Results 12,001-12,020 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hepatitis C Incidence (21 Oct 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Section 4 of the Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal Act (No.34 of l997), as amended, sets out the categories of persons who can make a claim before the Tribunal. The Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Act, 2006 defined that those who can make a claim must have been "diagnosed positive for Hepatitis C". It is estimated that up to 16,000 women in Ireland were exposed to potentially...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Staff (21 Oct 2014)

Leo Varadkar: In recent years, the Government decided that the numbers employed across the public service must be reduced in order to meet fiscal and budgetary targets. To that end, a moratorium on recruitment in the Public Service was introduced in March 2009. The Deputy will be aware that the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform announced in the recent Budget, that in 2015, Departments and...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointment Status (21 Oct 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy's question relates to service delivery matters and accordingly I have asked the HSE to respond directly to him.

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Properties (21 Oct 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The Minister for Health has no responsibility for the zoning of land under the planning legislation. The designation of land use is a matter for the planning authorities.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Expenditure (21 Oct 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The Department of Health, in its Comprehensive Review of Expenditure submission to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in the run up to Budget 2015, estimated that demographically driven cost pressures (due to the increasing size and age of the Irish population) would result in an additional resource requirement of about 1.5% annually in order to maintain levels of health service...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Charges (21 Oct 2014)

Leo Varadkar: These questions were referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy. The HSE is currently compiling the information requested and a reply will issue to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cancer Screening Programmes (21 Oct 2014)

Leo Varadkar: There have been no documented cases of digital mammography contributing to the occurrence of breast cancer.  Manufacturers’ manuals and safety statements are available for mammography machines used in Ireland. BreastCheck utilises digital mammography as it is the most advanced method available, giving enhanced image quality and significant reductions in the radiation dose...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Staff Redeployment (21 Oct 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Staff who were interested in transfers to regional offices could historically seek such transfers through the Central Transfer Lists or the Central Applications Facility which was maintained in the context of the decentralisation programme. The only mechanisms for staff to register an interest in being transferred to a regional location is through application to another Department with an...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Infectious Disease Surveillance (22 Oct 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) of the HSE is responsible for the surveillance of notifiable infectious diseases such as Lyme Disease. The HPSC is presently involved in establishing a Lyme Borreliosis Sub-Committee with the primary aim of examining best practice in prevention and surveillance of Lyme Disease and to develop strategies to undertake primary prevention in order...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Food (22 Oct 2014)

Leo Varadkar: As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff Remuneration (22 Oct 2014)

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

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Lottery Funding Applications (22 Oct 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I have requested the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy in relation to the specific issues raised.

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Lottery Funding Applications (22 Oct 2014)

Leo Varadkar: My Department has received an application for funding from the 2014 National Lottery allocation from the organisation in question. This is one of a large number of applications currently being assessed by my Department. The organisation will be informed of the outcome of the application as soon as a decision has been made.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (22 Oct 2014)

Leo Varadkar: As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Midwifery Services (22 Oct 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I have been informed by the HSE that there were 12 mothers-to-be contracted for homebirths with Ms Canning at the time of her suspension. Three mothers have delivered of their babies. The remaining mothers-to-be are awaiting delivery of their babies. Of the remaining mothers, some have accepted the services of the Self-Employed Community Midwives (SECM), some are still deciding, some have...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cross-Border Health Initiatives (22 Oct 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The Health Service Executive operates the Directive on Patients’ Rights in Cross Border Healthcare in Ireland under Statutory Instrument 203 of 2014 which commenced on 1st June 2014. The Directive provides rules for the reimbursement to patients’ of the cost of receiving treatment abroad, where the patient would be entitled to such treatment in their home Member State (Member...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Water Quality (22 Oct 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I am informed by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government that the Environmental Protection Agency has initiated enforcement proceedings against Kerry County Council and Irish Water. As the matter is currently before the courts, it is not appropriate for me to comment on the specifics of this case. I am aware that the Health Service Executive has issued advice to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Water Quality (22 Oct 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government is responsible for policy and legislation in relation to drinking water quality. Since 1 January 2014 Irish Water has statutory responsibility for the provision of public water services. The EU (Drinking Water) Regulations 2014 require that where Irish Water or a local authority, having consulted with and subject to the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Groups (22 Oct 2014)

Leo Varadkar: As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Medical Indemnity Cover (22 Oct 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I thank Senator Conway for raising this matter. Subject to overall Government policy, staffing of the health service is primarily a matter for the Health Service Executive, HSE. However, there are issues concerning the provision of midwives for home births and I welcome the opportunity to comment on these. There are a number of areas of the health service where staffing shortages exist,...