Results 28,341-28,360 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug Treatment Programmes Policy (21 Oct 2014)

Leo Varadkar: In line with the Programme for Government and Action 34 of the National Drugs Strategy 2009-2016, it is Government policy to expand the availability of needle exchange services. Such services greatly reduce the risk of the use of contaminated injecting equipment through providing sterilised needles, syringes and associated injecting items. They also reduce the dangers posed by discarded...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug Treatment Programmes Policy (21 Oct 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 416 and 417 together. As the Deputy is aware, methadone is a Schedule 2 controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1988 which means that strict prescription, recording and storage requirements apply. Further requirements are set out under the Misuse of Drugs (Supervision of Prescription and Supply of Methadone) Regulations 1998 made under the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drugs-related Deaths (21 Oct 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The National Drugs Related Deaths Index is an epidemiological database which records cases of death by drug and/or alcohol poisoning and death among drug users and those who are alcohol dependent. Four sources are used to collate deaths: Coroner’s records; Hospital In-patient Enquiry System; Central Treatment List; and the General Mortality Register. The Health Research Board (HRB)...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff (21 Oct 2014)

Leo Varadkar: As I have no direct role in this matter, I have forwarded your question to the HSE for direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff (21 Oct 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: Hospital Appointment Status (21 Oct 2014)

Leo Varadkar: As this is a service matter, we have asked the HSE to reply directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointment Status (21 Oct 2014)

Leo Varadkar: In relation to the particular patient query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service executive to respond to him directly.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Services for People with Disabilities (21 Oct 2014)

Leo Varadkar: As I have no direct role in this matter, I have forwarded your question to the HSE for direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Vaccination Programme (21 Oct 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). The NIAC is a committee of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland comprising of experts in a number of specialties including infectious diseases, paediatrics and public health. The committee's recommendations are informed by public health advice, international best...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointment Status (21 Oct 2014)

Leo Varadkar: As this is a service issue, I have referred it to the HSE for direct response to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Lottery Funding Applications (21 Oct 2014)

Leo Varadkar: My Department has received an application for funding from the 2014 National Lottery allocation from the organisation in question. This is one of a large number of applications currently being assessed by my Department. The organisation will be informed of the outcome of the application as soon as a decision has been made.

Written Answers — Department of Health: EU Directives (21 Oct 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The Directive on Patients’ Rights in Cross Border Healthcare provides rules for the reimbursement to patients’ of the cost of receiving treatment abroad, where the patient would be entitled to such treatment in their home Member State (Member State of Affiliation) and supplements the rights that patients already have at EU level through the legislation on the coordination of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Eligibility (21 Oct 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Under the provisions of the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for public health services in Ireland is based primarily on residency and means. Under EU legislation, persons insured in any EU Member state, together with persons insured in any EEA Member state (Iceland, Norway or Liechtenstein) or in Switzerland, are entitled to healthcare. In order to obtain a Medical Card under EU...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointment Status (21 Oct 2014)

Leo Varadkar: As this is a service issue, I have referred to the HSE for direct response to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: HIQA Inspections (21 Oct 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has not submitted a specific standard to my Department for approval aimed at monitoring patient safety risks. HIQA currently monitors and inspects against approved standards in health and social care settings which seek to improve patient safety and the quality of services delivered. Under the Health Act 2007 HIQA monitors compliance with...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (21 Oct 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 453 to 455, inclusive, together. In relation to the detailed queries raised by the Deputy, as these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to him directly.

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Children's Hospital (21 Oct 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB) is the statutory body responsible for planning, designing, building and equipping the new children's hospital. The NPHDB has recently completed procurement of design team services for the project, including architect, quantity surveying, mechanical and electrical engineering, civil and structural engineering, project supervisor...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hepatitis C Incidence (21 Oct 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Section 4 of the Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal Act (No.34 of l997), as amended, sets out the categories of persons who can make a claim before the Tribunal. The Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Act, 2006 defined that those who can make a claim must have been "diagnosed positive for Hepatitis C". It is estimated that up to 16,000 women in Ireland were exposed to potentially...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Staff (21 Oct 2014)

Leo Varadkar: In recent years, the Government decided that the numbers employed across the public service must be reduced in order to meet fiscal and budgetary targets. To that end, a moratorium on recruitment in the Public Service was introduced in March 2009. The Deputy will be aware that the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform announced in the recent Budget, that in 2015, Departments and...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointment Status (21 Oct 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy's question relates to service delivery matters and accordingly I have asked the HSE to respond directly to him.