Results 16,461-16,480 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (25 Nov 2015)

Leo Varadkar: The Stamp Duties Consolidation Act 1999 sets out the provisions for the payment of stamp duties in Ireland. Section 125A of that Act provides for a levy payable by insurers on each health insurance policy written by them. The amount of this levy is reviewed annually and section 6 of the Bill amends section 125A of the Stamp Duties Consolidation Act by specifying the applicable stamp duty...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (25 Nov 2015)

Leo Varadkar: As the Deputy knows, there are something like 340 different policies. The non-advanced ones have a very basic level of cover, usually only apply to existing public hospitals and cover no more than 66% of hospital charges. The advanced plans go further. The key difference is that the amount of stamp duty is higher for an advanced policy. The vast majority of people have advanced policies.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (25 Nov 2015)

Leo Varadkar: This issue comes up. There are few things in the mix. We always have to be aware of competition legislation. This is a private industry and it is also a financial services industry. The Competition Authority, Central Bank and Health Insurance Authority all have a role. There is confusion given there are 300 or 400 plans. Some have an excess; some do not. People like the fact that they...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (25 Nov 2015)

Leo Varadkar: Yes. My health insurance policy covers maternity. The reason it does is community rating. The rating is designed to spread the burden of the cost across society and if it did not include maternity cover, then women would pay more for health insurance than men. We could do that but it would not be fair. That is one of the benefits that should be covered across society. The reverse could...

Rent Certainty and Prevention of Homelessness Bill 2015: First Stage (26 Nov 2015)

Leo Varadkar: No.

Defence Forces Report: Motion (26 Nov 2015)

Leo Varadkar: I move:That Dáil Éireann approves the report by the Minister for Defence regarding service by the Defence Forces with the United Nations in 2014, copies of which were laid before Dáil Éireann on 29 June 2015, in accordance with section 13 of the Defence (Amendment) Act 2006.

Horse and Greyhound Fund Regulations 2015: Motion (26 Nov 2015)

Leo Varadkar: I move:That Dáil Éireann approves the following Regulations in draft: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2015,copies of which were laid in draft form before Dáil Éireann on 28 October 2015.

Supplementary Estimates for Public Services: Leave to Introduce (26 Nov 2015)

Leo Varadkar: I move:That leave be given by the Dáil to introduce the following Supplementary Estimates for the service of the year ending on the 31st day of December 2015:Vote 30 — Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Supplementary Estimate). Vote 37 — Social Protection (Supplementary Estimate).

Supplementary Estimates for Public Services: Referral to Select Committee (26 Nov 2015)

Leo Varadkar: I move:That, subject to leave being given to introduce the following Supplementary Estimates for the service of the year ending on 31st December 2015, the Supplementary Estimates be referred to the following select committees or sub-committees, as appropriate, pursuant to Standing Orders 82A(3)(c) and (6)(a) and 159(3), which shall report back to the Dáil by no later than 9 December:Vote...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Investigations (26 Nov 2015)

Leo Varadkar: I was very sorry to learn that the late individual referred to by the Deputy was left exposed for a period of time on the Whitworth ward in Beaumont Hospital and that his dignity was compromised. It's not the standard of care that anyone aspires to. The patient referred to in question did not die while a patient in Beaumont Hospital. As the Deputy will be aware, I cannot comment in detail...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Procedures (26 Nov 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: Hospital Appointment Status (26 Nov 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 National...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff Data (26 Nov 2015)

Leo Varadkar: I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter. If he has 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 Procedures (26 Nov 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: Professional Qualifications (26 Nov 2015)

Leo Varadkar: This question refers to the protection of titles that may be used by physiotherapists. The Physiotherapists Registration Board will soon make the necessary bye-laws under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 to allow it to establish its register early next year. The title of physiotherapist will, as a consequence, be protected for the exclusive use of the board's registrants when...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointment Status (26 Nov 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: Hospital Appointments Administration (26 Nov 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 National...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Prices (26 Nov 2015)

Leo Varadkar: The continued implementation of generic substitution and reference pricing in 2015 is contributing to reducing the cost of medicines. Reference pricing is expected to deliver approximately €25 million in savings in 2015, on top of €47 million in savings in 2014, and its implementation ensures that generic drug prices in Ireland will continue to fall towards European norms. ...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Obesity Strategy (26 Nov 2015)

Leo Varadkar: As the Deputy will be aware, I prioritised the development of an Obesity Policy and Action Plan under the Healthy Ireland Framework as major project for 2015. I am pleased to say that the Obesity Policy and Action Plan is now at an advanced stage, and I hope to be in a position to present it to Government in the near future.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Maternity Services (26 Nov 2015)

Leo Varadkar: It is expected that the Strategy will be finalised later this year. The new National Maternity Strategy will put the needs of mothers and babies at its centre and seek to ensure that women have appropriate and informed choice and access to the right level of safe care and support 24 hours a day.