Results 13,681-13,700 of 21,128 for speaker:James Reilly

Written Answers — Department of Health: Accident and Emergency Services Provision (10 Jul 2013)

James Reilly: I published the Framework for Smaller Hospitals - Securing the Future of Smaller Hospitals: A Framework for Development, and the Hospital Groups Report on 14 May 2013. This Framework offers clear information about the role of our smaller hospitals, including St Colmcille's Hospital, and what they will do in the future. Hospital groups will be required to submit a strategic plan within one...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Issues (10 Jul 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.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 38 - Department of Health (Revised)
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive (Revised) (10 Jul 2013)

James Reilly: I am accompanied by Ms Bairbre Nic Aongusa, assistant secretary of the Department of Health, Mr. Tom Byrne, chief financial officer, Health Service Executive, Ms Nuala Prendergast, principal officer, Department of Health, and Ms Laverne McGuinness, chief operations officer, Health Service Executive. I am pleased to have the opportunity to address the select committee on the Revised...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 38 - Department of Health (Revised)
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive (Revised) (10 Jul 2013)

James Reilly: Acknowledging the significant pressures facing the health sector, the Government approved an increase of €150 million to the expenditure ceiling for 2013 which was extremely welcome but does not take away from the fact that further significant cost extraction is required with €781 million in savings to be achieved in 2013. The primary aim in targeting savings is to cut the cost...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 38 - Department of Health (Revised)
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive (Revised) (10 Jul 2013)

James Reilly: I will leave that up to the committee if it would like me to finish. I only have a small bit left to say.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 38 - Department of Health (Revised)
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive (Revised) (10 Jul 2013)

James Reilly: The recently enacted Health (Pricing and Medical Goods) Act 2013 provides for the first time a radical change in the way prices are set and will lead to benefits for patients and the State finances. The legislation will promote price competition among suppliers and ensure that lower prices are paid for these medicines resulting in savings for taxpayers and patients. The Irish Medicines...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 38 - Department of Health (Revised)
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive (Revised) (10 Jul 2013)

James Reilly: Deputy Ó Caoláin quite rightly pointed to the reduction in our budget and staff numbers over the past several years. He contends this has done significant damage to the health service. He does not acknowledge that it has actually improved because reforms have been carried out. A deal was done with the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association, IPHA, which will yield savings of...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 38 - Department of Health (Revised)
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive (Revised) (10 Jul 2013)

James Reilly: Yes. We covered some of the issues raised by Deputy Kelleher so I will not go over them again. I will ask Ms Laverne McGuinness to answer his questions about discretionary medical cards, because I do not believe the assessments have been random, as well as issues raised by others about the nursing homes support scheme and the supposed cuts there. Deputy Kelleher mentioned the drug deal...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 38 - Department of Health (Revised)
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive (Revised) (10 Jul 2013)

James Reilly: The Department is currently in conversation with the Revenue Commissioners and we all know that these are private matters between the individuals and the Commissioners. It would be inappropriate for me to comment.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 38 - Department of Health (Revised)
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive (Revised) (10 Jul 2013)

James Reilly: Because there were queries from Revenue to the Department.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 38 - Department of Health (Revised)
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive (Revised) (10 Jul 2013)

James Reilly: I will come back with a written answer.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 38 - Department of Health (Revised)
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive (Revised) (10 Jul 2013)

James Reilly: I ask the Deputy to withdrawn his contention that there has been a 20% reduction when it is a 5% reduction. I do not know where he got 20% from.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 38 - Department of Health (Revised)
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive (Revised) (10 Jul 2013)

James Reilly: The Deputy said 20% at the outset.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 38 - Department of Health (Revised)
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive (Revised) (10 Jul 2013)

James Reilly: That is fair enough once we have clarity from members. There is a 5% reduction. We have a major problem with the drugs task forces and we are concerned about the drugs issue. There are 14 local drugs task forces which cover areas with the highest concentration of drugs activity. There are 12 in Dublin, one in Bray and one in Cork. There are also ten regional drugs task forces for the...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 38 - Department of Health (Revised)
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive (Revised) (10 Jul 2013)

James Reilly: There is a lot of co-operation at local level between the two Departments. Given the new Department has only been set up and the Bill for that will only be coming out this week, and given the new agency is currently being set up, there is a lot of co-operation between the Departments. The Deputy raises a very valid point, nonetheless, and we probably need to have a more formal arrangement...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 38 - Department of Health (Revised)
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive (Revised) (10 Jul 2013)

James Reilly: Deputy Kelleher has raised a very valid point. I do not accept that the drugs task forces are falling off the cliff. What we are doing is reviewing their role and effectiveness. As Deputy Byrne has made clear, many people have very serious concerns about their effectiveness and the way they are operating currently. We need to ensure that, at a time of very limited resources, we are...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 38 - Department of Health (Revised)
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive (Revised) (10 Jul 2013)

James Reilly: Is the Deputy referring to Vote 38 or 39?

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 38 - Department of Health (Revised)
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive (Revised) (10 Jul 2013)

James Reilly: Ms McGuinness can deal with the question on narcolepsy in more detail. It is not covered under this subhead, but proposals on how to deal with it are being put together for consideration by the Government. There is no question or doubt that people have suffered as a consequence of the vaccine which was given and taken in good faith. That brings me to Deputy Denis Naughten's inquiry. This...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 38 - Department of Health (Revised)
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive (Revised) (10 Jul 2013)

James Reilly: I will let Ms Nic Aongusa explain that technical issue in more detail.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 38 - Department of Health (Revised)
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive (Revised) (10 Jul 2013)

James Reilly: Ms McGuinness might discuss the narcolepsy issue.