Results 28,141-28,160 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Waiting Lists (5 Nov 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputies for raising this important matter and will take the opportunity to outline the Government's position. As a constituent of mine is on the same waiting list, I have some understanding of the matter as a local Deputy, as well as in my role as Minister. Scoliosis in children and young people is predominantly managed at Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin. The hospital...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Care Reimbursement Agreements (5 Nov 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Since 1973 Ireland has operated a bilateral healthcare reimbursement agreement with the United Kingdom in respect of health services provided under EU Regulations. This agreement covers such persons as temporary visitors between the two countries, pensioners of one country and their dependants residing in the other country, and the dependant families of persons employed in the other country....

Written Answers — Department of Health: Postal Codes (5 Nov 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The National Ambulance Service (NAS) is currently engaged in a process of modernising and reconfiguring its services. This is to ensure that pre-hospital emergency care is delivered in an appropriate and timely manner. This process includes using modern technology to improve service delivery. Any developments which enable the NAS to respond more quickly to patients in emergency situations...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointment Status (5 Nov 2014)

Leo Varadkar: In relation to the particular patient query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive 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 they will follow up the matter with them.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Staff Recruitment (5 Nov 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 they will follow up the matter with them.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Staff Recruitment (5 Nov 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 they will follow up the matter with them.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Water Quality (5 Nov 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government is responsible for policy and legislation in relation to drinking water quality. Since 1 January 2014 Irish Water has statutory responsibility for the provision of safe and secure public drinking water services. The European Union (Drinking Water) Regulations 2014 requires that where Irish Water or a local authority, having...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Reform (5 Nov 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The Government is implementing a major reform programme in the health sector including significant structural reforms. It has been delivering on the structural reform agenda for the health service in line with the course set out in “Future Health: A Strategic Framework for Reform of the Health Service 2012 – 2014” as well as a number of other policy papers which focused...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Data (5 Nov 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: Appointments to State Boards (5 Nov 2014)

Leo Varadkar: In line with Government Decision S180/20/10/14234 of 2011, relating to the advertising for expressions of interest in vacancies on State Boards, my Department currently advertises for board vacancies as they arise, where I, as Minister for Health, have nominating rights. Boards need a broad range of competencies in order to function effectively. My Department has developed a protocol for the...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Long-Term Illness Scheme (4 Nov 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I do not have a timeline for Senator Moloney but I will certainly check on it to see whether there is a timeline for it. I conducted a quick research check before responding to the debate. Unfortunately, I have not been able to find a significant amount of research on it, although there is one paper which suggests that, while there is no statistically different improvement in HbA1c in...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Medical Card Applications (4 Nov 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The Senator will be aware that in accordance with the relevant health legislation, full eligibility for a medical card is awarded where a person cannot arrange GP services for himself or herself and his or her family without undue hardship, having regard to his or her financial circumstances. It is important to clarify that, under the Health Act 1970, as amended, the determination of an...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Medical Card Applications (4 Nov 2014)

Leo Varadkar: If the Senator contacts my private office later in the week I can undertake to have a senior person examine the file. As the Senator accepts, I cannot direct him or her to provide a medical card.

Seanad: Health Services: Statements (4 Nov 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I want to spend 80% of my time here in Parliament, in my Department and with the HSE, and maybe 20% in my constituency and elsewhere. I think that is probably the right balance, but it means that I cannot get around as much as I would like. On the Fampyra medicine, I do not know that one in detail. The National Institute of Clinical Excellence, which did a paper on it in the United Kingdom,...

Seanad: Health Services: Statements (4 Nov 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I can guarantee that the decision on which drugs are reimbursed will not be a political or ministerial one. That decision will continue to be based on clinical and economic guidelines. The first question is whether the drug is effective. The second is what its side effect profile is and the third is whether the price is fair. I can understand that clinicians and interest groups will...

Seanad: Health Services: Statements (4 Nov 2014)

Leo Varadkar: There is a detailed agreement with the IPHA on the assessment times and when they can stop and start again. It is always open to pharmaceutical companies to come in with new evidence or more evidence as to why a product is effective. It is always open for them to come in with a new price. It is always possible to introduce new options, for example, cost-sharing options where the HSE only...

Seanad: Health Services: Statements (4 Nov 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I have no proposals to close any emergency departments in Ireland.

Seanad: Health Services: Statements (4 Nov 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I will look into that. I do not know the details.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Long-Term Illness Scheme (4 Nov 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I wish to thank the Senator for raising this important matter. At the outset I think it is important to state that decisions on which medicines and appliances are reimbursed by the taxpayer, are not political or ministerial decisions. They are made on objective scientific and economic grounds by the HSE. The HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of...

Seanad: Health Services: Statements (4 Nov 2014)

Leo Varadkar: We need administrative staff. As somebody who has worked in hospitals for the best part of six years and in general practice for four, I know one needs somebody to answer the telephone, book appointments and look after medical records. Administrative staff may not be front line but one cannot function as a front-line staff member without administrative staff. They should not be dismissed...