Results 51,001-51,020 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Hospital Waiting Lists: Motion. (4 May 2004)

Micheál Martin: There were many doubts about it before.

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (4 May 2004)

Micheál Martin: A reply issued to the person referred to by the Deputy on 9 March 2004. As the House is aware, I asked Comhairle na nOspidéal to carry out a review of neurosurgical services and to prepare a report for my consideration. Comhairle was asked to focus, in particular, on the provision of adequate capacity and consideration of equity of access to neurosurgical services having regard to best...

Written Answers — Vaccination Programme: Vaccination Programme (4 May 2004)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 190, 191 and 194 together. The matters raised by the group concerned at the meeting in April 2002 were considered by my Department. A preliminary review of the schemes in place in a number of other countries was subsequently undertaken by my Department; this preliminary review involved a general overview of details of schemes in place in a number of other...

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (4 May 2004)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy is aware, I asked Comhairle na nOspidéal to carry out a review of neurosurgical services and to prepare a report for my consideration. Comhairle was asked to focus, in particular, on the provision of adequate capacity and consideration of equity of access to neurosurgical services having regard to best practice in the provision of quality healthcare. Comhairle established a...

Written Answers — Hospital Funding: Hospital Funding (4 May 2004)

Micheál Martin: It is a feature of all acute hospital systems that some beds are out of use for short periods. Bed closures fluctuate over time and may arise for a variety of reasons such as staff leave and seasonal closures. My Department understands that the seasonal closure of the ward in Tralee General Hospital will be similar to the seasonal closure of some beds that occurred in 2003. This seasonal...

Written Answers — Medical Students' Entitlements: Medical Students' Entitlements (4 May 2004)

Micheál Martin: The allowances referred to by the Deputy were made available to student nurses during their training following the introduction of the pre-registration nursing diploma programme and the removal of their salaried status. This situation does not pertain for physiotherapy and radiography students undertaking clinical training in the health service.

Written Answers — Rent Allowances: Rent Allowances (4 May 2004)

Micheál Martin: Decisions in relation to the payments of rent allowance is a matter for the relevant health board. In the case of County Kilkenny, this responsibility rests with the South Eastern Health Board. My Department has been in contact with the board and has asked the chief executive officer to investigate this matter and respond directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Property Acquisitions: Property Acquisitions (4 May 2004)

Micheál Martin: Investigations have been made with the Mid-Western Health Board in relation to the property in question, since responsibility for property acquisition or disposal does not rest with the Department of Health and Children. To date, the health board has no information regarding this matter. This Department has therefore asked the Minister for Education and Science to investigate the matter...

Written Answers — Long-Term Illness Scheme: Long-Term Illness Scheme (4 May 2004)

Micheál Martin: Under the 1970 Health Act, a health board may arrange for the supply without charge of drugs, medicines and medical and surgical appliances to people with any of the following conditions who do not have a medical card, for the treatment of that condition under the long-term illness scheme: mental handicap, mental illness, for people under 16 only, phenylketonuria, cystic fibrosis, spina...

Written Answers — Hospital Waiting Lists: Hospital Waiting Lists (4 May 2004)

Micheál Martin: The provision of hospital services for people living in County Mayo is a matter for the Western Health Board. My Department has asked the chief executive officer of the board to reply directly to the Deputy in relation to the matter raised.

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (4 May 2004)

Micheál Martin: Responsibility for the provision of health services to persons living in counties Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow rests with the Eastern Regional Health Authority. My Department has, therefore, asked the regional chief executive of the authority to investigate the matter raised by the Deputy and to reply to him directly.

Written Answers — Hospital Staff: Hospital Staff (4 May 2004)

Micheál Martin: I have already agreed that the appointment of a consultant geriatrician based at Mallow General Hospital should proceed. Details in relation to the funding of the post and the structure of the post with regard to the delivery of an appropriate service to the elderly population of the area are being finalised between my Department and the Southern Health Board. The Southern Health Board has...

Written Answers — Health Board Services: Health Board Services (4 May 2004)

Micheál Martin: Responsibility for the provision of orthodontic treatment to eligible persons in Dublin 11 rests with the Eastern Regional Health Authority. My Department has asked the regional chief executive to investigate the matter raised by the Deputy and to reply to him directly.

Hospital Waiting Lists: Motion. (4 May 2004)

Micheál Martin: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "commends the Government's commitment and concentrated effort to reducing waiting times for public patients and: —notes that some €250 million was being provided to reduce waiting times for patients between 1998 and 2003; —acknowledges the extensive additional resources which have been...

Hospital Waiting Lists: Motion. (4 May 2004)

Micheál Martin: Put simply, it is the parties on this side of the House that have increased the health spend by 188%. It might pain the Deputies opposite to admit it but the facts show that it is Fianna Fáil and our partners the Progressive Democrats who have shown the political will to reverse the historical under-investment in our health services.

Hospital Waiting Lists: Motion. (4 May 2004)

Micheál Martin: The last seven years, since the Taoiseach formed his first Administration, have brought substantial additional spending on health care — on capital projects, on staff and on the day-to-day running of a continually increasing level of services. More and more patients and clients have benefited from the extra resources we have put into our health system. That is the bottom line. More and more...

Hospital Waiting Lists: Motion. (4 May 2004)

Micheál Martin: We are proud of this record and we can stand over the level of investment we have allocated to our health services. The question the Labour Party must ask is whether it is proud of what took place on their watch, or was it a case again of Labour wrestling with its conscience, with its conscience losing? As for the Labour Party's criticism of our reform record, we have set out not just a...

Hospital Waiting Lists: Motion. (4 May 2004)

Micheál Martin: Work is well under way to make these changes a reality. I also propose to share my time with the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy O'Malley.

Hospital Waiting Lists: Motion. (4 May 2004)

Micheál Martin: I did not interrupt speakers. We are in a House where the principle of free speech should be honoured and I would appreciate the opportunity to complete my speech. It is important to put the provision of acute hospital services in context. Over the last two or three decades there have been numerous important advances in surgical technology and in anaesthesia. These advances have greatly...

Hospital Waiting Lists: Motion. (4 May 2004)

Micheál Martin: I certainly will not. The Deputy should let me finish.