Results 4,841-4,860 of 10,824 for speaker:Anne Rabbitte

Select Committee on Health: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (23 Feb 2022)

Anne Rabbitte: Yes, I can be.

Select Committee on Health: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (23 Feb 2022)

Anne Rabbitte: I assure the Deputy that I will take that on board and feed it straight back.

Select Committee on Health: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (23 Feb 2022)

Anne Rabbitte: I reassure the Deputy that the definition and the 65 amendments to the Health Act are granular. The reason is to ensure the protection within the Health Act recognises the transfer of certain functions from the Department of Health and the roles and responsibilities of the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. I am reassured that we have left no stone unturned...

Select Committee on Health: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (23 Feb 2022)

Anne Rabbitte: I thank Deputy Shortall. I am assured that the definition is the same. Section 59 inserts it in the Principal Act, in section 3. I want to ensure I answer that correctly for Deputy Shortall. In section 59, we are amending the definition and in section 3, we are inserting it in the Act. It is to have the same meaning.

Select Committee on Health: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (23 Feb 2022)

Anne Rabbitte: No. When we get to section 59, if we approve the same definition, it will be exactly that.

Select Committee on Health: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (23 Feb 2022)

Anne Rabbitte: Will Deputy Durkan explain what he means?

Select Committee on Health: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (23 Feb 2022)

Anne Rabbitte: No different than in the previous Bill, this means that a Minister cannot instruct the HSE to deal with a specific individual case. For example, if the Deputy telephoned me to ask that I do something for him in regard to a particular case and to contact the HSE in that regard, I do not have that particular power. That is the limitation referenced.

Select Committee on Health: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (23 Feb 2022)

Anne Rabbitte: In that context, I agree with the Deputy. To return to how engagement and policy is delivered, which is my core function, it is about that piece the Deputy spoke about around breakdown in the delivery of service but in regard to a particular area as opposed to a particular case. I have monthly meetings with the heads of disability and weekly meetings with the Department of Health at which...

Select Committee on Health: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (23 Feb 2022)

Anne Rabbitte: I hear what the Deputy is saying, as I do all Deputies on this call in regard to the long waiting lists for therapies. I hear from all Deputies about the lack of access to services. I acknowledge that. I am working with the heads of disability, the lead on disability within the HSE and the Department to put in place a proper process. Sláintecare funding was afforded to the Department...

Select Committee on Health: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (23 Feb 2022)

Anne Rabbitte: Absolutely. We will take on board the broadest possible acknowledgement of disability. It will not just be the physical or medical piece.

Select Committee on Health: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (23 Feb 2022)

Anne Rabbitte: If they have the other quantum of skill sets as well, they absolutely can. The board is made up of people with acumen relevant to the management of billions. They can have lived experience that can be part of other skill sets they can bring to the board. It does not rule anybody out; it rules everybody in. There is an important piece within the board as well. We have asked that the...

Select Committee on Health: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (23 Feb 2022)

Anne Rabbitte: The Deputy can be assured I will do that within disability in the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. That needs to happen.

Select Committee on Health: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (23 Feb 2022)

Anne Rabbitte: Absolutely. If there were any proposed changes, I would have an input.

Select Committee on Health: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (23 Feb 2022)

Anne Rabbitte: Sections 18 and 19 would together amend the principal Act to provide for consultation with the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in respect of the terms and conditions of the employees of the executive and associated superannuation schemes. In answer to the Deputy's question, at the moment the Minister for Health has all the powers. With this transfer of...

Select Committee on Health: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (23 Feb 2022)

Anne Rabbitte: I thank the Deputy for giving me the opportunity to comment. In the 2021 budget, I secured €100 million and used some of that to ensure pay restoration for the employees of section 39 organisations. I would like to see that as my first indication. I am aware of the gap between the employees of section 38 and section 39 organisations. We have the same people doing the same work....

Select Committee on Health: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (23 Feb 2022)

Anne Rabbitte: At the moment, the HSE draws up a national service plan within which are subsections, be they on disability, older persons or mental health. Now, as well as to the Minister for Health, it will have to submit the service plan separately to the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, specifically in the context of disability.

Select Committee on Health: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (23 Feb 2022)

Anne Rabbitte: It is to amend the 2004 Act to provide the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth with the power to issue directions in relation to the implementation of an approved service plan in respect of a specialist community-based disability service and for consultation between Ministers prior to the issuing of directions. That in itself says that the Minister for...

Select Committee on Health: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (23 Feb 2022)

Anne Rabbitte: They will be held by the HSE. The delivery of the services and the responsibility will still be held by the HSE. However, some will fall within the Minister for Health's responsibility. We talk about that and about the primary care function. That falls within the remit of the Minister for Health. However, in relation to specialist disability services, they will fall within the remit of...

Select Committee on Health: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (23 Feb 2022)

Anne Rabbitte: Absolutely.

Select Committee on Health: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (23 Feb 2022)

Anne Rabbitte: It is very clear as to what is primary care and what are specialist community disability services. That is very clear. We know my budget and we know the budget line that it falls under. Currently, there is a budget line there of €2.3 billion. The HSE makes submissions to the head of disabilities on an annual basis for its requests for support. It will now be the Minister for...