Results 6,481-6,500 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (16 Jan 2013)

Alex White: The HSE has been asked to respond to the Deputy, as soon as possible, in relation to this issue.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Eligibility (16 Jan 2013)

Alex White: Under the provisions of the Health Act 1970, medical cards are provided to persons who, in the opinion of the Health Service Executive, are unable without undue hardship to arrange general practitioner medical and surgical services for themselves and their dependants. The assessment for a medical card is determined primarily by reference to the means of the applicant and his/her dependants....

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Applications (16 Jan 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: Prescription Charges (16 Jan 2013)

Alex White: Due to the very difficult and challenging economic environment, the Government has committed to achieving additional savings in health expenditure with €781m of savings targeted in 2013. The increase in prescription charges will account for €51 million of this target. The Government is committed to achieving these savings while protecting front line services to the most...

Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (20 Dec 2012)

Alex White: This has been an interesting discussion. As colleagues acknowledged, the Bill is of a technical nature and, although important, is limited in scope. Many of the issues raised in the course of the debate are, of course, worthy of public debate and elaboration and Members, in their normal ingenious way, have taken the opportunity afforded them by this relatively limited Bill to engage in that...

Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (20 Dec 2012)

Alex White: The Deputy's enthusiasm has not waned.

Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Alex White: I have an aversion to clichés, that is my problem. It had nothing to do with the content. Read the sentence before it.

Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Alex White: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I have the honour of deputising for my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Brendan Howlin, in addressing the House on the subject of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill. The Bill was passed by the Seanad last week, on 13 December 2012. The Bill is designated a No. 2 Bill because an...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Budget Targets (20 Dec 2012)

Alex White: Due to the very difficult and challenging economic environment, the Government has committed to achieving additional savings of €160 in expenditure on drugs and medicines in 2013 as set out in the following table: IPHA/APMI Agreement on Drug Price Reductions €120 million Quality Prescribing Initiative €20 million Reduce price of oral nutritional supplements...

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Medical Services Scheme (20 Dec 2012)

Alex White: Under the General Medical Services (GMS) contract, a general practitioner (GP) is expected to provide his/her patients who hold medical cards or GP visit cards with all proper and necessary treatment of a kind generally undertaken by a GP. The contract between the HSE and GPs under the GMS Scheme stipulates that fees are not paid to GPs by the HSE in respect of certain medical...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Service Staff (20 Dec 2012)

Alex White: The HSE has therefore been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Delays (20 Dec 2012)

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: General Medical Services Scheme (20 Dec 2012)

Alex White: Section 11 of the General Medical Services (GMS) GP Capitation Contract, which was introduced in 1989, provides that the medical practitioner shall provide for eligible persons, on behalf of the Health rvice Executive (HSE), all proper and necessary treatment of a kind usually undertaken by a general practitioner (GP) and not requiring special skill or experience of a degree or kind which GPs...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Applications (20 Dec 2012)

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 Delays (20 Dec 2012)

Alex White: The current processing time for medical cards applications and appeals is 96.05% within 15 days as at 3rd December 2012. I have referred the remaining elements of the Deputy's question to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Misuse of Drugs (20 Dec 2012)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 316, 317 and 319 together. Benzodiazepines, as a group of medicines, are commonly used to treat anxiety, sleep disturbance and insomnia. Benzodiazepines are known to be associated with dependence and withdrawal symptoms and consequently are primarily recommended for short-term treatment only. There is increasing evidence of the inappropriate use of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Applications (20 Dec 2012)

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: Health Service Charges (20 Dec 2012)

Alex White: Under the provisions of the Health Act 1970, eligibility for health services in Ireland is based primarily on residency and means.There are currently two categories of eligibility for all persons ordinarily resident in Ireland i.e. full eligibility (medical card) and limited eligibility (all others).Full eligibility is determined mainly by reference to income limits, and is granted to persons...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Primary Care Services (20 Dec 2012)

Alex White: There is a commitment in the Programme for Government to introducing a better and more efficient health system, a single-tier health service that will deliver equal access to care based on need, not income. The development of primary care services must be an essential component of the health service reform process. In a developed primary care system, up to 95 per cent of people’s...

Topical Issue Debate: Mental Health Services (19 Dec 2012)

Alex White: The Deputy makes the case very well. There is no doubt that it is extremely upsetting for people, particularly at this time of the year, when they are discommoded when an event like this occurs and there is a requirement for them to be moved out of a facility with which they are familiar. If that could be avoided, I am sure it would be. I am sure the Deputy will agree that the HSE and...