleen Lynch: In the past our health system has suffered - I hope it will not suffer in the future - from decisions being made too quickly and not based on evidence or clear criteria. The hospital bed utilisation credit, provided for in the Health Insurance (Amendment) Act 2012, was payable in respect of each overnight stay in a hospital bed in private hospital accommodation by an insured person where...

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2013: Report Stage (10 Dec 2013)

Kathleen Lynch: To a great extent the Deputy and I are agreed on the central issue, how to introduce a more refined health indicator when we do not have the information with which to do that. Where I disagree with him, however, is that while this is a stand-alone Bill, as introduced, there is a combination of issues that need to come together in respect of how we treat people who need treatment, whether in...

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2013: Report Stage (10 Dec 2013)

Kathleen Lynch: Before I get back to dealing with the Bill, because that clearly had nothing to do with it, I wish to say we are trying to change a system that was permitted to become embedded in this country. It was a two-tier health system where if a person had private health insurance, he or she had greater access to health services and if he or she did not have such insurance, regardless of medical...