Results 5,681-5,700 of 21,514 for speaker:Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 38 - Health (Revised) (5 Feb 2015)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I wish that the situation was other than what it is. That is probably the Minister's view of things as they stand. There are many things which are working well within our health services, and that is to be acknowledged. It is important that we start by acknowledging what I have described time after time as the heroic efforts of front-line service providers, not only, but very particularly,...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 38 - Health (Revised) (5 Feb 2015)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I have tried in my opening remarks although the Minister may not see it, to be balanced and fair. I will try it again. The Minister may not appreciate it but it is very difficult when so much of what is presented to us, certainly as Opposition health spokespersons, can reflect negative and, in some instances, disturbing experiences. I will start again, as I have attributed, rightly, great...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 38 - Health (Revised) (5 Feb 2015)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: That is fine. I will work with the Chairman.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 38 - Health (Revised) (5 Feb 2015)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Let me ask a few questions based on the Minister's reply. With regard to the provision of medical card entitlement for all children under six years in the context of the recent conclusion of negotiations with the IMO, how quickly does the Minister expect to see a rolling out of this now long-promised first measure? Will he indicate to the committee how quickly he intends to move towards the...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 38 - Health (Revised) (5 Feb 2015)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Just to clarify, I am proud to be follically challenged, but I am thinking of others in this instance. The Minister's clarification would be appreciated.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 38 - Health (Revised) (5 Feb 2015)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Does it also apply to people with alopecia?

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 38 - Health (Revised) (5 Feb 2015)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Did the Minister mention wigs?

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 38 - Health (Revised) (5 Feb 2015)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Cancer patients only.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 38 - Health (Revised) (5 Feb 2015)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: It does not apply in other cases. I am thinking of specific cases and I am anxious to know the facts.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 38 - Health (Revised) (5 Feb 2015)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Will the Secretary General send me a clarification note on the issue?

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 38 - Health (Revised) (5 Feb 2015)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: On administration, I assume from an analysis that this figure refers specifically to the office of the Minister and the Department. We used to have separate Estimates for the Health Service Executive and the Department, but they have since been combined. The first part of the subhead appears to continue the previous approach. I am interested in only one aspect of administration, although...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 38 - Health (Revised) (5 Feb 2015)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: The significant decrease in subhead B3, the drugs initiative, jumps off the page. We have raised questioned on other matters in previous incarnations. Little or no change has been made to the allocation under subheads B1 and B2, whereas the decrease in subhead B3 is almost 14%. Will the Minister explain the reason for this reduction which is in the order of €1 million?

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 38 - Health (Revised) (5 Feb 2015)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Is the reason we are not comparing like with like that this is the first year of a new approach? Will this anomaly continue in subsequent years or will Deputies be able to more accurately compare the position year on year from 2015-16 onwards? The Minister has noted that the provision transferred to the HSE. We are unable to make comparisons with previous years on the basis of the document...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 38 - Health (Revised) (5 Feb 2015)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I accept that changes are taking effect. I thanked the secretariat for providing an expanded and more easily read Appendix 2 of the Estimate. I will show the Minister page 38. He has as much chance of reading it from where he is seated as I have holding it in my hand. I ask him to ensure Deputies receive a document that can be read because reading this document is beyond my visual ability.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 38 - Health (Revised) (5 Feb 2015)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I wish to raise two points with regard to other services. Subhead A2 - the Food Safety Promotion Board - shows a decrease of just over 5%. Will the Minister give an explanation of the relationship, if any, between the Food Safety Promotion Board and safefood? One of the six cross-Border implementation bodies established under the Good Friday Agreement, safefood, has significant and growing...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 38 - Health (Revised) (5 Feb 2015)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I know that is the spin the Minister would like to put on it.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 38 - Health (Revised) (5 Feb 2015)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I note the Chairman is back. We were doing great with the Acting Chairman, Deputy Dan Neville.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 38 - Health (Revised) (5 Feb 2015)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: That subhead is done.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 38 - Health (Revised) (5 Feb 2015)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: It is done.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 38 - Health (Revised) (5 Feb 2015)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: They were done as a group. It goes without saying that it is unfortunate to note a decrease across the board in of each of the HSE regions. While one may say that less than 0.5% is small, one would have to translate it in real terms in the context of the monetary value, and it is not insignificant. This is the provision for the HSE and the continuing financing of services in each of the...