Results 4,021-4,040 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Seanad: Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Dec 2013)

Alex White: I would not say that if I were the Senator.

Seanad: Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Dec 2013)

Alex White: The Government has to make savings. Despite the required savings in the health sector in 2014, we know it will still be an extremely challenging year for the health service. Maintaining safe and quality health services will be as much a priority of the Government in 2014 as it has been in 2013, as will ensuring fairness in the measures that will have to be taken and that the burden is...

Seanad: Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Dec 2013)

Alex White: I do not understand how it falls on that basis. I can understand the other criticism.

Seanad: Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Dec 2013)

Alex White: I thank the Senators for their contributions. I will start with Senator David Cullinane's point on universality. He is correct that I have addressed this before in the course of the discussion on this Bill and other discussions. It is a discussion we have in both Chambers and across the board when talking about health services generally. The question of universality arises in respect of...

Seanad: Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Dec 2013)

Alex White: It depends on whom one speaks to. I believed the Senator was more concerted in his approach than that. Universal access to primary care, the area with which I am most concerned in my remit, is a commitment in the programme for Government. It is essential. The objective is shared by both parties in government. I refer to the objective of having universal access to one's doctor, to primary...

Seanad: Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Dec 2013)

Alex White: There are many steps we would like not to have to take in respect of which we could talk to Senator MacSharry about why we have to take them. We would then have a much longer debate about a much broader set of problems about which he knows well. I refer to the record and recklessness of the previous Government, of which he was a supporter.

Seanad: Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Dec 2013)

Alex White: The Senator should stick to the issue at hand. The fact is we are not depriving anybody of access to a GP without fees in this legislation. It is simply not true to say the section is inconsistent with the policy of universal access to GP care. It does not fly in the face of it at all. Ensuring anybody who loses out on the full medical card will have the GP card is entirely consistent...

Seanad: Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Dec 2013)

Alex White: I will explain in a few minutes.

Seanad: Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Dec 2013)

Alex White: It is just a fact.

Seanad: Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Dec 2013)

Alex White: That was to remove medical cards completely from those aged over 70.

Seanad: Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Dec 2013)

Alex White: I know the Senator is young and he might not remember.

Seanad: Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Dec 2013)

Alex White: Eventually.

Seanad: Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Dec 2013)

Alex White: Fianna Fáil did not agree with it during the election. The Senator and his party only agree with it now because it suits them.

Seanad: Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Dec 2013)

Alex White: I did not see it in the manifesto.

Seanad: Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Dec 2013)

Alex White: If we had an overall majority-----

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Applications (11 Dec 2013)

Alex White: The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Applications (11 Dec 2013)

Alex White: The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Eligibility (11 Dec 2013)

Alex White: In making its budgetary decisions in a manner consistent with the introduction, on a phased basis, of a universal GP service without fees within its term of office, as set out in the Programme for Government and the Future Health strategy framework, it is the Government's intention not to remove access to GP services to persons aged 70 years and over who currently have such access.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Reviews (11 Dec 2013)

Alex White: The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Provision (11 Dec 2013)

Alex White: As this is a service matter, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.