Results 12,941-12,960 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Beds Data (20 Jan 2015)

Leo Varadkar: As the specific query raised by the Deputy is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to him directly. If he has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Tobacco Control Measures (20 Jan 2015)

Leo Varadkar: The Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2014 was formally notified to the Commission and to Member States under the EU Technical Standards Directive (98/34/EC) and the Tobacco Products Directive (2014/40/EU) on 17th June 2014. As the Deputy is aware, detailed responses on the proposed measures were received from a number of Member States. A response to these opinions is...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Drugs Strategy Implementation (20 Jan 2015)

Leo Varadkar: The overall objective of the National Drugs Strategy is to tackle the harm caused to individuals and society by the misuse of drugs through a concerted focus on the five pillars of supply reduction, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and research. My Department is represented on a number of international fora which aim to help the overall efforts to address the drugs problem,...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Disease Incidence (20 Jan 2015)

Leo Varadkar: I would like to advise the Deputy that the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation is responsible for Regulations under the Asbestos Directive which include matters relating to the removal of asbestos. Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Exposure to Asbestos) Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 386 of 2006) the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) is required to maintain the Asbestosis...

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Investigations (20 Jan 2015)

Leo Varadkar: I wish to thank the Deputy for the question raised. I understand from the HSE that the two investigations are ongoing into the Philomena Canning case. The internal HSE systems analysis investigation is anticipated to be completed at the end of the first quarter. In order to expedite the overall process a parallel external midwifery practice review is anticipated to be completed slightly...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Voluntary Sector Funding (20 Jan 2015)

Leo Varadkar: My Department administers a National Lottery Discretionary Fund from which once-off grants are paid to community and voluntary organisations, providing a range of health related services. If an organisation wishes to make an application for National Lottery Funding they should send in a formal application. Detailed procedures along with the application form for 2015 will soon be available on...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Voluntary Sector Funding (20 Jan 2015)

Leo Varadkar: My Department administers a National Lottery Discretionary Fund from which once-off grants are paid to community and voluntary organisations, providing a range of health related services. If an organisation wishes to make an application for National Lottery Funding they should send in a formal application. Detailed procedures along with the application form for 2015 will soon be available...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (20 Jan 2015)

Leo Varadkar: I am not aware of any plans or proposals to do what the Deputy suggests. However, as this is a matter for the HSE, I have asked it to respond to the Deputy directly. If he has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing Home Services (20 Jan 2015)

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

Written Answers — Department of Health: Ambulance Service Provision (20 Jan 2015)

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 (20 Jan 2015)

Leo Varadkar: Your question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply as the delivery of the health care infrastructure is a service matter. There will always be more projects than can be funded by the Exchequer through capital expenditure. There is limited funding available for new projects over the next multi-annual period 2015-2019 given the level of commitments and the costs...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cancer Screening Programmes (20 Jan 2015)

Leo Varadkar: Planning for the age extension of BreastCheck to 65 - 69 year olds is underway and screening of the extended cohort will commence in Quarter 4 of 2015. The additional eligible population is approximately 100,000. The age extension will be expanded nationwide on an incremental basis, starting with those aged 65/66, in order to manage the additional screening and follow up involved. It will...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (20 Jan 2015)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 484 and 485 together. A review of the genetics service at Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin, commissioned by the HSE was submitted in May last year. This report made a number of recommendations on both internal and national service issues, which will be addressed by the HSE in conjunction with Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin and the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Children's Hospital (20 Jan 2015)

Leo Varadkar: The new children's hospital will be co-located with St James's Hospital, and ultimately tri-located with a maternity hospital to be developed on campus. In addition to the main hospital, the project includes two satellite centres at the campuses of Tallaght and Connolly Hospitals. The paediatric clinical genetics service is included in the new children’s hospital, and children and,...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Regulation of Health and Social Care Professions (20 Jan 2015)

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,...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Health Services Provision (20 Jan 2015)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Senators for raising this important issue. As Senators will know, I cannot comment on individual cases and I make no decisions on individual patients. There are no patients' charts on my desk so my remarks relate to the issue at hand and not any individual patient. The HSE has statutory responsibility for the decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicinal products under...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Health Services Provision (20 Jan 2015)

Leo Varadkar: I think it may state "now" but it should be "not".

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Health Services Provision (20 Jan 2015)

Leo Varadkar: The HSE national drugs committee and the HSE as a body corporate is always open to pharmaceutical companies to make new applications or revise applications. Members may be interested to know that Alexion as a company has a revenue of €1.15 billion, had profits of €253 million and equity of €2.4 billion. The chief executive officer of the company is paid €12...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Health Services Provision (20 Jan 2015)

Leo Varadkar: There may not be, but there was in Belgium.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Health Services Provision (20 Jan 2015)

Leo Varadkar: I do not suggest that there is in this case. This is a company that is very aggressive in the way it prices its medicines. The door is never closed to a new medicine. The company can present new evidence, a better price, or both. I call on the Seanad to stand behind the taxpayer in the interests of patients as a whole and support the HSE national drugs committee in its efforts to ensure a...