Results 35,561-35,580 of 49,836 for speaker:Stephen Donnelly

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (3 Feb 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: Since 9thof January 2021 all passengers arriving into Ireland whose journey originated in either Great Britain or South Africa are required to have a negative/not detected result from a pre-departure COVID-19 PCR test carried out not more than 72 hours prior to arrival in Ireland. From 16thof January 2021 this requirement was extended to all passengers (except for those arriving from Northern...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Tests (3 Feb 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: Effective from 16 January 2021, all passengers arriving into Ireland from overseas are required to have a negative or ‘not detected’ result from a pre-departure COVID-19 RT-PCR test that was carried out no more than 72 hours prior to arrival in Ireland. This is a mandatory requirement. Passengers will be asked to present evidence of their negative/‘not detected’...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (3 Feb 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 902, 904 and 905 together. 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 (3 Feb 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: The COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Strategy sets out a provisional list of groups for vaccination. The Strategy was developed by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) and my Department, endorsed by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), and approved by Government on 8 December 2020. Vaccine allocation is a matter for my Department and further information is...

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Services (3 Feb 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: Under the GMS scheme, the HSE contracts GPs to provide medical services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders. GPs are reimbursed by the HSE for the provision of those services. Medical and GP visit card holders are not subject to a charge for GP face to face or phone consultations. People who do not hold a medical card or GP visit card access GP services on a...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing Staff (3 Feb 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: The NMBI introduced its new online registration system, MyNMBI, in September  2020 which meant that a paper application, such as the one submitted  in this case, could not be processed.  The applicant was advised of this by NMBI  and  then submitted an online qualification recognition application, a necessary first step for those applicants who trained outside...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (3 Feb 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: The COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Strategy sets out a provisional list of groups for vaccination. The Strategy was developed by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) and my Department, endorsed by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), and approved by Government on 8 December 2020. Vaccine allocation is a matter for my Department and further information is...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Status (3 Feb 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: It is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been impacted in the last year as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The HSE is currently recommending that only critical time dependent elective procedures are undertaken at this time due to the on-going and significant increased demand for bed capacity related to Covid-19. This decision was...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (3 Feb 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: 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: Hospital Appointments Status (3 Feb 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: It is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been impacted in the last year as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The HSE is currently recommending that only critical time dependent elective procedures are undertaken at this time due to the on-going and significant increased demand for bed capacity related to Covid-19. This decision was...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health Services Provision (1 Feb 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank Senators Ardagh and O'Loughlin for raising this matter and giving us the opportunity to discuss it this morning. I agree entirely with the comments of both Senators. We have an ambitious plan to progress this. It is moving. It is a very important commitment in the programme for Government. It is critical that couples who seek help for fertility, including IVF, are supported. We...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health Services Provision (1 Feb 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: I again thank Senators Ardagh and O'Loughlin for raising the issue and allowing us to debate it. I should state that the drafting of the AHR Bill and the roll-out of the model of care really are a priority for the Government, for me and obviously a priority for the Senators who have advocated long and very well on this issue, which I thank them for. The drafting and roll-out have been...

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (28 Jan 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: May I clarify that I am right in thinking the Deputy is talking about home helps or carers who are working in the formal sector in west Cork? Is that correct?

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (28 Jan 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: The answer to the Deputy's very reasonable question, then, is that the hospital group that covers the area is at the moment putting together a detailed plan to answer exactly that. I will make sure that as soon as it has that ready it sends that information on to the Deputy.

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (28 Jan 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: That is a very important question, similar to many of the other questions, in terms of prioritisation. The prioritisation we are using was proposed by the expert group and NIAC, considered and endorsed by NPHET and then agreed by Cabinet. That is what we are using. Of course, it has to be a live document and we have to be open to updating it as we learn more. That goes without saying. ...

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (28 Jan 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Deputy for another excellent question. Rapid testing, or antigen testing, is now being deployed across the healthcare settings at a significant volume as of this week. I have set up an independent expert group to report back to me very quickly on exactly the question the Deputy asked: can we deploy antigen testing in non-healthcare settings such as schools, nursing homes,...

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (28 Jan 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Deputy for his questions. As with other Members and people across the country, he is rightly raising issues for those who are more vulnerable, including people with CF, people with underlying conditions such as Down's syndrome and their carers. If the Deputy looks through the prioritisation, he will see that one of the groups we are coming to as quickly as possible is people...

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (28 Jan 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Deputy for his questions. We are in agreement on the strategy relating to the new variants. For example, South Africa and Brazil have the identified variant. Last night, the visa programme for those countries was suspended. In the context of new variants emerging globally, I agree that we need a robust system of protection in place which will keep those variants out of...

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (28 Jan 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Deputy for his questions. With regard to Janssen-Johnson & Johnson, I will ask the Department for the most up-to-date note on it. I have heard various different accounts over the past few days in terms of timing. I can confirm that not only are we and the EU aware of it, the Janssen-Johnson & Johnson vaccine is one of the vaccines we have advanced purchased in...

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (28 Jan 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Deputy for his contribution. With regard to his first question on Irish citizens abroad in service to the State, I will ask for an update on that and will make sure it is brought to him. On the engagement of the State with the EU at various levels, that is absolutely happening. We are part of the process whereby the Commission is engaging with AstraZeneca and there are contacts...