Results 14,181-14,200 of 49,836 for speaker:Stephen Donnelly

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (28 Jan 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: I wholeheartedly endorse and echo the Deputy's praise of the nursing homes and for those working in the nursing homes. I add my thanks to the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, who is taking the lead on nursing homes, and who is doing a fantastic job and working very closely with the nursing home sector to ensure that it gets whatever help we can give it. This is a really tough situation....

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (28 Jan 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: I will get back to the Deputy with a detailed note. Regarding the daily updates, the Deputy should be receiving them. I have asked for that for every Member, so I will follow that up immediately.

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (28 Jan 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: If the Deputy is not receiving them, I will ensure that it is rectified. With regard to getting them online, they are being changed twice a week at present and we are moving quickly. I want to get the daily updates done and up as quickly as possible both on the data hub and on the app. I wish to make a point on the overpromising. I was asked for indicative timelines. In fairness, if...

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (28 Jan 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: -----but I hope that it would not be mis-characterised as making promises. They are not promises but a genuine attempt to try to give people a sense of the type of timing we would like to see.

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (28 Jan 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: Yes.

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (28 Jan 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Deputy for his contribution and questions. I agree wholeheartedly with him that we need to get the information to people. There is a real hunger for it, particularly with regard to people over 70 years old. They are asking how it is going to happen and when they will be contacted. That information will be out shortly and much of it will come from GPs to their patients. There...

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (28 Jan 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Deputy for his contribution. With regard to his first question on Irish citizens abroad in service to the State, I will ask for an update on that and will make sure it is brought to him. On the engagement of the State with the EU at various levels, that is absolutely happening. We are part of the process whereby the Commission is engaging with AstraZeneca and there are contacts...

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (28 Jan 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: I would have to go back and check exactly what interview or statement the Deputy is talking about. As he has characterised that comment right now, it does not sound right to me but I am more than happy to look at what was said on the record and engage with him on it.

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (28 Jan 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Deputy for his questions. We are in agreement on the strategy relating to the new variants. For example, South Africa and Brazil have the identified variant. Last night, the visa programme for those countries was suspended. In the context of new variants emerging globally, I agree that we need a robust system of protection in place which will keep those variants out of...

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (28 Jan 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Deputy for his questions. With regard to Janssen-Johnson & Johnson, I will ask the Department for the most up-to-date note on it. I have heard various different accounts over the past few days in terms of timing. I can confirm that not only are we and the EU aware of it, the Janssen-Johnson & Johnson vaccine is one of the vaccines we have advanced purchased in...

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (28 Jan 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: That is a very important question, similar to many of the other questions, in terms of prioritisation. The prioritisation we are using was proposed by the expert group and NIAC, considered and endorsed by NPHET and then agreed by Cabinet. That is what we are using. Of course, it has to be a live document and we have to be open to updating it as we learn more. That goes without saying. ...

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (28 Jan 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Deputy for another excellent question. Rapid testing, or antigen testing, is now being deployed across the healthcare settings at a significant volume as of this week. I have set up an independent expert group to report back to me very quickly on exactly the question the Deputy asked: can we deploy antigen testing in non-healthcare settings such as schools, nursing homes,...

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (28 Jan 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Deputy for his questions. As with other Members and people across the country, he is rightly raising issues for those who are more vulnerable, including people with CF, people with underlying conditions such as Down's syndrome and their carers. If the Deputy looks through the prioritisation, he will see that one of the groups we are coming to as quickly as possible is people...

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (28 Jan 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: May I clarify that I am right in thinking the Deputy is talking about home helps or carers who are working in the formal sector in west Cork? Is that correct?

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (28 Jan 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: The answer to the Deputy's very reasonable question, then, is that the hospital group that covers the area is at the moment putting together a detailed plan to answer exactly that. I will make sure that as soon as it has that ready it sends that information on to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Ministerial Communications (28 Jan 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: There has been, and continues to be, significant engagement and cooperation between the Ministers for Health, the Chief Medical Officers, and the Departments of Health in Ireland and Northern Ireland throughout this pandemic. I recently met with Minister Robin Swann about data sharing from respective passenger locator forms on the 20th of January and with Secretary of State Matt Hancock to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Aids and Appliances (28 Jan 2021)

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 (28 Jan 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 223 and 225 together. The COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Strategy sets out a provisional list of groups for vaccination. The Strategy was developed by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) and my Department, endorsed by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), and approved by Government on 8 December 2020. Vaccine allocation is a matter...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (28 Jan 2021)

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: Proposed Legislation (28 Jan 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: Cannabis is strictly controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Acts 1977 to 2016, and the Regulations and Orders made thereunder. The two most common active components found in cannabis oil are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). THC is the principal psychoactive constituent of cannabis. Under the Misuse of Drugs legislation products containing THC are strictly controlled and...