Results 881-900 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Leaders' Questions (25 Jun 2015)

Alex White: -----Deputy Calleary must give some credit to the achievement of this Government in turning around a shocking economic context and success in managing-----

Leaders' Questions (25 Jun 2015)

Alex White: -----to keep and maintain a health service, which has difficulties and problems to which he referred and which I do not deny, but which is making real progress in the interests of the patients who it is there to serve and the wider community.

Leaders' Questions (25 Jun 2015)

Alex White: First, lone parents have been at a much greater risk of poverty primarily due, as Deputy McDonald will be aware and will have to appreciate, to them being absent from the workforce for most of their working life, and that is an issue that is being addressed here in these reforms. That scenario is not a good one for a parent and it is not a good one for a child. The reforms that are taking...

Leaders' Questions (25 Jun 2015)

Alex White: The HSE has advised-----

Leaders' Questions (25 Jun 2015)

Alex White: -----that due to consultant staff shortages, a number of rheumatology outpatient clinics in Galway University Hospital are being postponed during the months of July and August this year. New appointments will be scheduled as soon as possible and urgent patients will continue to be seen. Clinics in Manorhamilton will continue as normal. The hospital has issued a statement, as one would...

Leaders' Questions (25 Jun 2015)

Alex White: I echo that. There are currently three consultants in Galway University Hospital covering outpatient clinics, a day ward service in Merlin Park, and an emergency medical intake and a consult service at Galway University Hospital. A locum consultant will take up a post in September, an extra consultant for Galway University Hospital will take up a post in October 2015, and an additional...

Leaders' Questions (25 Jun 2015)

Alex White: When extra medical staff are in place, the extra outpatient clinics will have to be held and will be held. Emergency patients will continue to be seen on a case-by-case basis. The national recruitment service is actively recruiting hospital staff and consultant posts are continually being approved for filling. That is what is happening at the moment in terms of the response. The HSE has...

Leaders' Questions (25 Jun 2015)

Alex White: I am not trying to say there are no difficulties.

Leaders' Questions (25 Jun 2015)

Alex White: I have not tried in any way to stonewall the Deputy's questions or say there are no difficulties, and neither is the Minister for Health saying so. There have been interventions in this regard.

Leaders' Questions (25 Jun 2015)

Alex White: I gave a list of real measures that are currently being taken, particularly in regard to the recruitment of consultants. The Deputy acknowledges that we have had difficulty in achieving this. The Minister acknowledges that. However, real and tangible efforts are being made and achievements are being secured in respect of the recruitment of consultants. There are difficulties in...

Leaders' Questions (25 Jun 2015)

Alex White: I am just giving the Deputy the facts.

Leaders' Questions (25 Jun 2015)

Alex White: The ward will reopen in the autumn. It needs to be upgraded, it is being upgraded and it will reopen in the autumn. If it could be done more quickly than that, it would be.

Leaders' Questions (25 Jun 2015)

Alex White: It is being achieved as best the HSE and the hospital concerned can manage. Regarding the Galway situation, I have pointed out to the Deputy the difficulty regarding recruitment. I will be straight with him on the rheumatology situation there. The hospital is trying to secure a locum for the summer, but it simply has not been successful in doing so.

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (25 Jun 2015)

Alex White: I am pleased to present the Communications Regulation (Postal Services)(Amendment) Bill 2015 for the consideration of this House. The legislation is an important, almost final, milestone in the introduction of a national postcode system. Ireland is the only country in the European Union or the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development without a postcode system. While...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (25 Jun 2015)

Alex White: Senator Craughwell will not mind me playfully querying how an Independent group could have a leader. Maybe he will explain that to me on another day.

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (25 Jun 2015)

Alex White: I thank my colleagues and Senators for their thoughtful and insightful contributions. In the first instance, I thank Senator Daly but I shall thank all the Senators sequentially as it will be quicker. In response to the questions of why recommendations are reviewed and why a sequential code was not proceeded with, I shall outline the fundamental reason which I mentioned in my opening...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (25 Jun 2015)

Alex White: It is an additional facility, so the addresses will still exist. All the local knowledge and experience that people have will still be there. It will not be wiped out and we are not deleting anything. We are not deleting addresses from the national memory, they will still be there. This is something additional. One could make the argument as to whether the additional facility will be an...

Communications Regulation (Postal Services) (Amendment) Bill 2015: Report Stage (24 Jun 2015)

Alex White: I will certainly assist the Deputy. He had asked me this on Committee Stage and I have also given these answers on Second Stage. I do not have all the material available in order to put it on the record again but I will make sure the Deputy gets that information today.

Communications Regulation (Postal Services) (Amendment) Bill 2015: Report Stage (24 Jun 2015)

Alex White: As we are discussing amendments Nos. 3 to 10, inclusive, together, I will deal with them accordingly. The complaints procedure set out in the Bill refers to the process which owners or occupiers of property can follow in the case of a postcode-related complaint. The complaints procedure is set out in the postcodes contractor's code of practice. The postcode contractor has consulted with...

Communications Regulation (Postal Services) (Amendment) Bill 2015: Report Stage (24 Jun 2015)

Alex White: I thank the Deputies. There is always a very important debate to be had about which elements of public services, if any, should be outsourced to the private sector, and which should continue to be carried out directly by the public sector. This issue arises in all kinds of areas, as the Deputy rightly says. Education is still principally carried out and funded directly by the State. I...