Results 7,801-7,820 of 11,979 for speaker:Billy Kelleher

Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (30 Jan 2013)

Billy Kelleher: The service plan for this year is very light where last year's plan was far more detailed. The reason more people have medical cards is because more people qualify on the basis of financial need. It is not because the Minister or the HSE are more generous in granting medical cards. These people are getting them by right based on a means test. What is happening in the meantime is that...

Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (30 Jan 2013)

Billy Kelleher: They are being denied them. That is the point I am making. That is a key area that needs to be addressed because it is not working. Another man who came to me recently is on chemotherapy and had undergone surgery for bowel cancer. He cannot get a medical card. I know well that he is not a very wealthy man. He is on little more than a social welfare payment and an occupational pension...

Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (30 Jan 2013)

Billy Kelleher: It is true. Section 16 provides for powers of appointment and for setting policy and makes the director general accountable and answerable to the Minister in all cases except in respect of individual service providers and patient outcomes. The Minister will have absolute power to decide the location and funding of services. It was only last September that the House had a debate which saw a...

Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (30 Jan 2013)

Billy Kelleher: That is the issue about which I have a concern, as do many other people. We have also seen what happened in respect of St. Luke's Hospital and Wexford Hospital. I highlight these cases to show that as matters stand, politicisation takes place. The Bill creates circumstances in which the provision and location of services will be fundamentally in the gift of the Minister. Such decisions...

Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (30 Jan 2013)

Billy Kelleher: I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Bill. Discussion has taken place in the Seanad where we did not oppose the Bill on Second Stage. However, having read it and given what has occurred in the intervening period since the Seanad debate and the position in terms of the provision of health care, I have some concerns. There was an issue with budgets last year involving a failure to...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Arts Promotion (30 Jan 2013)

Billy Kelleher: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the practical impact and cost of the Arts in Education Charter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4481/13]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Service Staff (30 Jan 2013)

Billy Kelleher: To ask the Minister for Health the number of doctors/consultants who are on the payroll of the Health Service Executive that are currently suspended; the rate of pay they are receiving while on suspension; the length of time each of them are out on suspension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4586/13]

An Garda Síochána: Motion [Private Members] (29 Jan 2013)

Billy Kelleher: His backbenchers are pointing out the mistakes the Minister is making in stripping away the positive resource of a station in a community and serving that community. The idea the Minister can single-handedly decide these closures are good for An Garda Síochána simply does not stack up. Another issue the Minister raised continually when he was on this side of the House – it...

An Garda Síochána: Motion [Private Members] (29 Jan 2013)

Billy Kelleher: The Minister is sitting on his hands, completely oblivious to what he said when he was on this side of the House. The Minister should be honest enough to admit his policy on Garda station closures is flawed and that highlighting the investigation into Anglo Irish Bank was deeply cynical.

An Garda Síochána: Motion [Private Members] (29 Jan 2013)

Billy Kelleher: I, too, wish to express my deepest sympathies to the family of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe and to the members of the Garda Síochána throughout the country. It is hard to believe that we are standing here discussing this issue in view of what the Minister said on this side of the House over many years about Garda recruitment, the need to have gardaí living in communities...

Topical Issue Debate: Hospitals Capital Programme (29 Jan 2013)

Billy Kelleher: The Minister toured many hospitals when in opposition and has toured a few more in government. It is welcome that he is visiting accident and emergency departments in hospitals throughout the country. The point is, however, that he personally interfered in the selection process for priority capital projects. He says the hospitals concerned deserve it. Of course, they do and we do not...

Topical Issue Debate: Hospitals Capital Programme (29 Jan 2013)

Billy Kelleher: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this serious issue, which has highlighted the interference of the Minister for Health in the delivery of health care in the country. We all accept that a Minister should take a hands-on approach in the delivery of health care, but this was a deeply cynical political exercise. There are no two ways of explaining the issue. The fact is that the Minister...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Administration (29 Jan 2013)

Billy Kelleher: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will outline the impact the lowering for the cap on rent allowance has had on recipients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4100/13]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Insurance Levy (29 Jan 2013)

Billy Kelleher: To ask the Minister for Health if he will publish the report from the Health Insurance Authority which recommended the health insurance levy rates to apply in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3777/13]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Insurance Levy (29 Jan 2013)

Billy Kelleher: To ask the Minister for Health if his decision on setting the health insurance levy rates for 2013 was based on a Health Insurance Authority report which assumed that 16% of policy holders would hold non-advanced policies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3778/13]

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Services (29 Jan 2013)

Billy Kelleher: To ask the Minister for Health if he will investigate complaints about the quality of the South Doc service being provided to Youghal, County Cork, following claims of refusal to travel to Youghal or instances of failure to show up; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3796/13]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Service Staff (29 Jan 2013)

Billy Kelleher: To ask the Minister for Health if he and the Health Service Executive will act to limit the hours worked by non-consultant hospital doctors to 24 in a consecutive sitting and 60 in a week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3893/13]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Service Staff (29 Jan 2013)

Billy Kelleher: To ask the Minister for Health if he has any plans to change the shift hours of non-consultant hospital doctors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3894/13]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (29 Jan 2013)

Billy Kelleher: To ask the Minister for Health the number of operations, medical and surgical procedures, in public hospitals that were cancelled in 2012 and to date in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3855/13]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Administration of Medicines (29 Jan 2013)

Billy Kelleher: To ask the Minister for Health if he will confirm that no policy/guideline document exists to cover the administration of medicines by domiciliary care service employees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3870/13]