Results 27,781-27,800 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Section 3 amends section 7A of the Act and refers to the premiums that may be charged under health insurance contracts in certain circumstances. This section clarifies that the obligation on insurers to impose lifetime community rating loadings, as provided for in regulations signed into law on 7 July 2014, is mandatory. The proposed amendment will be considered as part of the review of the...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Yes. It can be done by way of regulation. As the Deputy stated, the objective is to encourage people to enter the health insurance market before they reach 35 years of age. It may transpire that they will not bother taking out health insurance because they do not want to pay the loading for the rest of their lives. Even if that is not the case, paying a loading for ten years may be enough.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I understand the point the Deputies are making, namely, that it may seem odd to describe these as contributions in arrears or back contributions when one cannot claim the benefits in arrears, but I see health insurance a bit like a pension. Someone who has health insurance at the age of 60 years gets the full benefits. One can commence health insurance at 55 years, draw down the benefits if...

Topical Issue Debate: Graffiti Issues (3 Dec 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy and share his concern about the blight graffiti can have on communities. I will ensure the Minister, Deputy Kelly, is advised of the Deputy’s comments in this debate.

Topical Issue Debate: Ambulance Service Provision (3 Dec 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I am not sure if the figures are calculated or available, but I will look into the matter. I am not sure if the Deputy has had a chance to read the report from cover to cover, but, for anyone who has, it is abundantly clear that an overemphasis on crude response times is not a good idea. In other parts of the world overemphasis on response times has caused ambulance services to pull out of...

Topical Issue Debate: Graffiti Issues (3 Dec 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Alan Kelly. I assure the Deputy that I am fully aware of the blight on communities which graffiti causes, both in the greater Dublin area and nationally, and that the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government is totally committed to tackling the issues of graffiti...

Topical Issue Debate: Ambulance Service Provision (3 Dec 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I very much welcome the HIQA report on the ambulance service, which was requested by my predecessor, the former Minister, Deputy Reilly, some time ago. The report provides us with an opportunity to reflect on the progress made in pre-hospital emergency services and to acknowledge the challenges and opportunities ahead. I am aware there are shortcomings in the current service provision....

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospice Services (3 Dec 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this 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: Hospital Waiting Lists (3 Dec 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2014,has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Counselling Services (3 Dec 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Psychotherapists and counsellors are not currently regulated under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005. However, the Act provides that the Minister for Health may, under section 4(2), designate a health and social care profession not already designated if he or she considers that it is in the public interest to do so and if specified criteria have been met. My predecessor,...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (3 Dec 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2014,has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Ambulance Service Provision (3 Dec 2014)

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: Ambulance Service Provision (3 Dec 2014)

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 Appointment Status (2 Dec 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2014,has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Staff (2 Dec 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The HSE has advised that Naas General Hospital has agreed staffing levels to cover the entire hospital. As the Hospital experiences surges in activity, additional staff are sourced to meet this demand. The HSE has further advised that Naas General Hospital has appointed twenty six staff nurses this year, fourteen of which were replacement posts and twelve new posts. The HSE National...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Treatment Abroad Scheme (2 Dec 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The Treatment Abroad Scheme (TAS) as provided for in EU Regulations and Department of Health Guidelines, does not provide for Travel and Subsistence expenses for patients or their relatives travelling abroad to avail of approved treatments. However the HSE, subject to available funding, under the Treatment Abroad Scheme Travel Policy, may provide assistance towards reasonable economic air or...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (2 Dec 2014)

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 Waiting Lists (2 Dec 2014)

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 and Midwifery Board of Ireland (2 Dec 2014)

Leo Varadkar: A new Nurses and Midwives Act was passed into legislation in 2011. The Act provides, inter alia, for the protection of the public in its dealings with nurses and midwives and the enhancement of their high standards of professional education and competencies. The Department of Health is responsible for oversight of the governance of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI). The...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Data (2 Dec 2014)

Leo Varadkar: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly. 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.