Results 13,201-13,220 of 21,128 for speaker:James Reilly

Written Answers — Department of Health: An Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann (19 Jun 2013)

James Reilly: An Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann was changed from An Bord Altranais following the introduction of the Nurses and Midwives Act, 2011, to inter alia give full recognition to midwifery as a separate profession.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointment Status (19 Jun 2013)

James Reilly: Improving access to outpatient services is a key priority for the Government. Collaborating with individual hospitals, the SDU together with the NTPF and the HSE have developed the OP waiting list minimum dataset that allows for data to be submitted to the NTPF from hospitals on a weekly basis and, for the first time, outpatient data is available on www.ntpf.ie. For 2013, a maximum waiting...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Data Retention (19 Jun 2013)

James Reilly: In the wake of mounting concern from a range respected bodies about the potential value into the future of the loss of the material, and in the context of low public awareness of the issue, I requested that no destruction of the cards takes place pending legal advice from the Attorney General prior to further consideration on how to archive the material in a manner that satisfies the concerns...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Home Help Service Redundancies (19 Jun 2013)

James Reilly: The HSE recognises the importance of home help and home care in supporting older persons to live in their own homes and communities, in accordance with Government policy. The 2013 National Service Plan includes the provision of 10.3 million hours of home help service, the same level as planned for in 2012. On 29 June 2012, the Labour Court recommended that the HSE and SIPTU should engage in...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Smoking Ban (19 Jun 2013)

James Reilly: It is recognised that smoking in cars exposes all the occupants to harmful environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). ETS is a carcinogen and contains the same cancer causing substances and toxic agents that are inhaled by the smoker. There is no safe level of exposure to ETS. Exposure to cigarette smoke is particularly dangerous in enclosed spaces, such as cars, and parents and others with...

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (19 Jun 2013)

James Reilly: I am pleased to have an opportunity to introduce the Second Stage debate on the Health (Amendment) Bill 2013. The Bill amends the Nursing Homes Support Scheme Act 2009 and the Health Act 1970. The primary purpose of the Bill is to give effect to the budget 2013 announcements relating to the nursing homes support scheme, public acute hospital inpatient charges and the charging of private...

Seanad: Public Health (Availability of Defibrillators) Bill 2013: Second Stage [Private Members] (19 Jun 2013)

James Reilly: I apologise at the outset because I will have to leave for an important meeting at approximately 5.25 p.m. There is nothing at all contentious in the health sector, as Senators know. We welcome our friends from the Irish Heart Foundation in the Visitors' Gallery. I am grateful to the Senator for providing me with the opportunity to speak on this matter in Seanad Éireann. It is...

Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Order for Second Stage (20 Jun 2013)

James Reilly: I move: "That Second Stage be taken now."

Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Second Stage (20 Jun 2013)

James Reilly: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I stand before the House today fully aware of the sensitive and complex nature of the matter we are about to deal with. I am also fully cognisant of the wide range of views that exist in the House and throughout our country so from the outset I want make very clear this legislation is about saving lives, the life of the mother and her...

Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Second Stage (20 Jun 2013)

James Reilly: Perish the thought.

Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Second Stage (20 Jun 2013)

James Reilly: I thank the Deputy and I appreciate it. I noticed when I was reading my statement that one point could be somewhat confusing. Where I said, "If the legislation is abused I will have the power to suspend it and I will not be afraid to exercise this power", I meant that "it" to refer to the service, not the Bill. That is for the purposes of clarity.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Hospital Charges (25 Jun 2013)

James Reilly: I have consistently raised the issue of managing costs with health insurers and I am determined to address rising costs in the sector in the interests of consumers. I want insurers to address the base cost of each element of claims which they pay. This is the real issue as costs and the manner in which they have been rising in recent years are unsustainable. Last year I established the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Hospital Charges (25 Jun 2013)

James Reilly: The bottom line is that it is the insurer, not the Department, that negotiates with private hospitals and consultants. Only insurers can address these ever-rising costs. They have to examine why they pay the level of costs they pay. I acknowledge the argument made by the Deputy. I am happy to engage, through my Department, with the insurers to talk about paying per procedure instead of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Hospital Charges (25 Jun 2013)

James Reilly: I am dealing with a problem that was not addressed by the previous Government. We all know why we find ourselves in the current position, which is as a result of the Fianna Fáil-Anglo Irish Bank axis and the damage it did to this country. We will deal with the present-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Hospital Charges (25 Jun 2013)

James Reilly: It has everything to do with the fact that 450,000 people are unemployed and many people cannot afford health insurance because they do not have a job. This is because of Deputy Kelleher's party and its Government's engagement with Anglo Irish Bank; the Government was hoodwinked by it.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Hospital Charges (25 Jun 2013)

James Reilly: Either criminal negligence or utter incompetence on the part of the Government was the cause of the problem we have to deal with. That Government was supposed to be in charge of the situation; the banks will be dealt with in due course. The bottom line is that we have an opportunity now to do something real to address the ever-escalating cost of private insurance - why we pay what we pay for...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Childhood Obesity (25 Jun 2013)

James Reilly: As Minister for Health, I have made excess weight and obesity a public health priority. I have established the special action group on obesity, or SAGO, with which I meet regularly to further the obesity agenda. The range of measures being implemented by my Department seeks to promote healthy lifestyles, encourage adults and children to make healthier food choices and increase activeness....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Childhood Obesity (25 Jun 2013)

James Reilly: I am in regular contact with the Department's team and its strategic action group on obesity. There has been a lot of involvement by the HSE in this regard. We are always happy to meet with people who have an interest in the area to support the initiative. This is the Department of Health but I often think it is the Department of ill-health, given that we are always dealing with disease...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Childhood Obesity (25 Jun 2013)

James Reilly: On the last topic, my position is known. We should be travelling in that direction, but I realise there are broader economic factors at play in the considerations of other ministries. I will pursue my goal and I believe it to be the most appropriate direction in which to travel. The Healthy Ireland initiative is in its early stages and we are working to bring greater cohesiveness to it....

Other Questions: Obesity Strategy (25 Jun 2013)

James Reilly: The House will forgive me for a degree of repetition, as we have dealt with this already to some extent. As Members know, as Minister for Health, I have made excess weight and obesity a public health priority and have established a special action group on obesity, SAGO, with which I meet regularly to make further progress on the obesity agenda. SAGO comprises key stakeholders and is chaired...