Results 13,141-13,160 of 21,128 for speaker:James Reilly

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cancer Screening Programme (13 Jun 2013)

James Reilly: The National Bowel Screening Programme (BowelScreen) commenced in November 2012 and is being introduced on a phased basis to men and women between the ages of 60-69 years. When fully implemented the programme will offer free screening to men and women aged 55-74 every two years. The screening test, known as a Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT), is a home based test and approximately 94 to 95...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Provision (13 Jun 2013)

James Reilly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 205 and 223 together. The National Clinical Programme for Asthma, which commenced in 2011, is one of a number of chronic disease programmes established in the HSE's Clinical Care Directorate aimed at bringing a systematic approach to changes in how services for patients are delivered. The HSE's 2013 National Service Plan is a high level document which is...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospitals Policy (13 Jun 2013)

James Reilly: In relation to the particular query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service issue, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Aids and Appliances Applications (13 Jun 2013)

James Reilly: In relation to the particular query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service issue, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Issues (13 Jun 2013)

James Reilly: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Admissions (13 Jun 2013)

James Reilly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 225 and 226 together. In relation to the particular queries raised by the Deputy, as these are service issues, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy in these matters.

Seanad: Hospital Services: Statements (13 Jun 2013)

James Reilly: The Higgins report on the establishment of hospital groups, which I launched on 14 May, is the most radical and fundamental modernisation of our health system infrastructure since the State's foundation. To achieve the most effective high quality outcomes for patients in the most cost-efficient manner possible, reform of the structures and governance for the delivery of hospital services is...

Seanad: Hospital Services: Statements (13 Jun 2013)

James Reilly: I thank all the Senators for their contributions while accepting that some are taking advantage of my presence to raise matters unrelated to the issue under discussion. In response to Senator MacSharry, I will certainly ask the Department to examine the situation. When will licensing be introduced? I have discussed the issue on a number of occasions with the chief medical officer. There...

Seanad: Hospital Services: Statements (13 Jun 2013)

James Reilly: I thank the Leader for the extra time. I have addressed Senator Keane's concern about a shift of power, money and resources to the centre. As I have said, the initiative is a key performance indicator but I accept that everybody here shares her concern. Professor Higgins has made it very clear that the resources is one of the major parameters to judge whether a hospital group is suitable...

Seanad: Hospital Services: Statements (13 Jun 2013)

James Reilly: Very well, I will conclude.

Seanad: Hospital Services: Statements (13 Jun 2013)

James Reilly: As Members raised questions, I will do my best to answer them as quickly as I can. I am glad Senator Barrett is on the side of plain packaging for tobacco, an industry that kills one in two of those who use their products. I agree the number of acute beds has fallen and that is because more day surgery is being carried out. Moreover, as medical technology advances, one is capable of doing...

Seanad: Hospital Services: Statements (13 Jun 2013)

James Reilly: I do not mind answering the question. In respect of the emergency department in Navan hospital, I have always made it clear that there would be changes down the line but that such changes would not happen unless there was capacity in the system to deal with those patients who currently attend that hospital. The capacity is not there yet and I do not pretend it is there. In terms of the...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Health Promotion Issues (13 Jun 2013)

James Reilly: I thank the Senator for raising this important issue and raising awareness in the week that is in it. She is right about the figures; they are staggering. Some 10,000 strokes a year is very serious. We should acknowledge the growth in public awareness of stroke warning signs, as the Senator has outlined, and the improvements noted and confirmed recently by the HSE. The FAST campaign...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Health Promotion Issues (13 Jun 2013)

James Reilly: I am very happy to state we have cross-Government support for these initiatives, particularly the healthy Ireland initiative. I will have to engage with my colleague, the Minister for Finance, to achieve the VAT reimbursement the Senator seeks. This is not the only area where I feel VAT needs to be examined, as we also have VAT on condoms and vaccines. There is no VAT on tablets or liquid...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Hospital Waiting Lists (13 Jun 2013)

James Reilly: The targets were only set this year and my promise to the people is that nobody will wait longer than a year by the end of this year. We are the first Government to measure the number of people on outpatient waiting lists. The total number is 386,000 people, but we see 200,000 people at our outpatient clinics every month and I believe we will be able to deal with this problem as we have...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Hospital Waiting Lists (13 Jun 2013)

James Reilly: I shall address the question posed by the Senator. A commitment has been given to enhance cardiology services and it will be honoured. With regard to outpatients, one of the underlying principles of the Government is that the patient should be treated at the lowest level of complexity that is safe, timely, efficient and is as near to home as possible. In many instances, throughout the...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Garda Investigations (13 Jun 2013)

James Reilly: I am speaking on behalf of the Minister for Justice and Equality who regrets that he is unable to be present due to other business. On behalf of the Minister, I wish to thank the Senator for again raising this important matter. As the Minister has previously made clear, the allegations regarding the person in question are very disturbing. He would again encourage anyone in any situation...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Garda Investigations (13 Jun 2013)

James Reilly: On behalf of the Minister I would like to thank the Senator again for his remarks and will share all of his views with the relevant Ministers. I will certainly come back to the Senator vis-à-vis the HSE and its investigation. The Minister for Justice and Equality has indicated that subject to consultation with the Garda Commissioner, he will examine how any key findings from the Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Health: EU Regulations (18 Jun 2013)

James Reilly: The Department of Health adopts a positive but precautionary approach to GM food. Each application for authorisation to allow the placing of food containing, consisting of or produced from GMOs on the markets of EU Member States is assessed on a case by case basis. The food in question must first be deemed safe by both the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the competent authority in...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Applications (18 Jun 2013)

James Reilly: The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to...