Results 3,561-3,580 of 6,504 for speaker:John Lahart

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing Staff (5 Nov 2020)

John Lahart: 307. To ask the Minister for Health the number of staff nurses employed at the end of October 2020 or the latest date available; and the equivalent figure for the same date in 2019. [34352/20]

Finance Bill 2020: Second Stage (4 Nov 2020)

John Lahart: It is difficult to understand how the previous speaker could have issues with this budget, of all budgets, or with the budgetary approach of the Government during the pandemic. Essentially, billions of euro have been spent on the most vulnerable in our society. As I have mentioned on a number of occasions, there is an unwritten social contract between the State and its citizens whereby the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Covid-19 and Review of Budget 2021: Minister for Health (4 Nov 2020)

John Lahart: I thank the Minister and the Ministers of State for all their work. I have around eight or nine questions, and I ask the Minister to be mindful of the clock. Some of the answers might be appropriate to make in writing, and I have no issue with that being done. First I ask the Minister to convey my thanks, as a public representative, to his officials and those in the HSE for the continued...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Covid-19 and Review of Budget 2021: Minister for Health (4 Nov 2020)

John Lahart: I will ask another question while the Minister is scribbling. I read at the weekend that Slovakia is antigen testing half of the population, some 2.5 million people. What is the view of the Minister and NPHET on this? Some 25,000 people tested positive. The regime of tracing and isolation and so on has followed that. Is it a useful exercise? What is the view?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Covid-19 and Review of Budget 2021: Minister for Health (4 Nov 2020)

John Lahart: I will come back to Slovakia briefly. Can the Minister, the HSE or NPHET communicate on whether they have established any underlying causes? Aside from the obvious reasons, why do areas of economic and social disadvantage find it more challenging? Can they elucidate the reasons in writing for us? Can the Minister comment on the Slovakian antigen exercise?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Covid-19 and Review of Budget 2021: Minister for Health (4 Nov 2020)

John Lahart: The Minister might keep the committee informed of that because I believe it is an interesting and developing area.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Covid-19 and Review of Budget 2021: Minister for Health (4 Nov 2020)

John Lahart: The Irish Pharmacy Union has been in touch with me and other Deputies looking for PPE. Pharmacists go through a considerable amount of PPE every day. For example, if a pharmacist takes a telephone call, he has to put on a new mask afterwards. There is a significant cost to this. I understand the HSE had approved the funding of PPE for pharmacies and that it is on the Minister's desk but...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Covid-19 and Review of Budget 2021: Minister for Health (4 Nov 2020)

John Lahart: We are one week into the traditional flu season. Does the Minister have anything to report on figures in hospitals?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Covid-19 and Review of Budget 2021: Minister for Health (4 Nov 2020)

John Lahart: What is the incidence of flu? Have we any figures on that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Covid-19 and Review of Budget 2021: Minister for Health (4 Nov 2020)

John Lahart: Will the Minister furnish the committee with information on that? There is anecdotal evidence from other countries that, because of behavioural changes relating to wearing masks and hand hygiene, flu incidence has not been as high as previously. Obviously, that will be monitored.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Covid-19 and Review of Budget 2021: Minister for Health (4 Nov 2020)

John Lahart: We are a week into the traditional flu season. Perhaps the Minster could follow up on that. My final question may require a written answer. It comes down to essential and non-essential business. We cannot repeat what we have done previously when it comes to the next surge. There will be another surge, so I urge the Minister to keep the tracing numbers up and consistent. We should not...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Covid-19 and Review of Budget 2021: Minister for Health (4 Nov 2020)

John Lahart: Does NPHET favour compulsory public mask wearing?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Covid-19 and Review of Budget 2021: Minister for Health (4 Nov 2020)

John Lahart: What about the staff in those shops?

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Policy (3 Nov 2020)

John Lahart: 103. To ask the Minister for Health the funding being provided in Budget 2021 for Sharing the Vision, the new national mental health policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33456/20]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services (3 Nov 2020)

John Lahart: 148. To ask the Minister for Health the number of children admitted to adult mental health units to date in 2020; the equivalent figure for the same timeframe in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33457/20]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Reliefs (3 Nov 2020)

John Lahart: 420. To ask the Minister for Finance the changes that have been made to benefit in kind in respect of electric vehicles; if he will address a potential anomaly (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32882/20]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: English Language Training Organisations (3 Nov 2020)

John Lahart: 1009. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to implement blended learning for English language schools; if there are plans to offer further advice to English language schools in relation to blended learning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32863/20]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Vaccination Programme (3 Nov 2020)

John Lahart: 1300. To ask the Minister for Health if his Department is working on legislation to introduce a no-fault compensation scheme for vaccine damages in line with commitments in the programme for Government and previous recommendations made by his Department and public health bodies; when he expects to introduce such legislation; if he expects to expedite such legislation in preparation for a...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Vaccination Programme (3 Nov 2020)

John Lahart: 1301. To ask the Minister for Health if his Department or bodies under its aegis have plans to introduce a national immunisation registry prior to the introduction of a mass immunisation programme for a potential Covid-19 vaccine; if there are views within his Department or public health officials on whether such a single national system for childhood and adult immunisation records will be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Covid-19 Contact Tracing: HSE (28 Oct 2020)

John Lahart: I thank the HSE team for, by and large, rising to the huge challenge. I include in that everybody involved in testing and tracing, Óglaigh na hÉireann, which transports the tests, and everybody on the front line. On my way in, I listened to Dr. David Nabarro on the radio. We now have five weeks left at level 5. How does the HSE propose to use that time to prepare for the next...