Results 13,921-13,940 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Applications (31 Mar 2015)

Leo Varadkar: 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...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointment Status (31 Mar 2015)

Leo Varadkar: The scheduling of appointments for patients is a matter for the hospital to which the patient has been referred. Should a patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he or she should take the matter up with the consultant and the hospital involved. In relation to the specific case raised, I have asked the HSE to respond to you...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Nursing Staff Recruitment (31 Mar 2015)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Senator for raising this matter. The background to this issue is that nurses who trained in a country outside of Ireland and wish to work in Ireland are required to apply to register as a nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland, NMBI The NMBI, following assessment of qualifications by an applicant, may require an applicant to undertake a six-week period of...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Nursing Staff Recruitment (31 Mar 2015)

Leo Varadkar: As I understand it Irish trained nurses do not have to do an adaption course but they do have to re-register with the NMBI if they allow their registration to lapse. There have been some delays in processing applications for all sorts of reasons, not entirely administrative delays, but I am certainly aware of that. It is the case that we are in quite a different position than where we were...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Drug Treatment Programmes Availability (31 Mar 2015)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Senator for raising this important matter in the House. The overall strategic aim 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. Within this framework, the HSE is committed to achieving improved...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Drug Treatment Programmes Availability (31 Mar 2015)

Leo Varadkar: I will certainly ask my officials to check specifically on the service on Market Street. It is always a possibility that the information I have been given is incorrect. Given the scale and breadth of the health portfolio, it is just not possible for me to be au faitwith every individual service in every town and county at relatively short notice. I will ask my officials to look into the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Ambulance Service Provision (1 Apr 2015)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 105 to 107, inclusive, together. As these are service matters, 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: Health Insurance Prices (1 Apr 2015)

Leo Varadkar: Community rating, reflecting the principle of intergenerational solidarity, is a fundamental cornerstone of the Irish health insurance market. Under community rating, the level of risk that a particular consumer poses to an insurer does not directly affect the premium paid. Premiums for younger or healthier lives are typically higher than their expected claims would require, whereas for older...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Patient Safety Agency Establishment (1 Apr 2015)

Leo Varadkar: Plans for the establishment of a Patient Safety Agency are under review in the context of the strategic reform of the health services and the measures that are being taken to strengthen patient safety, including advocacy and related services, within the HSE. This review will allow me to decide on the most appropriate way forward in the best interest of patients. I hope this clarifies the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Maternity Services (1 Apr 2015)

Leo Varadkar: My Department is currently reviewing the recommendations made by KPMG (2008) in relation to the locations for the redevelopment of the Coombe and the Rotunda Hospitals. This review was necessitated by the decision to locate the new National Children’s Hospital at St James’s Hospital, and the consequent need to provide a maternity hospital on that campus in order to have a...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Qualifications (1 Apr 2015)

Leo Varadkar: Recognition of medical qualifications for the purposes of registration as a medical practitioner entitled to work in Ireland is a matter for the Medical Council. I have forwarded your request to the Medical Council for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug Treatment Programmes (1 Apr 2015)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 115 to 120, inclusive, and 125 and 126 together. As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff Recruitment (1 Apr 2015)

Leo Varadkar: The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform announced in budget 2014 that he intends to delegate greater autonomy to Departments and Agencies to manage their own staffing levels. The change from the application of a rigid employment control framework, with its particular focus on a moratorium on recruitment and compliance with employment ceilings and targets, to one operating strictly...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff Data (1 Apr 2015)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 122 to 124, inclusive, together. The provision of services to prevent and treat addiction to alcohol is the responsibility of the Health Service Executive and as such, I have referred this question to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff Recruitment (2 Apr 2015)

Leo Varadkar: I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this issue. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointment Status (2 Apr 2015)

Leo Varadkar: The Health Service Executive operates the EU Directive on Patients’ Rights in Cross Border Healthcare in Ireland under Statutory Instrument 203 of 2014. The Directive provides rules for the reimbursement to patients’ of the cost of receiving treatment abroad, where the patient would be entitled to such treatment in their home Member State (Member State of Affiliation) and...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointment Delays (2 Apr 2015)

Leo Varadkar: In relation to the particular patient query raised by you, 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: Hospital Appointments Administration (2 Apr 2015)

Leo Varadkar: In relation to the particular patient query raised by you, 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: Health Insurance Regulation (2 Apr 2015)

Leo Varadkar: On 30 March 2015, I signed an order to extend the date that VHI must acquire the necessary fund for reserves to make an application for authorisation by the Central Bank of Ireland. The specified date is 30 June 2015. The order was laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas on 1 April 2015. I hope this clarified the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointment Status (2 Apr 2015)

Leo Varadkar: Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver health services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister from directing the HSE to provide treatment or a personal service to any individual. The scheduling of appointments for patients is a matter for the hospital to which the patient has been referred. Should a patient's...