Results 5,621-5,640 of 11,470 for speaker:Mary Butler

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (15 Dec 2021)

Mary Butler: I thank the Senators for their contributions to today's debate and facilitating the passage of the Bill. I thank them for their support. I will try to deal with a few of the issues that were raised. Senator Clifford-Lee raised the issue of the reduction in stamp duty. Taking into consideration the surplus built up, the stamp duty on advanced health insurance contracts will be €406....

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (15 Dec 2021)

Mary Butler: Absolutely, I certainly will.

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (15 Dec 2021)

Mary Butler: The purpose of the Bill is to specify the revised credits and corresponding stamp duty levies to apply on health insurance policies from April 2022. The credit and levy rates for next year strike a fair balance between the need to support community rating while maintaining sustainability of the market. I reiterate the Government's commitment to improving public health services under the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services (15 Dec 2021)

Mary Butler: In February 2021, €10 million in once-off funding as part of Covid-19 Resilience and Recovery 2021: The Path Ahead, aimed at increasing mental health supports in response to the pandemic, was announced. Proposals for initiatives under the funding have been finalised and preparatory work has commenced. Funding will be released to the HSE in January 2022. Initiatives will include...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Prison Service (15 Dec 2021)

Mary Butler: As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Eating Disorders (15 Dec 2021)

Mary Butler: As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Home Care Packages (15 Dec 2021)

Mary Butler: I am, along with Government as a whole, committed to the development of improved community-based services, shifting care to the home, and offering greater choice for older people. We have prioritised home support services through an additional investment of €150 million in 2021, which has been maintained under Budget 2022. The HSE National Service Plan for 2021 set a target to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Home Care Packages (15 Dec 2021)

Mary Butler: I propose to take Questions Nos. 188 and 189 together. As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Home Care Packages (15 Dec 2021)

Mary Butler: The National Skills Infrastructure provides a robust structure for engagement with sectors on areas of identified skills needs. There are a range of programmes in place to support the home care sector which are delivered across the further education and training sector. There are currently 89 courses leading to a Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) Level 5 Certificate for Healthcare...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services (15 Dec 2021)

Mary Butler: I propose to take Questions Nos. 195 to 198, inclusive, together. On Budget Day 2022 an additional €10 million for mental health services and supports was announced by Minister McGrath. The funding was provided as a once-off measure. To ensure that as many individuals as possible benefit from this funding, over €7 million will be allocated to improve the experiences of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (15 Dec 2021)

Mary Butler: 220. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address matters raised in correspondence by a person (details supplied) in relation to small organic farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62090/21]

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Dec 2021)

Mary Butler: The continued development of specialist services for eating disorders, including improved access and shorter waiting lists, remains a key priority for me and the Government. Funding was made available in 2021 to complete the three existing specialist eating disorder teams and establish three additional eating disorder teams — one in the Deputy's community healthcare organisation, CHO,...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Electric Vehicles (14 Dec 2021)

Mary Butler: I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach for the warm welcome, as always. I also thank Senator McGahon for raising this important matter. The Senator outlined very well how access to a driveway or garden system rules out electric vehicle ownership for thousands of people and homeowners. I apologise on behalf of the Minister for Transport, Deputy Ryan, and Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, who are...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Electric Vehicles (14 Dec 2021)

Mary Butler: The EV policy pathway working group, consisting of seven Departments and the Sustainable SEAI, considered a mix of policies to enable Ireland to meet the climate action plan target which will require a significant ramping up of EV sales. At the end of October, there were 46,600 EVs registered for taxation. We committed €10 million from the climate action fund to support ESB...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Northern Ireland (14 Dec 2021)

Mary Butler: As Senator Ó Donnghaile rightly said, the Minister for Foreign Affairs is at the Cabinet meeting at the moment, but he has given me a comprehensive response. I thank the Senator for raising this important matter, which is of great concern. The Minister stated that we are closely monitoring the UK's new Nationality and Borders Bill as it progresses through the legislative process in...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Northern Ireland (14 Dec 2021)

Mary Butler: I have taken note of the Senator’s comments on this very important issue. As he knows, this Bill is an outworking of the UK’s decision to leave the European Union as it plans to tighten its border security and reduce levels of immigration. Brexit always had the potential to be profoundly disruptive for Northern Ireland and the island of Ireland as a whole. Along with our EU...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Healthcare Policy (14 Dec 2021)

Mary Butler: I thank the Senator for raising this important issue. I apologise on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, who is in a Cabinet meeting. I understand Department officials recently discussed this issue with the Senator and colleagues at the Seanad Special Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union. As a result of Brexit, the EU...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Healthcare Policy (14 Dec 2021)

Mary Butler: Regarding utilisation of the EU cross-border directive, I understand the Senator asked officials at a recent meeting of the Seanad Special Committee on the Withdrawal of the UK from the EU which EU member state patients had accessed treatment in under that scheme. HSE data indicate that the top three EU member states where treatment was accessed so far this year under the directive are...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Ambulance Service (14 Dec 2021)

Mary Butler: I welcome the opportunity to address the House on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, regarding the provision of NAS motorcycle services in Cork. I am sure Senators will join me in paying tribute to the incredible work the NAS has done and continues to do in delivering testing and vaccination services and helping to protect us all since the outset of the Covid-19 pandemic....

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Ambulance Service (14 Dec 2021)

Mary Butler: I could not have put it better myself, and nobody would disagree with Senator Buttimer's last point. It is regrettable that the motorcycle response unit has had to cease scheduled operations for the time being but as the Senator and this House will appreciate, we have been living in extraordinary times over the past two years.In addition to its primary emergency response function, the NAS...