Results 31,641-31,660 of 49,836 for speaker:Stephen Donnelly

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Staff (11 May 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (11 May 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: The Health Act 1947, as amended, provides that all persons arriving in Ireland from a designated state, or having travelled through a designated state in the previous 14 days, are required to undergo mandatory quarantine in a designated facility unless they are an exempted traveller under the Act. The Government continues to evaluate wider policy on international travel as informed by...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (11 May 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: My Department is currently finalising consideration of the need for an extension of the provisions referred to by the Deputy and will bring such proposals as may be necessary to the Government. Key considerations will relate to the evolving national and international epidemiological situation with regard to Covid 19 and an assessment of the ongoing public health risk in Ireland.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Status (11 May 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: 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. In relation to the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (11 May 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: There has been considerable progress in reducing infection levels since the peak of the wave of infection in late 2020/early 2021 because of the widespread commitment and adherence by the public to the public health measures in place. While there is still a high level of infection nationally, the situation is considered reasonably stable and significant progress is being made in relation to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (11 May 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: The Mandatory Hotel Quarantine System operates a number of designated facilities in the Dublin area in order to meet the current flow of arrivals into Ireland, the majority of which are currently arriving through Dublin airport. There are regular assessments of the numbers arriving at other points of entry, including Cork Airport, Shannon Airport, Rosslare Europort and the Port of Cork,...

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (6 May 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Deputy for the question, and we were discussing that vaccination centre earlier. The issues raised regarding access to public transport are ones I have committed to taking back to the HSE. It is imperative that everyone can access these vaccine centres. Not everybody has access to a car, of course, so people must be able to access these centres using public transport. I will...

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (6 May 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: A pilot scheme is being rolled out for the ICT system and portal for pharmacists. I have taken this up with the HSE on numerous occasions, including this week. I believe there is a role for pharmacists to play in the vaccination roll-out. That is why we put a deal in place with the Irish Pharmacy Union, IPU, at the start of this process. To date, the people running the programme have said...

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (6 May 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank Deputy Murphy for all of those points. On her last point, I am aware, as we all are, many people are resident in Ireland or want to come or return to Ireland. Twelve vaccines are being used for Covid-19 around the world and the European Medicines Agency, EMA, has authorised four of them. The exemption from hotel quarantine is only for those four vaccines. That is the public health...

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (6 May 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank Deputy Devlin for his kind words. With regard to when people are deemed to be fully vaccinated, we will redouble our efforts on that. It is important the message gets out that, for example, people who are being vaccinated with AstraZeneca do not need to wait the 12 or 16 weeks and then plus two after their second dose, rather a number of weeks after the first dose and it is...

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (6 May 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank Deputy O'Rourke for his questions. In respect of a pilot for rapid testing, I commissioned a report on it and I support its findings. The Deputy will be aware that there are strongly-held views among highly reputable, well-informed people on both sides. Some people like Professor Ferguson believe there is a very substantial role for rapid testing to play while others believe there...

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (6 May 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: I will take back to the HSE this evening what the Deputy suggested and ask if that can be done. I thank Deputy Flatherty.

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (6 May 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Deputy. I would be happy to and I will revert to the Deputy on that. It is essential for people who do not have access to cars - many people simply do not have access to cars - that there is sufficient public transport to get to the vaccination centres. Sometimes that is required seven days a week. I would be happy to take the Deputy's point back to the HSE.

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (6 May 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Deputy. It is certainly something I can discuss with the Minister for Transport, Deputy Ryan. The expert group reported in to me on 1 April and its report contained recommendations across a number of sectors. The way we are approaching it in government is that line Ministers are exploring what can be done in their sectors. The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine,...

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (6 May 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: The pharmacy network will also be involved.

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (6 May 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Deputy. I want to see a global solution to this. We cannot have a situation where poorer countries are locked out of vaccinating their populations because they cannot afford it. It is ethically unacceptable and it would also be really stupid on behalf of the western world because the virus will continue to circulate. We need to do it for ethical reasons and for reasons of...

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (6 May 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Deputy. The Government is working with the EU on this. I have told the Deputy what my view is. The Government is working through this very closely with our colleagues in the EU. The EU's position is that the WTO TRIPS Agreement already allows countries a lot of flexibility that is not being used. For example, it allows compulsory licensing, which is when a Government permits...

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (6 May 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Deputy for the questions and his kind comments. There is definitely a good political team in the Department of Health and there is a good working relationship with the HSE. It was good to see movement happen on Youghal that quickly. The Deputy raised points on the ongoing response and there was a comprehensive, rapid and flexible response to exactly the points he made. I can...

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (6 May 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Deputy for all those questions. On the housebound, the National Ambulance Service is doing a huge amount of work. As the Deputy will be aware, we worked with the HSE to increase the capacity available. The ambulance fleet that is directly allocated to this has been doubled and additional personnel were put in place to support the administration of the programme as well. The...

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (6 May 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: I will read the exact advice that is specifically on this from NIAC. It is the AstraZeneca recommendation for dose 2 interval. The HSE points out that much complexity is involved. Dose 2 for the over-50s and for those who are very high risk or a high risk will be given at 12 weeks. That is from mid to late May, in line with supply. For the under-50s who do not have a high-risk or very...