Results 11,361-11,380 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Health: Appointments to State Boards (17 Jul 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The Government decision S21590E of March, 1995 regarding the appointment of women to State Bodies states that there is a requirement for a minimum of 40% of both men and women appointed as Ministerial representatives to all State Bodies. Although the overall current membership of State boards under the aegis of my Department is well balanced, with 56% of the membership being male and 44%...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Strategies (17 Jul 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I was appointed Minister for Health on 15 July. Since my appointment, I have been engaging with officials in my Department and the Health Service Executive, familiarising myself with the issues. I intend to continue that engagement, including with relevant stakeholders, before making decisions on priorities. I can assure the Deputy that addressing financial and budgetary issues, extending...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Ministerial Correspondence (17 Jul 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I intend to publish a copy of this briefing on the Department's web site in due course, once appropriate redactions are made, in line with the Freedom of Information Acts.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospitals Capital Programme (17 Jul 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Delivery of healthcare facilities is a service matter. Therefore your question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Care Professionals (17 Jul 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Hospital consultants working in the public health service have their professional indemnity covered by the State's Clinical Indemnity Scheme since 2004. Consultants working in full-time private practice and those with B* contracts which permit off-site practice must obtain indemnity cover from medical defence organisations. One of the medical defence organisations, the Medical Protection...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Applications (17 Jul 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (17 Jul 2014)

Leo Varadkar: In relation to the specific query 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 Services Provision (17 Jul 2014)

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

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Children's Hospital (17 Jul 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 748 to 750, inclusive, together. The new children's hospital is a commitment in the Programme for Government. In November 2012 the Government announced its decision that the new children’s hospital will be co-located with St James’s on its campus, ensuring it benefits from the broadest possible range of adult sub-specialty expertise and...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Vaccination Programme (17 Jul 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I am aware that there are currently issues concerning the supply of BCG vaccine in Europe. The Health Service Executive has been working to secure supplies of the vaccine as quickly as possible. However, new supplies may not be available until early August. Principal Medical Officers have been advised that any remaining BCG stock should be prioritised for neonatal vaccination.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff Remuneration (17 Jul 2014)

Leo Varadkar: As this is an operational matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the HSE for a direct reply.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Vaccination Programme (17 Jul 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I thank Senator Michael D'Arcy for raising this important issue as it provides me with my first opportunity to update the House on this matter. I have only been in my new role a short number of days. I want to take time to talk to people, to listen to what they have to say, to reflect on what I find and then to focus on some achievable priorities. The core aim of the health service is to...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Vaccination Programme (17 Jul 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Unfortunately, I cannot answer the Senator's question on the cost of the vaccines and what was used. I will revert to him if that information is available. As legal cases are outstanding, I am limited in what I can say. I acknowledge his point that the effects are wider than health. They include individuals' education and future employment needs. I can supply a more detailed briefing to...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Voluntary Sector Funding (17 Jul 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I am pleased to have an opportunity to address the Seanad on the funding scheme to support national organisations in the community and voluntary sector on behalf of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, who cannot be here. The funding scheme to support national organisations in the community and voluntary sector aims to provide multi-annual funding to national...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Voluntary Sector Funding (17 Jul 2014)

Leo Varadkar: As this case is under appeal, I am limited in what I can say. From discussing the matter with other people, I understand that the funding it has is in place for the remainder of the year, so there is a window of opportunity there. The decision is made by Pobal which is not under the aegis of my Department but under the aegis of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Wind Energy Guidelines (17 Jul 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Senator for raising this matter. I am taking it on behalf of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Kelly, who cannot be in the House today. As outlined during a recent Seanad Adjournment debate on this matter, planning authorities, including An Bord Pleanála must have regard to the Department of the Environment, Community and Local...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Wind Energy Guidelines (17 Jul 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I totally note the Senator's comments and I know it is a big issue. It has been raised with me as I have travelled throughout the country, and as recently as last week Deputy McEntee spoke to me about it. It is a matter for the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government and I will pass on the Senator's comments to him.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Services for People with Disabilities (17 Sep 2014)

Leo Varadkar: As the particular issue raised by the Deputy relates to an individual case, this is a service matter for the Health Service Executive. Accordingly, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Consultants Remuneration (17 Sep 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The previous Minister for Health established a Working Group, chaired by Professor Brian MacCraith, President of DCU, in July 2013, to carry out a strategic review of medical training and career structure in order to ensure the continued recruitment of high quality Consultants. The final report of the group was submitted at the end of June 2014. The MacCraith group’s second interim...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug Treatment Programmes Availability (17 Sep 2014)

Leo Varadkar: An objective of the National Drugs Strategy 2009-16 is to develop a national treatment and rehabilitation service that provides drug free and harm reduction approaches for problem substance users and to encourage problem substance users to engage with, and avail of, such services. To this end the HSE provides a variety of drug treatment interventions to meet the needs of individual drug...