Results 12,541-12,560 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Topical Issue Debate: Graffiti Issues (3 Dec 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy and share his concern about the blight graffiti can have on communities. I will ensure the Minister, Deputy Kelly, is advised of the Deputy’s comments in this debate.

Health Services: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (3 Dec 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I will certainly follow up on the matter raised by Deputy Charlie McConalogue. One of the most frustrating things about reports, into which those involved put a great deal of hard work, is that people do not understand them fully. The HIQA report on the ambulance service is silent on whether there should be additional ambulances. That issue will be addressed in the HSE's capacity report....

Health Services: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (3 Dec 2014)

Leo Varadkar: There will be a single application-----

Health Services: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (3 Dec 2014)

Leo Varadkar: It is the legislation.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospice Services (3 Dec 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (3 Dec 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2014,has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Counselling Services (3 Dec 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Psychotherapists and counsellors are not currently regulated under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005. However, the Act provides that the Minister for Health may, under section 4(2), designate a health and social care profession not already designated if he or she considers that it is in the public interest to do so and if specified criteria have been met. My predecessor,...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (3 Dec 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2014,has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Ambulance Service Provision (3 Dec 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.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Ambulance Service Provision (3 Dec 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.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2014)

Leo Varadkar: As Members will be aware from the Second Stage debate the main purpose of this Bill is to specify the risk equalisation credits and corresponding stamp duty levies on the rate of the hospital bed utilisation credit to apply from 1 May next year. Additionally, the Bill specifies the allowable rate of the net premium for young adults, provides for the transfer of an insured person from a...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I appreciate the sentiment of the amendment and understand from where the Deputy is coming in that regard. The idea is to abolish the step effect whereby when a person reaches 21, the cost of health insurance increases substantially, the result being that very often the person does not continue to pay for it or, if his or her parents are paying for it, they discontinue doing so. The date of...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Not entirely. This is discretionary and the industry is not required to do it. If it was mandatory, I would agree with the Deputy, but it is not. That said, this would make everything more straightforward. We will run a large campaign, led by the Health Insurance Authority, HIA, explaining the new changes to people in the early part of next year. It is much easier to explain why things...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2014)

Leo Varadkar: With any change, the industry must give the HIA 30 days' notice. This would create two administrative obligations where there only needs to be one.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Section 3 amends section 7A of the Act and refers to the premiums that may be charged under health insurance contracts in certain circumstances. This section clarifies that the obligation on insurers to impose lifetime community rating loadings, as provided for in regulations signed into law on 7 July 2014, is mandatory. The proposed amendment will be considered as part of the review of the...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Yes. It can be done by way of regulation. As the Deputy stated, the objective is to encourage people to enter the health insurance market before they reach 35 years of age. It may transpire that they will not bother taking out health insurance because they do not want to pay the loading for the rest of their lives. Even if that is not the case, paying a loading for ten years may be enough.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I understand the point the Deputies are making, namely, that it may seem odd to describe these as contributions in arrears or back contributions when one cannot claim the benefits in arrears, but I see health insurance a bit like a pension. Someone who has health insurance at the age of 60 years gets the full benefits. One can commence health insurance at 55 years, draw down the benefits if...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (4 Dec 2014)

Leo Varadkar: From time to time the Health Service Executive is required to carry out investigations. Engagement of external expertise can be necessary in some circumstances. All Government Departments and Agencies funded from the Exchequer including the HSE, are obliged to comply with EU Directives and national guidelines on procurement. If the Deputy has specific concerns she wishes to raise, I would...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Children's Hospital (4 Dec 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Following the refusal in 2012 of planning permission for the new children’s hospital at the Mater campus, Minister James Reilly TD established the Dolphin Group to review the options and make recommendations on next steps. The Group was not asked to select a site. The Dolphin Report was consistent with all previous reports on the new children’s hospital in concluding that...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health and Social Care Professionals Registration Fee (4 Dec 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The Health and Social Care Professionals Council and the registration boards established under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 are responsible for protecting the public by promoting high standards of professional conduct and professional education, training and competence amongst the professions designated under the Act. The 12 professions designated under the Act are...