Results 5,941-5,960 of 21,128 for speaker:James Reilly

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointment Status (18 Dec 2013)

James Reilly: The Deputy's question relates to service delivery matters and accordingly I have asked the HSE to respond directly to him.

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Expenditure (18 Dec 2013)

James Reilly: As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to revert to the Deputy with the information sought concerning agency costs. The great majority of NCHD posts are filled at present. However there are a number of vacancies, mainly in smaller hospitals and in certain specialties, including Emergency Medicine and General Medicine at Registrar level. Filling these posts represents a...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Ministerial Advisers Remuneration (18 Dec 2013)

James Reilly: The pay rates being applied to the special advisors employed in my Department are in accordance with the relevant pay guidelines.

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (17 Dec 2013)

James Reilly: An undertaking, as defined in the Health Insurance Act, means a health benefits undertaking, "registered in relation to an undertaking" means registered in the register and cognate words shall be construed accordingly. The term, "health insurance undertaking" means the business of effecting health insurance contracts and, therefore, the effect of this proposed amendment would have no...

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (17 Dec 2013)

James Reilly: Section 12 of the Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2013 amends section 125A of the Stamp Duties Consolidation Act 1999 in respect of the revised rates of stamp duties, which will apply in respect of health insurance contracts entered into or renewed after 1 March 2014. The current legislation provides for the payment of the stamp duty levy by authorised insurers on a quarterly basis in...

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (17 Dec 2013)

James Reilly: I have no doubt that the Senator's intention is to improve things for and protect the consumer. The result of this proposed amendment would be to create a window of opportunity where registered undertakings could increase benefits or reduce prices, which might on the surface seem like a good idea. However, they may do it to further segment the market, as they have been doing, where they...

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (17 Dec 2013)

James Reilly: The Central Bank of Ireland is the Financial Regulator for this country and, as such, regulates for matters governing the prudential insolvency requirements for the health insurance market. Insurers wishing to operate in the Irish market must satisfy the Central Bank and other requirements before they are authorised to operate in the Irish market. On the other hand, the Health Insurance...

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (17 Dec 2013)

James Reilly: I have a long answer but I will not go into it in the interests of brevity other than to say we had all this in the Dáil and the Seanad earlier. The fact of the matter is that this is accepted as reasonable by the EU and to go away from it would not make much sense. Regrettably, I will not be accepting the amendment.

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (17 Dec 2013)

James Reilly: The effect of this amendment would be to introduce an element of flexibility to the agreed 12% return on equity ceiling above which an insurer would be deemed to be over-compensated. I agree that only efficient insurers should be rewarded and to this end, I am committed to maximising cost efficiencies across the market. All of the insurers are working with the Health Insurance Authority and...

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (17 Dec 2013)

James Reilly: I am reflecting on Senator Barrett's comments and I agree with him that the costs have been a problem. The VHI having a large cohort of older clients and therefore greater cost has become a bit of a focus to the neglect of many other areas where it can control and needs to address costs. That is very much my focus and I am pushing it down that road. It has a new cost containment committee...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Universal Health Insurance White Paper (17 Dec 2013)

James Reilly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 540 and 624 together. The Government is committed to a major reform programme for the health system, the aim of which is to deliver a single-tier health service, supported by universal health insurance (UHI), where access is based on need, not on income. Under UHI, everyone will be insured and will have equal access to a standard package of primary and acute...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Legislative Process (17 Dec 2013)

James Reilly: The Deputy may wish to note that the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013 was enacted on 30 July 2013.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Reports (17 Dec 2013)

James Reilly: As the Deputy is aware, the report conducted by Goodbody Stockbrokers and Matheson Ormsby Prentice Solicitors, concerns options to address the imbalance in the private health insurance market, and examined market structure, the position of existing insurers, and the issue of rebalancing the market so that there would be a more even spread of higher and lower risks between insurers. As I...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Community Development Projects (17 Dec 2013)

James Reilly: The HSE have advised that there were two arbitrations in relation to their occupation of this property. One from 1/5/2004 and one from 1/5/2009. Both arbitration awards were honoured in full by the HSE, to include payment of all back monies due from the relevant dates. The HSE have further advised that no further payments are currently due.

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Lottery Funding Applications (17 Dec 2013)

James Reilly: The processing of decisions on applications for National Lottery grants is currently being finalised and applicants will be informed of my decision shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointment Status (17 Dec 2013)

James Reilly: The National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2013, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has...

Written Answers — Department of Health: EU Regulations (17 Dec 2013)

James Reilly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 549 and 608 together. The report of the Tobacco Policy Review Group 'Tobacco Free Ireland' was launched on the 03rd October 2013. The report recommends the establishment of a regulatory framework for nicotine products in the context of discussions at European Union level. Last December, the Commission published a proposal for a new EU Tobacco Products...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing Staff Provision (17 Dec 2013)

James Reilly: As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointment Delays (17 Dec 2013)

James Reilly: For 2013, a maximum waiting time target of 12 months has been set for a first time consultant-led outpatient appointment and this is reflected in the HSE Service Plan. The SDU and the NTPF are working closely with hospitals towards achievement of the maximum waiting time across all specialties. In regard to urology services at Children's University Hospital Temple Street specifically, I am...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (17 Dec 2013)

James Reilly: The National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2013, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has...