Results 1,901-1,920 of 13,253 for speaker:Pat Gallagher

Written Answers — Alcohol Consumption: Alcohol Consumption (18 Dec 2007)

Pat Gallagher: My Department supports the view that the level of alcohol consumption in a population is an important determinant of health and disease. Therefore, alcohol policy must take into account the total drinking population when defining the scope of public health action as well as targeting high-risk groups and individual high-risk drinkers. Policies to reduce harmful use of alcohol reach far beyond...

Written Answers — Alcohol Advertising: Alcohol Advertising (30 Jan 2008)

Pat Gallagher: I propose to take Questions Nos. 292, 293 and 296 together. A Voluntary Code on the marketing and advertising of alcohol is in place since 2005. The 2006 Annual Report of the Alcohol Marketing Communications Monitoring Body, established to monitor compliance with the Voluntary Codes, was submitted to my Department in July 2007. Following consideration of the Report, officials from my...

Written Answers — Drug Prevention Programmes: Drug Prevention Programmes (30 Jan 2008)

Pat Gallagher: My Department does not have any plans at present to establish an Office of Alcohol Control.

Seanad: Hospitals Building Programme (30 Jan 2008)

Pat Gallagher: I apologise for the absence of the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney. I will take this adjournment matter on her behalf. The aforementioned Teamwork Management Services Limited report, Improving Safety and Achieving Better Standards, which was prepared for the Health Service Executive, found that the present system in the north east, whereby five local hospitals deliver...

Seanad: Health Services (30 Jan 2008)

Pat Gallagher: I apologise on behalf of the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, who is unable to be present. I am responding on her behalf. The Minister acknowledges the need to improve services to persons with cystic fibrosis. Negative experiences recounted recently by a number of young patients are a matter of much concern to us all. The Minister identified the enhancement of services to...

Written Answers — Health Promotion: Health Promotion (31 Jan 2008)

Pat Gallagher: I am aware of the health problems associated with back pain and that learning and practising good posture can help prevent back pain. In November 2005 the Health Promotion Unit of my Department published "The Back Care Book", a guide to keeping your back healthy. Since then responsibility for the funding, management and delivery of health and personal social services, including health...

Written Answers — Eating Disorders: Eating Disorders (31 Jan 2008)

Pat Gallagher: The Report of the National Taskforce on Obesity, "Obesity — the Policy Challenges", was published in 2005 and contained 93 recommendations aimed at tackling overweight and obesity. The Health Service Executive has established a Working Group to implement the health sector recommendations of the Task Force on Obesity for which the HSE has the lead responsibility and for which €3 million...

Written Answers — Eating Disorders: Eating Disorders (31 Jan 2008)

Pat Gallagher: The Report of the National Taskforce on Obesity, "Obesity — the Policy Challenges", was published in 2005 and contained 93 recommendations aimed at tackling overweight and obesity. The Health Service Executive has established a Working Group to implement the health sector recommendations of the Task Force on Obesity for which the HSE has the lead responsibility and for which €3 million...

Written Answers — Eating Disorders: Eating Disorders (5 Feb 2008)

Pat Gallagher: I propose to take Questions Nos. 229 to 231, inclusive, 233 to 235, inclusive, and 281 together. The National Taskforce on Obesity published its report in 2005. The Taskforce recommended a multi-sectoral approach involving State agencies, Government Departments and the private sectors. The Taskforce saw the school as a key setting in tackling overweight and obesity in children and recommended...

Written Answers — Departmental Strategies: Departmental Strategies (5 Feb 2008)

Pat Gallagher: The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. As the Expert Advisory Group on Diabetes is under the auspices of the Health Service Executive, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this...

Health Services: Motion (Resumed) (6 Feb 2008)

Pat Gallagher: I welcome the opportunity to conclude the debate on behalf of the Government and the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney. It has focused on developments in cystic fibrosis services and mental health services, in particular. Many points were made in respect of general health issues and local concerns. From the contributions of my colleagues, the Ministers of State, Deputies...

Health Services: Motion (Resumed) (6 Feb 2008)

Pat Gallagher: What happened last year, where funding was not fully used for mental health developments, is not to recur, and this has been made clear to and is accepted by all concerned. As in all areas of health, we are making progress in mental health. For example, admissions to Irish psychiatric units and hospitals are continuing to decline from 25,985 in 1997 to 20,288 in 2006 — a 22% decrease. The...

Written Answers — Stroke Incidence: Stroke Incidence (6 Feb 2008)

Pat Gallagher: The Deputy's question relates to the funding, management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Seanad: National Waste Strategy: Statements (6 Feb 2008)

Pat Gallagher: I pay tribute to the parties who agreed to this cross-party motion. That there is a cross-party motion is a statement of how serious is the problem of alcohol misuse and illegal drug use. I thank the Members who contributed to this important debate. As the Minister of State with responsibility for health promotion I will focus on alcohol. The Minister of State with responsibility for...

Seanad: Health Services (6 Feb 2008)

Pat Gallagher: I apologise on behalf of the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, who is abroad on official business. Consequently, I am taking the adjournment on her behalf. The Minister acknowledges the need to improve services to persons with cystic fibrosis. The negative experience recounted recently by some patients is a matter of much concern. The Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland...

Seanad: Schools Refurbishment (6 Feb 2008)

Pat Gallagher: I apologise on behalf of the Minister for Education and Science who is unable to be with us this evening. I thank Senator Doherty for raising the matter as it provides me, on behalf of the Minister, with the opportunity to outline the Government's strategy for capital investment in education projects and to outline the current position on the 2008 summer works scheme. At the outset, as a...

Seanad: Schools Refurbishment (6 Feb 2008)

Pat Gallagher: As a Deputy for that constituency who has worked with many schools that have been successful in carrying out exceptional works under the summer works scheme and the devolved schemes for new buildings and extensions, I am well aware of the matter and I will continue to work with these schools to ensure a favourable outcome.

Seanad: Schools Recognition (6 Feb 2008)

Pat Gallagher: I thank Senator Ross for raising this issue and apologise for the fact the Minister is unable to be here. I take this opportunity on her behalf to outline to the Seanad the history behind Glasnevin Educate Together and the reason it does not have permanent recognition at this time. Glasnevin Educate Together school commenced operation in September 2002 as Dublin North Central Educate...

Seanad: Schools Recognition (6 Feb 2008)

Pat Gallagher: The Department is willing to consider any options the school might present. There is much good will there.

Seanad: Schools Recognition (6 Feb 2008)

Pat Gallagher: At this stage we are talking about finding a site and that is an indication of the Department's commitment.