Results 5,901-5,920 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (21 Mar 2013)

Alex White: I am actually making a serious point. We could take one day, say in July, and agree to abandon all of that and just talk about the health services and how we fund them - a day when there would be no ad hominem attacks at all and we would just discuss what is best. On the issue of universal health insurance, Deputy Kelleher, instead of just asking "Where is the brief?" or "Where is the...

Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (21 Mar 2013)

Alex White: It is far from a U-turn. The Deputy was not listening to the point I made earlier that we are continuing with our absolute commitment to the universal provision of GP visit cards. No one will lose a GP visit card under this legislation, so it is not inconsistent with that principle.

Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (21 Mar 2013)

Alex White: Currently, 360,000 medical cards are issued to people over 70. Therefore, medical card coverage of the over 70s population is approximately 97%. In comparison, the medical card coverage of the under 70s population is approximately 35%. As I outlined yesterday to Deputies, it is estimated that approximately 20,000 people will have their medical card replaced with a GP visit card. That is...

Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (21 Mar 2013)

Alex White: I thank Deputies for their contributions on the Bill. It has been an interesting debate. The maintenance of health services is a priority for the Government in 2013 despite the undoubted need for significant and difficult financial savings to be made in the health sector. It has been our intention that front-line health services be protected to the greatest extent possible. None the less,...

Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (21 Mar 2013)

Alex White: I cannot find any reference to turf in the Bill.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Licensing (21 Mar 2013)

Alex White: Under European and Irish legislation, before a medicine can be placed on the Irish market the manufacturer has to seek an authorisation from the Irish Medicines Board (IMB) or in the case of certain medicinal products, the European Medicines Agency (EMA). A determination on an application for authorisation of a medicine is based on a rigorous scientific assessment of the application against...

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Services (21 Mar 2013)

Alex White: As the Deputy's question relates to a service matter, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Speech and Language Therapy (21 Mar 2013)

Alex White: This Government is committed to reforming our model of delivering healthcare so we can reduce the cost of achieving the best health outcomes for our citizens. The implementation of the Primary Care Strategy continues to be a priority for this Government. The objective is to develop services in the community which will give people direct access to integrated multi-disciplinary teams of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Applications (21 Mar 2013)

Alex White: The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Applications (21 Mar 2013)

Alex White: The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Bill 2013: Second Stage (20 Mar 2013)

Alex White: Hear, hear.

Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Bill 2013: Second Stage (20 Mar 2013)

Alex White: We are not removing the GP visit card from anybody.

Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Bill 2013: Second Stage (20 Mar 2013)

Alex White: I will get the numbers for the Deputy.

Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Bill 2013: Second Stage (20 Mar 2013)

Alex White: It is €12 million this year.

Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Bill 2013: Second Stage (20 Mar 2013)

Alex White: It is €24 million in a full year. I am not chiding the Deputy, just drawing his attention to the figure.

Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Bill 2013: Second Stage (20 Mar 2013)

Alex White: But not to GP visits.

Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Bill 2013: Second Stage (20 Mar 2013)

Alex White: Does the Deputy accept this?

Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Bill 2013: Second Stage (20 Mar 2013)

Alex White: It is based on the CPI.

Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Bill 2013: Second Stage (20 Mar 2013)

Alex White: The Minister has to act rationally. The Deputy should read out the section.

Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Bill 2013: Second Stage (20 Mar 2013)

Alex White: We are not taking that away.