Results 13,081-13,100 of 49,836 for speaker:Stephen Donnelly

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (10 Dec 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: I sincerely regret that children can experience a long waiting time for treatment for scoliosis, and I am conscious of the burden that this places on them and their families.  In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, Children’s Health Ireland had to take measures to defer most scheduled care activity between March and May of this year. This decision was in line with the advice issued...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Abortion Services Provision (10 Dec 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 98, 122 and 186 together. Section 12 of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 states that a termination of pregnancy may be carried out by a medical practitioner where, having examined the woman, he or she is of the reasonable opinion formed in good faith that the pregnancy has not exceeded 12 weeks of pregnancy. The medical...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (10 Dec 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: I acknowledge that the visitor restrictions introduced in maternity services, because of Covid-19, have given rise to concern and anxiety for women and families. However, the reality is that, while very regrettable, these restrictions have been necessary to protect the safety of patients and families, hospital staff and the operability of our maternity services. To date, thankfully, no...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff (10 Dec 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: Consultant status for public health specialists under a new public health framework was recommended in the Crowe Horwath Report on the Specialty published in December 2018. That Report followed on from MacCraith Report that recommended, inter alia, examination of the current and future role of health specialists in Ireland and the attractiveness of public health as a career option....

Written Answers — Department of Health: Tribunals of Inquiry (10 Dec 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: I commenced the relevant sections of the CervicalCheck Tribunal Act 2019 on 21 October 2020 and signed the order to appoint 27 October 2020 as the establishment day of the Tribunal. Following a pause in establishment to allow for discussions with the 221+ Patient Representative Group in respect of the CervicalCheck Tribunal and CervicalCheck cases more generally, the nominated members...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Tests (10 Dec 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: When the effects of this pandemic began, the health service urgently needed healthcare professionals in roles dedicated to controlling this virus. At this time, it was necessary to redeploy existing staff to areas most urgently affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, such as testing and contact tracing.  A dedicated testing and tracing workforce is currently being recruited to allow for...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Healthcare Policy (10 Dec 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: Under the Health Act 1970, eligibility for a medical card is based primarily on means. The issue of granting medical cards based on having a particular disease or illness was previously examined in 2014 by the HSE Expert Panel on Medical Need and Medical Card Eligibility. The Group concluded that it was not feasible, desirable, nor ethically justifiable to list medical conditions in priority...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Healthcare Policy (10 Dec 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: Notwithstanding the ongoing challenge of COVID-19, considerable progress continues to be made on Sláintecare implementation. The principles of Sláintecare, such as the patient being paramount; timely, needs-based care; prevention and public health; and engagement with citizens and staff, were clearly demonstrated through the COVID-19 response. Important lessons have been learnt...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (10 Dec 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: In anticipation of the projected surge in Covid-19 cases and the expected impact on the health care system a major part of the response was to urgently ramp up capacity for acute hospital care facilities.  A critical element of the strategy was to put in place an arrangement with the private hospitals to use their facilities as part of the public system, to provide essential acute...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (10 Dec 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: In October, the Irish Government adopted the EU “traffic lights” approach to intra EU travel and has taken decisions on what public health measures will apply to international arrivals. All passengers continue to be legally required to complete a COVID-19 Passenger Locator Form.   With regards to sharing passenger locator data with counterparts in Northern...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (10 Dec 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible. 

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (10 Dec 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: The Government is committed to the timely implementation of a COVID-19 immunisation programme, as soon as one or more vaccines in the EU portfolio are approved for use.  In this regard a High-Level Taskforce was established to support and oversee the development and implementation of the programme. The Taskforce membership is made up of senior personnel from my Department, the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (10 Dec 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 113 and 151 together. Public Health plays a key strategic and leadership role in promoting health and protecting the population from threats to health, such as Covid-19. Public Health operationalises population level pandemic response plans and coordinates activities across multiple stakeholders including emergency and acute hospital services. This...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing Education (10 Dec 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 114, 152, 171 and 185 together. I recognise the importance of student nurses and midwives completing their essential clinical placements in a safe environment and also recognise the potential hardship that might arise for students on placement due to COVID 19 such as, maintaining part time employment, increased travel and additional accommodation costs. The...

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Staff (10 Dec 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: The Winter Plan was launched by the Health Service Executive on 24th September. The number of staff employed by the Health Service Executive is identified through the staff census, which is collected monthly, with October being the most recently available data.  From the end of September to the end of October, there has been a net increase of 92 WTE. However, it is important to note...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff (10 Dec 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: An agreement reached at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) in October 2018 provided for pay restoration in relation to 50 pilot organisations in the first instance. Pay restoration for these bodies commenced in April 2019 with further payments due in October 2020 and October 2021 as appropriate. The agreement recognised that some of the remaining Section 39 organisations were also...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Paediatric Services (10 Dec 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: I sincerely regret that children can experience a long waiting time for Rheumatology treatment, and I am conscious of the burden that this places on them and their families. Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) has advised my Department that during the initial phases of COVID-19, all face to face hospital outpatient reviews and most of the planned diagnostic tests, including MRI, were...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (10 Dec 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible. 

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (10 Dec 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: The Government is committed to the timely implementation of a COVID-19 immunisation programme, as soon as one or more vaccines in the EU portfolio are approved for use.  In this regard a High-Level Taskforce was established to support and oversee the development and implementation of the programme. The Taskforce is supporting my Department and the HSE in developing national COVID-19...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (10 Dec 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: Ireland is currently involved in an EU Procurement Exercise being operated by the European Commission on behalf of member states to procure a portfolio of suitable, safe and effective vaccines, in sufficient quantities, to combat COVID-19. As part of the exercise, Ireland has already opted into an Advance Purchase Agreement (APA) with AstraZeneca (partnering with Oxford University);...