Results 6,981-7,000 of 21,128 for speaker:James Reilly

Other Questions: Medical Card Numbers (26 Sep 2013)

James Reilly: The number of cards that have been issued following review and the number that have been withdrawn is not readily available in the format requested by the Deputy. Details of the number of medical cards and GP visit cards are provided to my Department each month by the HSE. These figures are currently provided on a net basis, showing the balance after new cards have been issued and other...

Other Questions: Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors Working Conditions (26 Sep 2013)

James Reilly: A number of initiatives are on the way. One of my real complaints about the HSE when I was in Opposition was its inability, in spite of being a national organisation, to bring any uniformity of approach to matters. One found excellence in one hospital but this was not transferred across to other hospitals. It is not always appropriate that the same measures should work in every hospital...

Other Questions: Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors Working Conditions (26 Sep 2013)

James Reilly: I am bemused. The reality is that, as Minister, I do not become directly involved in industrial disputes. The Department and the HSE handle these matters. If I have to become involved it is usually when matters have become extraordinarily serious and require direct ministerial involvement. I must put on the record of the House that I have done more in respect of this issue than any...

Other Questions: Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors Working Conditions (26 Sep 2013)

James Reilly: As to other English-speaking countries I do not wish to denigrate any country. There certainly were big problems with this across the water in the UK but I do not know how much progress has been made in recent times. I am sure there has been considerable progress. I believe this comes back to sentiment. Maybe I will be shot for saying this but judging by many of the doctors I have met I...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors Recruitment (26 Sep 2013)

James Reilly: No, I did not say that. I want to shorten their training. I do not see why one can become a fully trained specialist in Australia in six years and yet it takes, on average, 12 years here. That is not acceptable and is not fair on people. It strikes me that we have many people who are very experienced at a lower grade doing an awful lot of the work when they should already be in that...

Other Questions: Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors Working Conditions (26 Sep 2013)

James Reilly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6, 7, 37, 58 and 265 together by agreement. These questions point in the same direction. As I said, Ireland must have sustainable arrangements to train and develop the medical workforce we need to provide safe and effective services to the population. I am committed to retaining our doctors. I find it disturbing that we train some of the brightest and best...

Other Questions: Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors Working Conditions (26 Sep 2013)

James Reilly: We are still very much in that process because the answer to the question is contingent upon implementing the reforms. Going back to the key principle of our health policy, it relates to ensuring the patient is seen at the lowest level of complexity that is safe, timely, efficient and as near home as possible. That means we do not want consultants looking after patients who could be looked...

Other Questions: Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors Working Conditions (26 Sep 2013)

James Reilly: As the Deputy points out, I share his concern and it is something I am determined to address. I am looking to NCHDs themselves in respect of the work being done by Professor MacCraith. I want to provide a safe place for them to speak. They are afraid to speak out because they will not get a good reference towards their next job. That goes on, and it is wrong. I refer to pay rates. Let...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors Recruitment (26 Sep 2013)

James Reilly: Ireland must have sustainable arrangements to train and develop the medical workforce we need to provide safe and effective services to our population. For that reason, I am committed to retaining in our health service doctors who are educated and trained in Ireland. I intend to do this by providing them with clear career pathways and appropriate working conditions. I think the lack of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors Recruitment (26 Sep 2013)

James Reilly: In the past, everybody always looked to quantums of money and numbers of people. A change in the way we work is what is really required as we reform our health service. It should not be a question of asking people who are already working hard to work harder. It should be a question of asking them to work differently. I asked the HSE today why some model 4 hospitals - the big hospitals -...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors Recruitment (26 Sep 2013)

James Reilly: Of course education is a matter for the Minister for Education and Skills. While no system is perfect, the leaving certificate is about the most transparent and fair system we have. I have already placed on the record my distaste for the health professions admission test. Its introduction has led to the development of a new industry that involves educating people in how to pass the test....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Symphysiotomy Survivors (26 Sep 2013)

James Reilly: I met the support groups representing the women who have been affected and afflicted by symphysiotomy on 1 August 2013 and informed them that a decision has not yet been made by Government on how to achieve closure on the issue. I proposed at that meeting that I would appoint a judge to engage with the women affected by symphysiotomy in order to explore all relevant issues. At the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Symphysiotomy Survivors (26 Sep 2013)

James Reilly: I hope the Leas-Cheann Comhairle will afford to me a similar amount of additional time as that which he afforded to the Deputy. I wish to make it absolutely clear that we want to bring closure in respect of this issue for the women concerned who suffered as a consequence of the procedure involved. Long after the use of this procedure had been discontinued elsewhere, it continued to be...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Symphysiotomy Survivors (26 Sep 2013)

James Reilly: I beg the Leas-Cheann Comhairle's indulgence, particularly as he was kind enough to offer some extra time to my colleague opposite. I wish to ensure that we will bring closure for the women in respect of this matter while ensuring that they endure the least possible amount of additional pain. I have asked the Attorney General to approach a judge on the matter and discussions are in train in...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Symphysiotomy Survivors (26 Sep 2013)

James Reilly: In response to the Deputy's final point, I can categorically state that this is not the Department's approach and it is certainly not my approach nor that of my Government colleagues. I want to bring closure in respect of this matter. This is one of a myriad of legacy issues left behind by previous Governments and by Ministers who presided over the Department over which I now preside. We...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Estimates (26 Sep 2013)

James Reilly: It is too early to say whether a supplementary budget will be required in 2013. Significant savings have been required of the health services since the downturn in the economy. The budget provision for health has reduced by some €1.5bn on the 2008 provision and, taking into account the need to provide for increases in demand, the underlying reduction in health spend is over...

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Staff Remuneration (26 Sep 2013)

James Reilly: The health service is the most complex sector of the Irish public service and employs approximately one-third of all public service staff. Despite the substantial reductions in financial and staff resources which have been necessary in recent years, the health budget accounts for approximately €13 billion annually. In addition, the health service is the subject of an ongoing major...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cochlear Implants (26 Sep 2013)

James Reilly: Beaumont Hospital is the centre for delivering Ireland's national cochlear implant programme, with surgical provision for patients under six (6) years being carried out in the Children's University Hospital Temple Street. Since the programme commenced seventeen years ago (in 1995), over 700 patients have received cochlear implants. Beaumont Hospital carried out ninety cochlear implants in...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (26 Sep 2013)

James Reilly: Improving access for patients to inpatient and daycase treatment is a priority for this Government and significant progress was made in 2012 towards maximum waiting time targets. However, 2013 has been very challenging. While waiting list numbers tend to increase in the first few months of any year, the increase in 2013 was much greater than expected, associated with the unusual wintry...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Substance Misuse Strategy (26 Sep 2013)

James Reilly: Proposals are currently being finalised on foot of the recommendations in the Steering Group Report on a National Substance Misuse Strategy 2012. These proposals cover all of the areas mentioned in the report, including legislation on minimum unit pricing; controls on alcohol advertising and sponsorship; labelling of alcohol products; measures on access and availability of alcohol and a...