Results 2,161-2,180 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Provision (10 Jul 2014)

Alex White: As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Orthodontic Service Waiting Lists (10 Jul 2014)

Alex White: The HSE provides orthodontic treatment to patients based on their level of clinical need. An individual's access to orthodontic treatment is determined against a set of clinical guidelines and priority is given to patients with greatest needs. The HSE has been asked to examine the specific query raised by the Deputy and to reply to him as soon as possible.

Free Travel Pass: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (9 Jul 2014)

Alex White: I welcome this opportunity to respond to this debate on behalf of the Government. The Government is conscious of the needs of older people. It also fully understands that a wide range of other groups, including unemployed people, parents, carers and people with disabilities, depend on the welfare budget for vital support. We know that social protection schemes, from pensions to child...

Free Travel Pass: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (9 Jul 2014)

Alex White: This freeze was introduced by Deputy McConalogue's party when in government in 2010.

Free Travel Pass: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (9 Jul 2014)

Alex White: It was not a once-off budgetary measure but was part of the National Recovery Plan 2011-2014, from which I can quote if I have time. That is undeniably the case. It is true, as stated by Deputy McConalogue, that Fianna Fáil was in government in 1967 when the free travel scheme was introduced. Fianna Fáil was also in government when the freeze was introduced in 2010. It was also...

Seanad: Health (General Practitioner Service) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (9 Jul 2014)

Alex White: The objective is to get agreement. Senator Burke made the point about the settlement agreement in the High Court proceedings. Separately from that, the framework agreement I have signed is not a settlement with the IMO in the context of litigation. That is an entirely separate matter. I have concluded and signed a framework agreement between the Department and the HSE on the one hand, and...

Seanad: Health (General Practitioner Service) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (9 Jul 2014)

Alex White: I am not going to speculate on numbers of GPs. Instead, I am going to encourage, in every way possible, the parties involved to conclude an agreement. I have every confidence in GPs and their representative body and I believe we will be able to deliver this service in the autumn with good will on all sides. I believe there will be a sufficient number of GPs to do so. There will be...

Seanad: Health (General Practitioner Service) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (9 Jul 2014)

Alex White: The Senator might be too late.

Seanad: Health (General Practitioner Service) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (9 Jul 2014)

Alex White: I thank Senators for their further remarks and contributions. It is entirely a matter for Senator Crown to press the amendment but I am sorry he proposes to do so. I hope he and others have heard what I have stated in respect of what has been termed a "gagging" clause. This is in addition to what I have stated outside the House and the Minister for Health's comments about our intentions...

Seanad: Health (General Practitioner Service) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (9 Jul 2014)

Alex White: I thank all the Senators for their extremely helpful contributions on these amendments and I will address some of the specific matters raised shortly. As agreed by Members, amendments Nos. 1 to 7, inclusive, are being taken together. These proposed amendments seek to insert new sections after section 5, which effectively seek to determine the shape of the GP contract for the provision of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Provision (9 Jul 2014)

Alex White: As the HSE is responsible for providing optical screening services for school age children, the HSE has been asked to examine this matter and respond directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drugs Payment Scheme Coverage (9 Jul 2014)

Alex White: The Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicinal products under the community drug schemes in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. The HSE received an application for the inclusion of Fampridine (Fampyra®) in the GMS and community drugs schemes. The application...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Reviews (9 Jul 2014)

Alex White: In the context of the Government's decision to develop a policy framework for providing eligibility for health services on the basis of medical conditions, the Government recently announced that a medical card or GP visit card is to be issued to a person, with a serious illness, whose discretionary card was refused renewal since the centralisation of medical card assessments. If the medical...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Licensing (9 Jul 2014)

Alex White: The Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicinal products under the community drug schemes in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, therefore the HSE has been asked to examine the specific case raised by the Deputy and reply to him as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Procedures (9 Jul 2014)

Alex White: The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Eligibility (9 Jul 2014)

Alex White: The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Water Fluoridation (9 Jul 2014)

Alex White: The Forum on Fluoridation, established in 2000, reviewed the policy of water fluoridation and recommended in 2002 that it should continue as a public health measure. In 2011 a review by the European Union Scientific Committee on Health and Environmental Risk (SCHER) concluded that there are no known negative health implications from fluoridating water at levels used in the EU. The balance...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Appeals (9 Jul 2014)

Alex White: I understand that a letter issued to the Deputy with the information requested. However, I can provide the most up to date information at this juncture to Deputy. I am advised by the HSE that, at week ending 4thJuly 2014, 90.68% of complete medical card applications and reviews were processed within 15 days of the complete application having been received by the HSE. Each week the HSE...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Applications (9 Jul 2014)

Alex White: The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Reviews (9 Jul 2014)

Alex White: The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to...