Results 14,341-14,360 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Staff Recruitment (6 May 2015)

Leo Varadkar: There was a requirement to reduce public service numbers and maximise savings in the public service from the time of the downturn in the economy. The HSE introduced an embargo on recruitment in 2007, and this was followed by the moratorium on recruitment and promotion in the public sector in 2008. The HSE has had the capacity to recruit where it is necessary to deliver front-line services....

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointment Status (7 May 2015)

Leo Varadkar: Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual. The scheduling...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff Remuneration (7 May 2015)

Leo Varadkar: The HSE has advised that following a national engagement with staff representatives, agreement was made by the HSE to pay unsocial hours to designated staff. This payment commenced on 1 January 2015 and no agreement was made in relation to arrears. Currently the issue of a backdated claim for arrears is being reviewed by the State’s industrial relations processes and the claim is...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospitals Expenditure (7 May 2015)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy's question relates to service delivery matters and accordingly I have asked the HSE to respond directly to him. 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 Waiting Lists (7 May 2015)

Leo Varadkar: Firstly, I would like to extend my sympathies to the family of the person concerned. As this is a service matter I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly on the matter. 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 Staff Data (7 May 2015)

Leo Varadkar: I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter. 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: Public Sector Pensions (7 May 2015)

Leo Varadkar: In 2005, the Minister for Finance introduced cost neutral early retirement (CNER) for the public service. Subject to eligibility, the scheme was made available to eligible public servants aged 50/55 years or over (subject to preserved pension age). This facility allows public servants to retire with immediate payment of pension benefits subject to an actuarial reduction to take account of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Public Sector Pensions (7 May 2015)

Leo Varadkar: I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter. 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: Health Insurance Community Rating (7 May 2015)

Leo Varadkar: Taking out health insurance is optional. Anyone ordinarily resident in the country is entitled, subject to certain charges, to receive public in-patient and out-patient hospital services. People who do not take out health insurance continue to have the same entitlement to services in the public hospital system. Community rating, reflecting the principle of intergenerational solidarity, is...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Provision (7 May 2015)

Leo Varadkar: 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: Pension Entitlements (7 May 2015)

Leo Varadkar: I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter. 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 (7 May 2015)

Leo Varadkar: I refer the Deputy to my answer of 5 March and 12 March and to the response issued by the HSE on 10 March, which noted that the hospital concerned has a policy for the management of scheduled inpatient care based on clinical prioritisation as indicated by the admitting Consultant specialist at the time of consultation. This is in line with HSE best practice. I also note that the HSE has...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff Remuneration (7 May 2015)

Leo Varadkar: The HSE has advised that following a national engagement with staff representatives, agreement was made by the HSE to pay unsocial hours to designated staff. This payment commenced on 1 January 2015 and no agreement was made in relation to arrears. Currently the issue of a backdated claim for arrears is being reviewed by the State’s industrial relations processes and the claim is...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointment Status (7 May 2015)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 141 and 165 together. Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Availability (7 May 2015)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 151 to 153, inclusive, together. I launched a public consultation process on the wider availability of a number of prescription-only medicines used in emergency situations on 20 February. The consultation forms part of a wider review which aims to explore the feasibility of setting up a system to allow appropriately trained non-medical persons to have...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Care Professionals (7 May 2015)

Leo Varadkar: Psychotherapists and counsellors are not currently regulated under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005. However, the Act provides that the Minister for Health may, under section 4(2), designate a health and social care profession not already designated if he or she considers that it is in the public interest to do so and if specified criteria have been met. My predecessor,...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Investigations (7 May 2015)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 157 to 160, inclusive, together. In relation to the detailed queries raised by the Deputy, 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: Hospital Services (7 May 2015)

Leo Varadkar: As Minister for Health I believe that every individual who uses our health services is entitled to expect and receive care of the highest standard and to be treated in an atmosphere of safety and care. In 2012, the Faculty of Radiology launched their national Quality Assurance Programme in Radiology (NQAPR). In outlining the importance of such quality assurance structures and functions,...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (7 May 2015)

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

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff Data (7 May 2015)

Leo Varadkar: I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter. 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.