Results 6,401-6,420 of 11,979 for speaker:Billy Kelleher

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Consultants Contract Issues (27 Nov 2013)

Billy Kelleher: 182. To ask the Minister for Health if public hospitals currently have in place any arrangements allowing Category A consultants to carry out private work within public hospitals, or any arrangements to allow Category B consultants to carry out private work outside of the public hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50871/13]

Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (26 Nov 2013)

Billy Kelleher: The Government is asking the over-70s to subsidise the under-fives.

Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (26 Nov 2013)

Billy Kelleher: The old and the sick will be subsidising the under-fives.

Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (26 Nov 2013)

Billy Kelleher: The Minister of State knew that in 2011.

Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (26 Nov 2013)

Billy Kelleher: It is not agreed. Can we comment on it?

Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (26 Nov 2013)

Billy Kelleher: Would you like to hear our reasons?

Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (26 Nov 2013)

Billy Kelleher: We are opposing the Bill simply because-----

Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (26 Nov 2013)

Billy Kelleher: We are opposing Fifth Stage.

Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (26 Nov 2013)

Billy Kelleher: We are opposing Fifth Stage because we want to-----

Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (26 Nov 2013)

Billy Kelleher: The reason we are opposing this Bill is quite simple. In effect, the Government is legislating for a U-turn of massive proportions. This Bill is simply about reducing the income eligibility criteria that apply to over 70s. It is about taking medical cards from another 35,000 people. A key question must be asked in this context. If it was bad a number of years ago for a couple over the...

Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (26 Nov 2013)

Billy Kelleher: It is simply incredible that Government Deputies can come in here and vote this Bill through. The words that should ring in their ears are "shame on you".

Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (26 Nov 2013)

Billy Kelleher: The Minister believes this is just a technical amendment. We stated at the outset that we accept it is a technical amendment but it is a technical amendment to the fundamental part of the Bill. That is the reason we are opposing it, and we have no other way of opposing it. I have said already that this is legislating for a U-turn of massive proportions and I need to find a mechanism with...

Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (26 Nov 2013)

Billy Kelleher: -----what the Minister said prior to 2011 and in the programme for Government in 2011 is at complete variance with this Bill. That is why I have to oppose the technical amendment the Minister has placed before me because it is amending the fundamental Part of this Bill, which is to deny another 35,000 people medical cards.

Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (26 Nov 2013)

Billy Kelleher: I thank the Minister of State for his eloquent explanation as to the reason this is only a technical amendment. However, it is amending the substance of the Bill itself, which is to change the income guidelines and the eligibility criteria. While the amendment itself is technical, the section under discussion is the one which effectively legislates for a U-turn of huge proportions. It is a...

Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (26 Nov 2013)

Billy Kelleher: No, it is fine and the Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, is always welcome to contribute to a debate. While he contributes to many debates, on the health area being debated this evening, it really is about the consistency of Government policy. This amendment drives a coach and four through that because even in the programme for Government, the signatories did not state it was their intended policy...

Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (26 Nov 2013)

Billy Kelleher: It is, but the people who will be affected by this Bill will encounter another difficulty because, having lost their medical cards, they then will incur further costs to cover their health care and by so doing, will lose their private health insurance. That demographic is the one that has the highest proportion of private health insurance extant and for this reason, I believe this...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Health Information and Quality Authority Corporate Plan 2013-2015: Discussion (26 Nov 2013)

Billy Kelleher: I am not, because the overriding issue for HIQA is patient safety. We have a situation where CEOs of a hospital have expressed concern, but does that ring alarm bells for HIQA or does it just say that is normal politics in the play for resources? Does HIQA go in and examine whether there is a serious issue? As a spokesperson on health, I believe we now have a situation where consultants...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Health Information and Quality Authority Corporate Plan 2013-2015: Discussion (26 Nov 2013)

Billy Kelleher: I thank the Chairman and I apologise. I wish Mr. Brian McEnery the best of luck as chairman of HIQA. We are under pressure with the Dáil again. I wish to make a few observations-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Health Information and Quality Authority Corporate Plan 2013-2015: Discussion (26 Nov 2013)

Billy Kelleher: -----on the corporate plan. First and foremost, in the whole area of the reconfiguration of hospitals which is now part and parcel of the roll-out of the Government's strategy to move towards universal health insurance with the establishment of hospital groups, hospital trusts and what flows from them, there is a concern, that certainly those in opposition would hold but also in communities...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Health Services Staff Data (26 Nov 2013)

Billy Kelleher: 300. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he or his Department has at any stage since 9 March 2011 received a request for approval from the Department of Health for any salary or remuneration package with an annual value above €145,000 to be provided to any hospital administrator or hospital group administrator; if so, the date on which the approval was sought; if...