Results 16,521-16,540 of 49,836 for speaker:Stephen Donnelly

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme (Health): Statements (25 Mar 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Deputy for her questions and assure her that there are very strict protocols in place regarding spare vaccines such that the clinicians overbook to guard against exactly what the Deputy raised. We must use every single vaccine dose. The GPs, hospital teams or ambulance teams move down through the priority list. If GPs are vaccinating their 75 to 79 year old patients this week,...

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme (Health): Statements (25 Mar 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: Our priority is to maximise the availability of safe and effective vaccines for people in Ireland. I am sure the Deputy will agree that we should continue to look to the EMA as the regulator. The vaccines we use here must be deemed safe and effective, to the very highest standards, by the European regulator, as is the case with four vaccines. I can confirm that exactly the same approval...

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme (Health): Statements (25 Mar 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: What we are seeing at the moment is, without a doubt, the most successful global collaboration between governments, pharmaceutical producers, science and medicine that the world has ever seen. For the Deputy to suggest that this is a failure is, quite frankly, preposterous. There is a very important discussion to be had, and policies to be developed, on global justice fairness and Ireland...

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme (Health): Statements (25 Mar 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank Deputy Bruton for his questions. I share his view that as the vaccines take effect, the risk profile is fundamentally changing. As the risk profile changes, our analysis and evaluation of what is possible must change too. In fact, I am in the middle of a very detailed conversation with the modelling group, led by Professor Nolan, on exactly this issue. We know, for example, that...

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme (Health): Statements (25 Mar 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: Both of the Deputies asked about the rapid testing so I will answer that first. I believe there is a role for rapid testing but there are differently held views among experts on both sides of this. Some believe there is a very limited role for rapid testing, while others believe there is a very broad and useful role for it. I am in favour of rapid testing. There are risks, such as people...

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme (Health): Statements (25 Mar 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that I have not got the detail on the specific case she mentioned, so I cannot respond to that. The safety of students and staff in our schools is of paramount importance. If the Deputy has a case that she is concerned about, then she must please come to me with that and we will have it looked into. If there are learnings to be had, and there are always...

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme (Health): Statements (25 Mar 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: I cannot fully give the questions the time they deserve and need but the prioritisation is being done by very careful examination by the national immunisation advisory committee, NIAC, of the risk of severe illness, hospitalisation or death for those with underlying conditions. On CF, for example, Professor Butler said many people had expected a much greater link but that the good news from...

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme (Health): Statements (25 Mar 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Acting Chairman. I thank the Deputy for his questions. With regard to the people arriving into the country from category 2 countries who have been vaccinated or who may have had Covid-19 in the past, the answer is "Yes". They will be subject to mandatory hotel quarantining. Everyone coming in has to have a negative PCR test, for example. They, too, will be subject to...

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme (Health): Statements (25 Mar 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: In response to Deputy McAuliffe, the news about the walk-in test centres is good. I echo the Deputy's message, which is for people living within 5 km of these centres to turn up and get PCR tests. It is only one measure. There is no silver bullet but it is an extra measure to target and find this virus. It is to support people, communities and geographic areas where people need this...

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme (Health): Statements (25 Mar 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: If I may, I will use the time left to me to address some of the issues raised by Deputy Connolly.

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme (Health): Statements (25 Mar 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: I might revert to the Deputy in writing on those issues. Is he still in the Chamber?

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme (Health): Statements (25 Mar 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Deputy. It is something that was part of the original plan. I prefer not to speculate on issues like that when there is a lot of thinking going at the moment in terms of what happens after 5 April. However, I take the Deputy's points very much on board. Regarding the distribution of vaccines to GPs, I hope Deputy Connolly will not mind me referring to the GPs who have said...

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Properties (25 Mar 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the public healthcare property estate, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to you in relation to this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Car Parks (25 Mar 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: The Programme for Government makes a commitment to introduce a cap on the maximum daily charge for patients and visitors at all public hospitals, where possible and to introduce flexible passes in all public hospitals for patients and their families. I am very aware of the financial burden this issue can cause some patients and families. Accordingly, my Department and the HSE are...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (25 Mar 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: The information requested by the Deputy is being collated by Department officials and a deferred reply will be submitted within ten working days.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Vaccination Programme (25 Mar 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: On the 23rdof February 2021, I announced an update to Ireland’s COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Strategy. In comprising the initial Vaccine Allocation Strategy, the NIAC listed several conditions associated with increased risk of severe disease and death. In the intervening period, national and international evidence has become available which has enabled a more detailed analysis of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (25 Mar 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: It is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been impacted in the last year as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The HSE is currently recommending that only critical time dependent elective procedures are undertaken at this time due to the on-going and significant increased demand for bed capacity related to Covid-19. This decision was made...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Communications (25 Mar 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: The information requested by the Deputy is not immediately available. I will survey the Department and the collated replies will be prepared into a full response to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Speech and Language Therapy (25 Mar 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: Vaccination Programme (25 Mar 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: Directions have been issued by the HSE to all hospitals, both public and private, to identify eligible patients for vaccination within Cohort 4. If they meet the criteria and are under the care of a hospital then they will be contacted via that hospital. Where patients are no longer under hospital care, the HSE has engaged with General Practices (GPs) to identify that group within Cohort 4....