Results 16,081-16,100 of 21,128 for speaker:James Reilly

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Maternity Services (19 Feb 2014)

James Reilly: The first part of getting an answer is to be able to listen, rather than continually interrupting. There have been media reports suggesting that some hospitals within the west and north-west group were to lose their maternity services. These reports are purely speculative and have no basis in fact. I fully recognise that such unsubstantiated reports are a cause for concern for patients and...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Maternity Services (19 Feb 2014)

James Reilly: The position is that in the context of the implementation of the HIQA report into the death of Savita Halappanavar and the Higgins report on the establishment of hospital groups, the west and north-west hospital group is currently undertaking a review of maternity services within the group. This review includes the maternity units at Mayo General Hospital, University Hospital Galway,...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Maternity Services (19 Feb 2014)

James Reilly: I have met the two chairpersons of two of the new hospital groups. They are acutely aware of the need to make sure that services are delivered as near to home as possible, in the most cost-effective fashion, but that the services are also safe. That will be a benefit of these groups, because they will allow for a "buddy up" of services. Rather than services closing, smaller units will have...

Health Identifiers Bill 2013: Second Stage (20 Feb 2014)

James Reilly: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am pleased to address the House on the Health Identifiers Bill. The Bill was received very positively by Members of Seanad Éireann and I look forward to further constructive debate in this House. The Health Identifiers Bill provides the legislative framework for a national unique identifier for patients and for health service...

Health Identifiers Bill 2013: Second Stage (20 Feb 2014)

James Reilly: I could be finished in four or five minutes if Members wanted me to continue.

Health Identifiers Bill 2013: Second Stage (20 Feb 2014)

James Reilly: I thank Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin and also Deputy Michael Moynihan who has nodded in assent. I also thank Deputy Dan Neville, the Leas-Cheann Comhairle agus gach duine atá anseo. Part 5, section 26, provides for the delegation of certain functions of the Minister. This is in recognition of the day-to-day operational realities associated with assigning the identifiers...

Topical Issue Debate: Disease Awareness (20 Feb 2014)

James Reilly: I thank the Deputy for raising this Topical Issue as it provides me with an opportunity to update the House on the matter. Lyme disease, also known as Lyme borelliosis, is an infection caused by a bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi. It is transmitted to humans by bites from ticks infected with the bacteria. Lyme borelliosis was made statutorily notifiable in Ireland by the Infectious...

Topical Issue Debate: Disease Awareness (20 Feb 2014)

James Reilly: This is an important issue and the purpose of the House in discussing it today is to raise awareness among the public and among general practitioners. Lyme disease is not very common in this country and given the general nature of its symptoms such as headache, fatigue, sore throat and so forth, we must heighten awareness of it. It is a matter for the Irish College of General Practitioners...

Topical Issue Debate: Health Services Issues (20 Feb 2014)

James Reilly: Táimid an-efficient anseo, nach bhfuil?

Topical Issue Debate: Health Services Issues (20 Feb 2014)

James Reilly: I thank the Deputy for raising this important and current issue. The HSE provides funding of approximately €3 billion for almost 3,000 agencies for the delivery of a range of services, of which €2.44 billion is provided for section 38 organisations, of which there are approximately 38.

Topical Issue Debate: Health Services Issues (20 Feb 2014)

James Reilly: They are primarily in the acute hospital and disability sectors. Since 2009 they have been required to enter into a formal service arrangement with the HSE. The service arrangement is the contract between the HSE and each individual agency. Under this arrangement, they are obliged to give certain undertakings in relation to compliance with a range of standards and statutory requirements. ...

Topical Issue Debate: Health Services Issues (20 Feb 2014)

James Reilly: The Deputy is absolutely right; there are 43 section 38 agencies. All of this arose out of the HIQA report into Tallaght hospital, during the course of which we discovered alternative streams of payment which led us to a broader audit of the entire sector. This took some time, as the Deputy knows. With regard to the formulation of boards, strong recommendations came out of the inquiry...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Insurance Cover (20 Feb 2014)

James Reilly: The Government has committed itself to continuing the work towards authorising the VHI as soon as possible. The aim is to have VHI authorised by end 2014, if the Central Bank so decides. The VHI Board has committed to this approach. VHI has indicated that it will seek to self-fund any capital requirements, meaning that, if successful, no Exchequer funding would be required. This approach...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Speech and Language Therapy (20 Feb 2014)

James Reilly: As the particular issue raised by the Deputy relates to an individual case, this is a service matter for the Health Service Executive. Accordingly, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Governance (20 Feb 2014)

James Reilly: As Minister for Health, I have responsibility for national health policy. Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Services Executive has statutory responsibility for, among other matters, managing and delivering health and personal social services.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Ambulance Service Provision (20 Feb 2014)

James Reilly: As the Deputy's queries relates to service matters, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Data Protection (20 Feb 2014)

James Reilly: My Department has a comprehensive set of policies and safeguards in place to meet the requirements of Data Protection legislation and, in line with the legislation, has assigned responsibility as Data Controller, to a senior official.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Accident and Emergency Services Provision (20 Feb 2014)

James Reilly: The Department of Health, the HSE SDU and the INMO are at one in regarding trolley waits to be an unacceptable feature of the Irish healthcare system which must be addressed. However, year to date on a national basis we are 2.2% ahead of 2013 and 33.4% ahead of the baseline 2011 trolley count. These percentages are equivalent to 211 and 4,649 fewer patients on trolleys respectively. I am...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Provision (20 Feb 2014)

James Reilly: I have requested the Health Service Executive to examine the matter and to revert to the Deputy

Organ Donation: Motion (21 Feb 2014)

James Reilly: I hope that even if there were no Standing Orders the Acting Chairman would still call upon me. I am delighted to have the opportunity to address the House regarding the Report of the Joint Committee on Health and Children on Organ Donation. Increasing the number of organ donors and organ transplants is one of my stated priorities and the joint committee is to be congratulated on the...