Results 5,441-5,460 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Topical Issue Debate: Community Enterprise Centres (30 May 2013)

Alex White: I thank Deputy Jonathan O'Brien for raising this issue and commend him on the measured manner in which he outlined his concerns. Mayfield Community Enterprises Ltd. is a company that operates a community employment, CE, scheme based in the Mayfield area on the north side of Cork city. Currently there are 21 participants on this scheme spread among ten different community organisations and...

Topical Issue Debate: Community Enterprise Centres (30 May 2013)

Alex White: I will relay the Deputy's suggestion to the Minister for Social Protection and ensure she is made aware of the issues raised.

Topical Issue Debate: Insurance Coverage (30 May 2013)

Alex White: On behalf of the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Brian Hayes, I thank Deputy Donohoe for raising this issue and commend him on the work he and others have been doing to address it. I am happy to provide an update on developments since the Deputy last raised this matter in February. I am aware that the issue of obtaining flood insurance cover continues to create...

Topical Issue Debate: Central Bank of Ireland Investigations (30 May 2013)

Alex White: I thank Deputy McGrath for raising this important issue. I have been advised by the Central Bank that it is conducting an ongoing investigation into the sale of payment protection insurance, or PPI, by firms from July 2007. In September 2012 the Central Bank broadened its investigation to include a number of other banks and credit institutions. Approximately 340,000 PPI policies have been...

Topical Issue Debate: Central Bank of Ireland Investigations (30 May 2013)

Alex White: I will certainly bring the points the Deputy raised to the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan. Deputy McGrath referred, correctly, to the constraints that exist from a legal point of view in regard to the bringing of claims in general, not only in this area. The statute of limitations confines the bringing of claims to particular limitation periods, as the Deputy will know. Presumably an...

Topical Issue Debate: Fee Paying Schools (30 May 2013)

Alex White: Since Donogh O'Malley introduced the free secondary schools scheme back in the 1960s it has been the overarching policy of the State to provide free secondary school education to all students. My view, shared by the Minister, is that the scarce resources available should be deployed in a manner that ensures we have the broadest possible level of provision across the board for all students...

Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Referral to Select Committee (30 May 2013)

Alex White: I move:That the Bill be referred to the Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection pursuant to Standing Order 82A(3)(a) (6)(a).

Topical Issue Debate: Fee Paying Schools (30 May 2013)

Alex White: On behalf of my colleague the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Ruairí Quinn, I thank Deputy Mathews for giving me an opportunity to outline to the House the position concerning the issue he has raised. This Government has protected frontline services in schools to the greatest extent possible in the recent budget, and there will be no reduction in teacher numbers in primary...

Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (30 May 2013)

Alex White: I usually think people are referring to pharmacists.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Second Stage (30 May 2013)

Alex White: We see what the workers think when they voted.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Second Stage (30 May 2013)

Alex White: See what the workers think.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Second Stage (30 May 2013)

Alex White: That war lasted 60 years.

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Services (30 May 2013)

Alex White: General Practitioners (GPs) who hold General Medical Services (GMS) contracts with the HSE must not seek or accept money from medical card or GP visit card holders in respect of routine treatment or for the provision of prescriptions. Consultation fees charged by general practitioners to private patients and to GMS patients outside the terms of the GMS contract are a matter of private...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Long-Term Illness Scheme Coverage (30 May 2013)

Alex White: There are no plans to extend the list of conditions covered by the Long Term Illness scheme. Under the Drug Payment Scheme, no individual or family pays more than €144 per calendar month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The scheme significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals incurring ongoing expenditure on medicines. In addition, people who...

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Services (30 May 2013)

Alex White: The Government is committed to introducing, on a phased basis, a universal GP service without fees within its first term of office, as set out in the Programme for Government and the Future Health strategy framework. This policy constitutes a fundamental element in the Government’s health reform programme. There has been no change to the Government’s over-arching commitment to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Drugs (30 May 2013)

Alex White: The HSE is responsible for the administration of the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme, therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Numbers (30 May 2013)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 289 and 290 together. I have asked the Health Service Executive for a report on the issue raised by the Deputy. I will revert to the Deputy on the matter as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Reviews (30 May 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: Primary Care Reimbursement Service Payments (30 May 2013)

Alex White: Under the General Medical Services (GMS) Contract, provision is made for the payment of subsidies towards the cost of employing practice nurses, secretaries and managers. The current rates of payments are set out in the Health Professionals (Reduction of Payments to General Practitioners) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 638/2010). The HSE's Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS) is responsible...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Home Help Service Provision (29 May 2013)

Alex White: It is very disappointing that any services have to be reduced. The financial background is the basis on which services have been reduced, unfortunately, not just in this very important area but across the board. I agree with Senator O'Donovan's general sentiment and also with his point that the age profile has to be taken into account. There is a continuing need in that regard. If greater...