Results 24,121-24,140 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Expenditure (4 Nov 2015)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 156 and 157 together. The Department of Health is currently working to finalise its Supplementary Estimate. This was estimated at €600m for the purpose of the budgetary arithmetic in determining the 2016 budget, but the final figure will need to reflect the latest view of HSE year-end performance. In its August Performance Report, the latest...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Funding (4 Nov 2015)

Leo Varadkar: The Government is committed to continuing support for initiatives to tackle the drug problem. Accordingly, every effort has been made to protect the budgets of Drug and Alcohol Task Forces in recent years. In 2015, the overall allocation of Tallaght Local Drug and Alcohol Task Force was €1,234,952 of which €341,438 was provided from the Drugs Initiative of the Department of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Ambulance Service Response Times (4 Nov 2015)

Leo Varadkar: As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing Staff Remuneration (4 Nov 2015)

Leo Varadkar: Pursuant to the Lansdowne Road Agreement, the Department of Health and the HSE are to consider the issues of pay for student nurses during the fourth year 36 week placement with the nursing unions. This process has commenced. Student nurses participate in the 4th year rostered clinical placement as part of their degree programme and are paid in accordance with the trainee rates specified...

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Services (4 Nov 2015)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 163 and 164 together. I am aware that the National Association of General Practitioners (NAGP) published a press statement on 27 October with results from a survey of GPs concerning waiting times. It is difficult to comment on this survey in the absence of further information on the survey methodology and the basis on which comparisons were made as between...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (4 Nov 2015)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 166 and 168 together. With regard to the specific information sought by the Deputy, as these are service matters, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (4 Nov 2015)

Leo Varadkar: As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Staff Data (4 Nov 2015)

Leo Varadkar: I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on the matter. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Banking Sector (4 Nov 2015)

Leo Varadkar: I acknowledge the benefits that would accrue from a national biobanking infrastructure. In 2012 the Health Research Group adopted a National Plan for Biobanking. The plan was developed by a sub-committee of the Group chaired by the Health Research Board (HRB) and included the enterprise agencies. An action "to take steps to establish a national biobanking system and support infrastructure...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (4 Nov 2015)

Leo Varadkar: The particular issues raised by the Deputy are service matters for the Health Service Executive. Accordingly I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Staff Data (4 Nov 2015)

Leo Varadkar: In accordance with the Official Languages Act 2003, my Department is committed to ensuring that customers who wish to conduct their business through Irish can be facilitated to the greatest extent possible. The Department has 7 staff or almost 2 % of the total number of employees who are capable of carrying out their duties through both the Irish and English languages. All written...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointment Status (4 Nov 2015)

Leo Varadkar: Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual. If you have...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointment Status (4 Nov 2015)

Leo Varadkar: Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual. The scheduling...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Funding (4 Nov 2015)

Leo Varadkar: Funding provided by my Department to organisations not directly audited by the C&AG in each of the past five years is as follows: Organisation 2010 – (€m) 2011 – (€m) 2012 – (€m) 2013 – (€m) 2014 – (€m) Institute of Public Health in Ireland 1.442 1.4 1.176 1.152 1.117 The Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland 0 0 0...

Topical Issue Debate: Vaccination Programme (3 Nov 2015)

Leo Varadkar: I thank Deputies Moynihan and O’Sullivan for giving me an opportunity to address the House on this issue. I want to acknowledge the concerns of families who believe their daughters have experienced adverse reactions and health issues after receiving the HPV vaccine. As the House will know, the vaccine protects against two high-risk types of HPV that cause 73% of all cervical...

Topical Issue Debate: Vaccination Programme (3 Nov 2015)

Leo Varadkar: I am very concerned about this whole debate, where it is going and the comments made by some of the Deputies opposite. I am alarmed to hear we are getting into this space again. Deputy O'Sullivan is almost implying that there is some sort of plot from the pharmaceutical industry against people, that it is all about those in the industry making money and that this is not based on evidence or...

Topical Issue Debate: State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility (3 Nov 2015)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and believe the anomaly he pointed out may be dealt with by moving from a yearly average system to a total contributions approach. I understand there is an issue where people return to the workforce. Often we encourage people, particularly nurses, to go back to the workforce in later life and I would not like to see them lose out as a result. The...

Topical Issue Debate: State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility (3 Nov 2015)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I am taking the debate on behalf of the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Joan Burton, who is elsewhere on Government business. The Irish pensions system is made up of a number of schemes based on criteria such as contributions paid, income need and other factors. These ensure that people have an adequate income when they...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Vaccination Programme (3 Nov 2015)

Leo Varadkar: I thank Senator Mooney for giving me the opportunity to update the House on this important matter. I acknowledge the concerns of families who believe their daughters have experienced adverse reactions and health issues after receiving the HPV vaccine. The vaccine protects against two high-risk types of HPV that cause 73% of all cervical cancers. It is estimated that the HPV vaccination...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Vaccination Programme (3 Nov 2015)

Leo Varadkar: I am advised that all the information provided to parents about the vaccination is prepared from the available licensed documentation for each vaccine. This is the summary of product characteristics, SPC, and the patient information leaflet. The information is presented in clear, simple language and approved by the National Adult Literacy Agency so that it can be understood by all adults,...