Results 10,701-10,720 of 49,836 for speaker:Stephen Donnelly

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Status (30 Sep 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: It is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been impacted as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic. In response to the Covid-19 pandemic the HSE had to take measures to defer most scheduled care activity in March, April, and May of this year. This was to ensure patient safety and that all appropriate resources were made available for Covid-19...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Legislative Reviews (30 Sep 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: As the Deputy will be aware, section 7 of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 states: “The Minister shall, not later than 3 years after the commencement of this section, carry out a review of the operation of this Act.” The review clause was included in the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 in order to facilitate monitoring of the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Legislative Measures (30 Sep 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: As the Deputy will be aware, the Programme for Government Our Shared Futurecontains a commitment to “Establish exclusion zones around medical facilities”. It was originally intended to provide for safe access to termination of pregnancy services in the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018. However, a number of legal issues were identified which necessitated...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Palliative Care Services (30 Sep 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: Following the adoption of the 2020 National Service Plan and the revised estimates volume, the total net budget for palliative care is €100.6 million, an increase of €14.1 million or 16.3% from the 2019 National Service Plan. The Programme for Government commits to supporting community specialist palliative home care teams in all HSE areas, funding designated home care packages,...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Assisted Suicide (30 Sep 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: The National Advisory Committee on Bioethics (NACB) was established by the then Minister for Health, Dr. James Reilly, in March 2012 to advise the Minister for Health on the ethical and social implications of scientific developments in human medicine and healthcare.  Its membership is multi-disciplinary and consists of members who were invited to join the Committee by virtue of their...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Children's Hospital (30 Sep 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: Shortly after taking up office as Minister on 28 June 2020, I met with the Chair of the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB) and its Chief Officer on 10 July 2020 and I met with the Chair of the NPHDB again on 7 August 2020, to discuss the new children’s hospital project. During the meetings I emphasised the importance of the hospital and the need to complete...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services (30 Sep 2020)

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.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (30 Sep 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: As the Deputy is aware, the Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19 was published by the Government on 15 September. This Framework sets out Ireland's approach to managing and living with COVID-19 in a range of areas over the next 6 - 9 months. The Plan sets out five levels of response, each with a number of measures designed to help us all lower COVID-19 transmission...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Expenditure (30 Sep 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: I can confirm that my Department has subscribed to eight media publications in total since May 2020. Seven of of these publications are hard copy media publications and one is a subscription to an online publication service. The total amount expended on publications by my Department during this time frame is €13,174.44.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Contracts (30 Sep 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: My Department has engaged two media monitoring companies consecutively, in the years in question, to monitor and provide media reports with regards to the health service. See below breakdown of these costs for the years in question. 2020 ytd 2019 2018 2017 €17,280.27 €24,279.2 €16,330.69 ...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Staff (30 Sep 2020)

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.

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Services (30 Sep 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: GP services are provided free of charge to people who hold a medical card or GP visit card. Under the terms of the current GMS contract, GPs are required to provide eligible patients with ''all proper and necessary treatment of a kind usually undertaken by a general practitioner and not requiring special skill or experience of a degree or kind which general practitioners cannot...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Maternity Services (30 Sep 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: I acknowledge that the current restrictions in maternity hospitals are presenting difficulties and this is hugely regrettable.  However, it is necessary to reduce footfall in order to protect women, babies, staff and our maternity service as a whole.  Maternity hospitals have performed well during the pandemic and have continued to keep women, babies and staff safe. ...

Seanad: National Screening Advisory Committee Bill 2020: Second Stage (30 Sep 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: I welcome the opportunity to address the House today on the National Screening Advisory Committee Bill 2020. I thank Senators Norris, Craughwell and Boyhan for their interest in this crucial topic which is so important to parents all over Ireland and I acknowledge the ongoing campaigning work and push from Senator Norris on this matter. I would not oppose this Bill in any event because of...

Seanad: National Screening Advisory Committee Bill 2020: Second Stage (30 Sep 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: That is what we are going to do. The only question before us is what is the best way to do that. Everyone in this House is trying to do exactly the same thing, which is to introduce the best possible regime for newborn screening in the country. I believe we can and must do more. Speaking specifically to the Bill, the reason I asked for a timed amendment was that I believe the committee...

Seanad: National Screening Advisory Committee Bill 2020: Second Stage (30 Sep 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Senator. I wish to make a point about public health, which is what this is all about. My strong suspicion and the view of public health professionals is that public health has been a poor relation of other healthcare in this country for a very long time. I was before the Special Committee on Covid-19 Response earlier today. Today we made two very significant announcements....

Seanad: National Screening Advisory Committee Bill 2020: Second Stage (30 Sep 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: That is true. It is significant. The enabling legislation was sanctioned yesterday and we will create public health consultant contracts for the first time. The other aspect is that I announced a few hours ago that we will double our public health workforce. The HSE will begin that recruitment in the coming two weeks. I thank Senators for their comments on public health and the need for...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (30 Sep 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: I welcome this opportunity to update the committee on Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021, the Government's plan for living with Covid-19, as well as on recent activity in Ireland's fight against this virus. I am joined by the acting Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Ronan Glynn, the director of the national virus reference laboratory, Dr. Cillian de Gascun, and the chair of the Irish Epidemiological...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (30 Sep 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank Deputy O'Dowd. I am aware of the issues he has raised and have agreed to meet various families involved. It is a very difficult situation for many people, but there can be no impediments to information. Families have been through a lot and they must have answers. I am more than happy to take the suggestion and see if a freedom of information fee waiver can be put in place immediately.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (30 Sep 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: I think it is an excellent idea and I thank the Deputy for his suggestion.