Results 10,541-10,560 of 21,128 for speaker:James Reilly

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Charges (20 Nov 2012)

James Reilly: The charges levied by hospitals in respect of each day or part of a day during which in-patient services are availed of in respect of private, semi-private and day-case accommodation in public hospitals are as set out in my reply to the Deputy's previous question on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (20 Nov 2012)

James Reilly: Should the patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he/she would be in the best position to take the matter up with the consultant and hospital involved. In relation to the specific query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Health: EU Directives (20 Nov 2012)

James Reilly: Directive 2010/63/EU on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes significantly strengthens the protection of animals still needed for research and safety testing. The directive strongly promotes the principles of the three Rs (replacement of the use of animals to the greatest extent possible with alternative testing methods, refinement of scientific procedures to improve animal...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Forthcoming Health Council: Discussion with Minister for Health (20 Nov 2012)

James Reilly: I wish to extend my deepest sympathy to the family of the late Savita Halappanavar. It is on the record that we want to have this tragic case fully investigated as quickly as possible and that remains our intention. I wish to address the situation relating to the Irish Presidency. Ireland's engagement with its European colleagues has been brought into focus by the rapid onset of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Forthcoming Health Council: Discussion with Minister for Health (20 Nov 2012)

James Reilly: I am very concerned with regard to matters relating to quality assurance in respect of medical devices. Patient safety is a major issue, as is that relating to people being in a position to vindicate their rights. I am in absolute agreement with Deputy Kelleher in this regard. The point regarding food for infants actually relates to regulations to make such food safer. I believe our...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Forthcoming Health Council: Discussion with Minister for Health (20 Nov 2012)

James Reilly: It is not just alcohol abuse, we must also deal with tobacco addiction and with drug abuse generally. In so far as is possible, we will certainly discuss alcohol abuse as another matter which needs to be addressed. We may try to promote the idea of a uniform approach to this problem being taken across Europe. I must be careful and advise Deputy Dowds and other members that there is only so...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Forthcoming Health Council: Discussion with Minister for Health (20 Nov 2012)

James Reilly: Deputy Maloney inquired as to whether the Presidency will have an impact on our bill in respect of prescription drugs. I do not believe it will have an effect one way or the other. The agreements we have in place with the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association, IPHA, and the Association of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers of Ireland, APMI, which represents the generic producers, both last...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion with Minister for Health (20 Nov 2012)

James Reilly: I thank the Chairman and the members of the joint committee for this opportunity to discuss health service issues. Both I and my Ministers of State, Deputies Kathleen Lynch and Alex White, will provide as much information and clarification as possible. While I propose to keep my opening statement brief to allow more time for discussion, I must refer to a number of landmark developments...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion with Minister for Health (20 Nov 2012)

James Reilly: I would hope we could finish before 7.30 p.m. to allow us some time to prepare for the Dáil.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion with Minister for Health (20 Nov 2012)

James Reilly: I will be as quick as I can. Deputy Kelleher raised several issues which others have raised. Perhaps the committees will accept a composite reply which will save a great deal of time. I agree, paraphrasing the old saying, that justice must not alone be done but must be seen to be done. The same can be said of this inquiry. Not only must it be independent; it must be seen to be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion with Minister for Health (20 Nov 2012)

James Reilly: I think the Chairman will find when Mr. O'Brien has an opportunity to respond that that will be the case. We have discussed the issue on a number of occasions. The issue of structural reform was raised. This is important. Deputy Billy Kelleher is particularly concerned about universal health insurance and that the report has not yet issued and that the model has not been agreed to. It...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion with Minister for Health (20 Nov 2012)

James Reilly: I made it clear.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion with Minister for Health (20 Nov 2012)

James Reilly: There has been no consultation with any of those groups. I pointed out that this is a temporary arrangement for two years. A report will come to me and it will have to be checked by my Department from the point of view of patient safety, patient services and financial implications. There will be ample opportunity for all those groups to be consulted on the working of the groups as they...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion with Minister for Health (20 Nov 2012)

James Reilly: That will answer Deputy Regina Doherty's question on the scheme overruns. Perhaps her comment on crisis pregnancy services was to welcome the investigation. The questions put by Deputies Naughten and Mitchell O'Connor relate to Mr. Tony O'Brien rather than me.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion with Minister for Health (20 Nov 2012)

James Reilly: In my opening statement, I said we would extend BreastCheck to a wider age group further down the line.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion with Minister for Health (20 Nov 2012)

James Reilly: This is the first Government in the history of the State to put in place a principal officer across the Departments of Education and Skills, Children and Youth Affairs and Health to deal with the issue of obesity and to get more co-operation to address the issue of education. I agree with the Deputy that this is a serious issue and we must tackle it at many levels.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion with Minister for Health (20 Nov 2012)

James Reilly: I acknowledge that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion with Minister for Health (20 Nov 2012)

James Reilly: This is a serious issue. There is an epidemic of obesity across the world, including in this country. We must address this and the Department of Health cannot do it on its own. It is also a matter for the Department of Education and Skills, which can allowing for more physical education, and for the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, which can make available...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Staff (21 Nov 2012)

James Reilly: The funding pressures now being experienced in the health services mean that the acute sector must reduce its costs in order to deliver the agreed level of activity within the resources available to it. This means that we must concentrate on maximising efficiency and getting the best possible services for patients from the budgets available to us. However, this on its own is not sufficient....

Written Answers — Department of Health: Homeless Persons (21 Nov 2012)

James Reilly: The Department of Environment, Community and Local Government and local authorities have statutory responsibility for the provision of homelessness services in Ireland in line with the National Homeless Strategy, 'The Way Home 2008-2013' and 'Pathway to Home'. Local authorities identify and address the level of need through a range of community based accommodation options and related...