Results 2,341-2,360 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Delays (1 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 Applications (1 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...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Eligibility (1 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...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Availability (1 Jul 2014)

Alex White: The Health Service Executive (HSE) is responsible for the administration of the primary care schemes, therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Applications (1 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...

Health (General Practitioner Service) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (26 Jun 2014)

Alex White: I thank Deputies for their contributions to the debates on the various Stages of this critically important legislation which incorporates a public health initiative, of which we can be proud. Despite the great financial constraints and retrenchment that have marked recent years, most notably in the health service, the legislation highlights the fact that we are taking a first step together...

Health (General Practitioner Service) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (26 Jun 2014)

Alex White: It is not because we have signalled our intention to develop a policy which will ensure we can actually supply necessary services to people on the basis of their medical need. That policy will be standard throughout the country and it will mean that children in Roscommon and their counterparts in County Westmeath will be dealt with on the basis of their needs rather than, as was historically...

Health (General Practitioner Service) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (26 Jun 2014)

Alex White: I do not propose to say much more other than that much of what the Deputies want to see in place is in place and was passed in the Houses last year in the first of the two pieces of legislation dealing with alterations to eligibility for those over 70 years. The Houses passed legislation then which broadly facilitates what the Deputies seek. Deputy Denis Naughten has indicated that his...

Health (General Practitioner Service) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (26 Jun 2014)

Alex White: I am not criticising the Deputy. I am simply saying his amendment would not achieve much of what is being argued for if we passed it in its current form, notwithstanding its intent. Also, last year when the legislation was being passed, there was extensive contact and discussion with the Data Protection Commissioner because of the real concerns in respect of personal data and information....

Health (General Practitioner Service) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (26 Jun 2014)

Alex White: I move amendment No. 10:In page 7, between lines 7 and 8, to insert the following:“(3) Section 7 and the Opticians Acts 1956 and 2003 may be cited together as the Opticians Acts 1956 to 2014 and shall be construed together as one.”.

Health (General Practitioner Service) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (26 Jun 2014)

Alex White: The furnishing of personal data to and by the HSE is adequately provided for by section 8 of the Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Act 2013, which was passed by the Houses last year. The 2013 Act provides for the exchange of personal data between HSE, the Revenue Commissioners and the Department of Social Protection for specific purposes with a view to ensuring public services...

Health (General Practitioner Service) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (26 Jun 2014)

Alex White: I thank the Deputy for the positive remarks at the outset of his contribution and for wishing the exercise success, which all Members desire. The framework agreement I signed was with the IMO. The IMO has been the primary representative body of general practitioners in the State. For that reason, it is proposed to continue that relationship. It is not a relationship in the traditional...

Health (General Practitioner Service) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (26 Jun 2014)

Alex White: I move amendment No. 5:In page 7, between lines 1 and 2, to insert the following:"Amendment of Schedule 1 to Nursing Homes Support Scheme Act 2009 6.Schedule 1 to the Nursing Homes Support Scheme Act 2009 is amended, in Part 3, in paragraph 1, in the definition of "transferred asset", by inserting ", or at any time on or subsequent to," after "5 years prior to".".

Health (General Practitioner Service) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (26 Jun 2014)

Alex White: I move amendment No. 6:In page 7, between lines 1 and 2, to insert the following:"Election years for purposes of Opticians Act 1956 7.The Opticians Act 1956 is amended by substituting the following for section 8:"Election years 8.The year 2014 shall not be an election year for the purposes of this Act and the following years shall be election years for those purposes:(a) 2015; (b) 2019;...

Health (General Practitioner Service) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (26 Jun 2014)

Alex White: So do I.

Health (General Practitioner Service) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (26 Jun 2014)

Alex White: I move amendment No 2:In page 3, line 7, after “years” to insert the following:“to repeal and replace section 8 of the Opticians Act 1956 to provide for the years which are to be election years for the purposes of that Act;”.The inclusion of the amendment to the Opticians Act 1956 in this Bill has necessitated a change to the Long Title. Amendment No. 2 is a...

Health (General Practitioner Service) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (26 Jun 2014)

Alex White: I move amendment No. 4:In page 5, to delete lines 33 to 40 and substitute the following:“(8) (a) The Minister may define the manner in which consultations under subsection (5) are to be conducted and, in doing so, shall have regard to any agreement entered into between the Minister and representatives of relevant medical practitioners relating to the conduct of consultations under that...

Health (General Practitioner Service) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (26 Jun 2014)

Alex White: I move amendment No. 1:In page 3, line 7, after "years" to insert the following"; to amend a definition in the Nursing Homes Support Scheme Act 2009;".The inclusion of the amendment to the Nursing Homes Support Scheme Act 2009 in this legislation has necessitated a change to the Long Title. This is a technical amendment to provide for the Title to be altered in that regard. I, therefore,...

Health (General Practitioner Service) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (26 Jun 2014)

Alex White: I overlooked the fact that we were dealing with grouped amendments and did not refer to amendments Nos. 5, 8 and 9. We dealt with amendment No. 5 when we took the motion. The nursing homes support scheme is predicated on the principle that applicants must contribute according to their means. The Act provides that assets transferred within the five years prior to applying for the scheme...

Health (General Practitioner Services) Bill 2014: Motion to Instruct Committee (26 Jun 2014)

Alex White: I disagree. The principles-----