Results 10,981-11,000 of 21,128 for speaker:James Reilly

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (13 Dec 2012)

James Reilly: In relation to the specific matter raised by the Deputy, as this is a service issue it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Service Executive National Service Plan (13 Dec 2012)

James Reilly: The Health Act 2004 states that within 21 days after the publication by Government of the Estimates, the Health Service Executive shall prepare a service plan and submit it to me for my approval. The Service Plan, to be submitted before Christmas, will set out the level and type of health services to be provided in 2013. It will include plans for delivering on the Programme for Government...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Universal Health Insurance (13 Dec 2012)

James Reilly: A key stepping stone towards the introduction of Universal Health Insurance will be to develop independent not-for-profit hospital trusts in which all hospitals will function as part of integrated groups. The rationale behind the establishment of hospital groups and trusts is to support increased operational autonomy and accountability for hospital services in a way that will drive service...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Service Executive Staff (13 Dec 2012)

James Reilly: The Government has decided that the numbers employed across the public service must be reduced to 282,500 by the end of 2014 in order to meet its fiscal and budgetary targets. The health sector must make a proportionate contribution to the achievement of this reduction. The Health Estimates published on 5 December are based on an expected reduction in 2013 of approximately 3,200 wholetime...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Procedures (13 Dec 2012)

James Reilly: The management of inpatient and daycase waiting lists for patients awaiting public health care is based on the principle that after urgent and cancer patients are treated, then clinically assessed routine patients should be seen in chronological order (i.e. longest waiter first). Should the patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment,...

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (13 Dec 2012)

James Reilly: I am pleased to address the House on Second Stage of the Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2012. As Senators will be aware, the Bill passed through all Stages in the Dáil recently. As Minister for Health, my objective is to reform the current health system and to deliver a single-tier health service in which access to health care is based on need and not on ability to pay. The programme...

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (13 Dec 2012)

James Reilly: I thank the Senators who contributed. We are discussing a health insurance Bill and not broader health issues. On that basis, I will stick to the issues relevant to the legislation but I take on board what Members have said. I utterly reject some of what was said but that is the nature of debate. The Bill is intended to strengthen and maintain stability in the private health insurance...

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (13 Dec 2012)

James Reilly: Only if they have done the work themselves.

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (13 Dec 2012)

James Reilly: Consultants who have not seen patients should not sign forms that say they have seen them. That is the law and if that is not the practice, there is a problem and it will be addressed. It is idiotic that consultants have to sign the forms and we will decouple this but, at the same time, we have to do so in a fashion that ensured proper probity around hospital claiming because we cannot have...

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (13 Dec 2012)

James Reilly: As I was not at the committee I do not know what members were told. I can say this, as a Minister for Health and as one who practised medicine for 25 years, there is no way that I will remove clinical decision-making from the clinician. I will have counterbalances whereby other clinicians can challenge that decision-making but I certainly will not have somebody with a biro dictating what...

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (13 Dec 2012)

James Reilly: The Bill is very much about regulating and stabilising the market to the advantage of the clients who use it most, the older and the less well people. My last point is in response to Senator Cullinane. I want to tell him clearly that I have no intention of resigning. I am committed to this programme of reform and a huge amount of reform has taken place already. I am not going to take...

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (13 Dec 2012)

James Reilly: Grand. I take the Chair's correction.

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (13 Dec 2012)

James Reilly: Not at all. I thank the House for its attention and the issues raised. I hope the House can allow the Bill pass to the next Stage.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Ministerial Responsibilities (18 Dec 2012)

James Reilly: Or just in time for Saint Nick.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Confidentiality (18 Dec 2012)

James Reilly: It brought the country to its knees.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Food Labelling (18 Dec 2012)

James Reilly: The labelling of prepackaged food is currently governed by Council Directive 2000/13/EC, transposed in 2002, with several amendments since. The principle underlying this Directive is that the purchaser must not be misled and it has helped to ensure that the consumer is provided with the information required to make healthy consumption choices. Responsibility for the enforcement of food...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (18 Dec 2012)

James Reilly: As this query relates to a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. 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.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Social Workers Register (18 Dec 2012)

James Reilly: Under the provisions of the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005, there is a two-year transitional period from the date on which the register of the members of that profession is established, during which existing practitioners may apply for registration. The Health and Social care Professionals Council (the Council) is an independent statutory body and is responsible for setting...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Public Sector Staff (18 Dec 2012)

James Reilly: Under the terms of the Public Service Agreement the HSE has a responsibility to ensure that engagement with trade unions takes place, to take account of staff concerns and rights, in relation to organisational and service changes. In addition, the HSE is statutorily obliged under the Employees (Provision of Information and Consultation) Act, 2006, to engage with the trade unions in relevant...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Ambulance Service (18 Dec 2012)

James Reilly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 590 to 592, inclusive, together. The recruitment of and terms and conditions for ambulance staff, including transfers, is a matter for the Health Service Executive, and as such, the Deputy's enquiry has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.