Results 201-220 of 527 for speaker:Mary Wallace

Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2008)

Mary Wallace: I wish to share time with Deputy Blaney. The legislation before us introduces new arrangements for medical cards for those aged over 70, the net result of which will be that the vast majority of people aged 70 and over will continue to have medical cards under the new income threshold. There are three distinct routes for qualifying for the medical card. First, 95% of people aged 70 and...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (9 Dec 2008)

Mary Wallace: As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Recall of Irish Pork and Bacon Products: Statements (9 Dec 2008)

Mary Wallace: I welcome the reassuring confirmation given by Mr. Alan Reilly of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, FSAI, at this afternoon's press briefing that there is no risk to public health from beef. Nevertheless, consistent with the precautionary approach taken to date and to provide reassurance to consumers, the following actions are being taken: any animals in herds shown to be above the...

Hospital Services (3 Dec 2008)

Mary Wallace: I thank Deputy Dooley for raising this important issue. The Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland commissioned Dr. Ronnie Pollock to review existing hospital services for cystic fibrosis in the context of accepted international standards. The report, which was published in 2005, provided an assessment of need for current and future cystic fibrosis patients. Following publication of the...

Services for People with Disabilities. (3 Dec 2008)

Mary Wallace: I am happy to have the opportunity to address the issue raised by Deputy Clune. My ministerial colleague, Deputy Haughey provided the Deputy with information on this issue earlier this year and I am happy to be to a position to update this information. I would like to explain the current position. In January 2007 a decision was taken by Cork University Dental School not to accept any...

Flood Relief. (3 Dec 2008)

Mary Wallace: The proposed works at Fermoy do not involve the removal or replacement of the weir but rather the essential replacement of the fish pass to permit the unheeded passage of migratory fish, as required under the habitats directive. The background to the current proposals on works at Fermoy weir is that a complaint was made to the European Commission alleging that the weir was acting as a barrier...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (26 Nov 2008)

Mary Wallace: 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.

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (26 Nov 2008)

Mary Wallace: 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.

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (25 Nov 2008)

Mary Wallace: The Health Strategy 2001 sets out a new direction for primary care as the central focus of the delivery of health and personal social services in Ireland. It promotes a team-based approach to service provision which will help to build capacity in primary care and contribute to sustainable health and social development. The re-configured Primary Community and Continuing Care (PCCC) services...

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (25 Nov 2008)

Mary Wallace: At present general EU food labelling legislation is harmonised by Council Directive 2000/13/EC, while nutrition labelling is covered by Directive 40/96. Both have been transposed into Irish law. The former requires that the labelling of pre-packaged foodstuffs must be clear and must not mislead the consumer. The nutrition labelling legislation makes allowance for nutrition labelling on a...

Written Answers — Food Safety: Food Safety (25 Nov 2008)

Mary Wallace: Packaged water, including bottled water, is tested in accordance with the following regulatory provisions; The European Communities (Hygiene of Foodstuffs) Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 369 of 2006), the European Communities (Natural Mineral Waters, Spring Waters and Other Waters in Bottles or Containers) Regulations 2007 (S.I. No. 225 of 2007) and the European Communities (General Food Law)...

Written Answers — Food Safety: Food Safety (25 Nov 2008)

Mary Wallace: Packaged water, including bottled water, is subject to several sets of regulations in Ireland and I am satisfied that there is an appropriate legal framework in place for the establishment and maintenance of standards in production of bottled water. The regulations covering the production of bottled water include the European Communities (Hygiene of Foodstuffs) Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 369...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (25 Nov 2008)

Mary Wallace: 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. This includes the development and ongoing implementation of public awareness campaigns. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to...

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (25 Nov 2008)

Mary Wallace: 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.

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (25 Nov 2008)

Mary Wallace: 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: Live Register (20 Nov 2008)

Mary Wallace: The recent increase in the numbers on the live register is unwelcome and is an indication of the challenges that face the labour market and the economy as a whole. The Government is taking specific measures to address these challenges and to ensure job losses are minimised as much as possible. Our priority is to create the environment that will allow those who have lost their jobs to quickly...

Seanad: Ambulance Service (20 Nov 2008)

Mary Wallace: I thank the Senator for raising this important issue and I also thank Councillor Orla Leyden for bringing it to his attention. The HSE wishes to ensure the availability of the highest quality emergency ambulance service across the HSE western region. Ambulance services for County Roscommon are provided primarily by ambulances from Boyle, Roscommon town and Ballinasloe. In addition, these...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (19 Nov 2008)

Mary Wallace: 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.

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (18 Nov 2008)

Mary Wallace: General labelling is currently governed by Directive 2000/13/EC, which makes compulsory the indication of particulars of the place of origin or provenance only where failure to give such particulars might mislead the consumer to a material degree as to the true origin or provenance of the foodstuff. Under Article 18 of the Directive, national provisions can only be justified on grounds of...

Water Quality. (18 Nov 2008)

Mary Wallace: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter as it provides us with an opportunity to outline to the House the position in this regard. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland has advised that no public health and safety implications arise from the draft report on bottled water. The report, currently being finalised, provides an historical account of the extent of compliance with the regulations...