Results 12,481-12,500 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Seanad: Availability of Certain Medication: Statements (26 Nov 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I accept that other issues were raised, but given that we are already over time and that there will be two further debates in the Dáil shortly, I will confine my remarks to the particular issue, on which I thank Senators for having a rational debate. Sometimes when these issues are debated in the media, the debates are not rational. I am glad that the debate in this House has been. ...

Seanad: Availability of Certain Medication: Statements (26 Nov 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I do not think we can justify irrational spending on health services. That applies across the board, including to us. On Senator Darragh O'Brien's comments, I appreciate that people are awaiting decisions since 25 July from the HSE national drugs committee. I have not yet been advised of the decision and, as Members are aware, I do not have a role in making it. However, I reiterate that...

Seanad: Availability of Certain Medication: Statements (26 Nov 2014)

Leo Varadkar: It is always open to the manufacturer to submit new evidence, a new reduced price, or both, or, as Senator John Crown has suggested, there is always the possibility of a cost-sharing arrangement whereby the HSE would only reimburse the cost of medicine for those in whom it was proved to work. These are all options, but we need to start to put pressure on the industry to come up with and...

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (27 Nov 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I have been there.

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (27 Nov 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Deputy Finian McGrath should look at their cancer survival rates.

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (27 Nov 2014)

Leo Varadkar: They just send people home to die.

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (27 Nov 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I wish to make a point of order.

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (27 Nov 2014)

Leo Varadkar: This is very important legislation. It is about containing the cost of health insurance for families across the State and it is very important that we have the Bill enacted before the end of the year. We lost our slot two weeks ago because the deputy leader of Sinn Féin had a temper tantrum and decided to have a sit-in in the Chamber.

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (27 Nov 2014)

Leo Varadkar: We lost our slot this morning because the Sinn Féin spokesperson demanded that I would be in two places at once and now the Sinn Féin benches are empty. Its members could not bother to be here, nor could Fianna Fáil. I have listened to them talk about the Government not respecting the Parliament, and parliamentary and political reform. It really churns my stomach to see the...

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (27 Nov 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Independent Members constitute the entire Opposition at the moment.

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (27 Nov 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I thank Deputies for their contributions and broad support for the Bill. Its main purpose is to specify the risk equalisation credits, including a 50% increase in the hospital bed utilisation credit from €60 to €90 per night, and corresponding stamp duty levels from March 2015. In addition, the Bill will specify the allowable rate of net premium payable in respect of young...

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2014: Referral to Select Committee (27 Nov 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I move:That the Bill be referred to the Select sub-Committee on Health pursuant to Standing Orders 82A(3)(a) and (6)(a) and 126(1) of the Standing Orders relative to Public Business.

Topical Issue Debate: Drugs Dealing (27 Nov 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. Benzodiazepines are a class of medicine available on prescription which are commonly used to treat anxiety, sleep disturbance and insomnia. They are known to be associated with dependence and withdrawal symptoms and consequently are primarily recommended for short-term treatment only. They are a very valuable treatment option when used correctly....

Topical Issue Debate: Drugs Dealing (27 Nov 2014)

Leo Varadkar: As Deputy Shortall will be aware, staff are allocated by the Secretary General, not by me personally.

Topical Issue Debate: Drugs Dealing (27 Nov 2014)

Leo Varadkar: This regulation is not on my desk and I have not seen it yet. I am not holding it up. It is delayed elsewhere and I undertake to ask some questions about that. The feedback that comes from the different groups in the local drugs task force, many representatives of which I have met in the past few weeks, is mixed. There are quite a number of them who take the view that criminalising...

Topical Issue Debate: Services for People with Disabilities (27 Nov 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I thank Deputy Griffin for raising this matter. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, who is on departmental business elsewhere. I assure the Deputy that the Government is fully committed to the ongoing delivery of vital services and supports to children with disabilities to the greatest extent possible within available resources. The HSE has...

Topical Issue Debate: Services for People with Disabilities (27 Nov 2014)

Leo Varadkar: In theory, these things should not happen, but in reality they do and often one difficult individual can cause problems for an entire service. I do not have detailed personal knowledge of or involvement in the case, as the matter comes under the disability and social care directorate of the HSE, for which political responsibility lies with the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch. I...

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Procedures (27 Nov 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Long ago when I was involved in clinical practice, I used to take great pleasure in writing such letters to politicians, including to the former Taoiseach, one Bertie Ahern. I am pleased to see the practice has not been discontinued. I thank the Deputy for raising the issue and for giving me an opportunity to outline to the House the current position on it. Cappagh National Orthopaedic...

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Procedures (27 Nov 2014)

Leo Varadkar: There is not a particular problem in Cappagh hospital. It is a very well run and well managed hospital. Ironically, in some ways the hospital demonstrates the consequences of coming in on budget. The hospital does not have an accident and emergency department and therefore, no emergency admissions and as a result the hospital can plan its activities precisely every year. The hospital has...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (27 Nov 2014)

Leo Varadkar: As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.