Results 981-1,000 of 3,665 for speaker:Seán Power

Written Answers — Disease Incidence: Disease Incidence (13 Feb 2007)

Seán Power: I propose to take Questions Nos. 401, 402 and 404 together. The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to...

Written Answers — Nursing Home Subventions: Nursing Home Subventions (8 Feb 2007)

Seán Power: The start date for the new nursing home support scheme — A Fair Deal — is 1 January, 2008. This is because primary legislation must be passed in order for the scheme to commence. The Department is currently working on preparing the Heads of the Bill. In the interim, the Minister announced an initiative to make the existing subvention scheme fairer. The standard subvention has been...

Written Answers — Home Care Packages: Home Care Packages (8 Feb 2007)

Seán Power: Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services was assigned to the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular matter raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter...

Written Answers — Home Care Packages: Home Care Packages (8 Feb 2007)

Seán Power: Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services was assigned to the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular matter raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter...

Written Answers — Home Care Packages: Home Care Packages (8 Feb 2007)

Seán Power: Home Care Packages (HCP) including Home Care Cash Grants and are designed to facilitate timely discharge of older people from acute hospitals; reduce inappropriate admission; reduce pressure on A&E departments and support older people to continue to live in their own community. In the first instance use of mainstream community services are maximized to support and maintain the older person...

Written Answers — Hospital Accommodation: Hospital Accommodation (8 Feb 2007)

Seán Power: Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services was assigned to the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular matter raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter...

Written Answers — Nursing Home Subventions: Nursing Home Subventions (8 Feb 2007)

Seán Power: The start date for the new nursing home support scheme — A Fair Deal — is 1 January, 2008. This is because primary legislation must be passed in order for the scheme to commence. The Department is currently working on preparing the Heads of the Bill. Some of the benefits and key commitments to individuals as part of A Fair Deal will be: Nursing home care will now be affordable to every...

Written Answers — Nursing Home Accommodation: Nursing Home Accommodation (8 Feb 2007)

Seán Power: Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services was assigned to the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. I understand that the Executive supplied an interim response to the Deputy on the 5th February, 2007 in response to Parliamentary Question 43355-06. I further understand that the information provided to the Deputy was in...

Seanad: Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (8 Feb 2007)

Seán Power: I thank the three Senators for their contributions, in which a number of issues were raised. I do not propose to accept the amendment and I will explain the reason. The figure of €10,400 contained in Committee Stage amendment No. 14 is not a simple income threshold. An individual with the State pension as his or her only income and with no other assets would be eligible for the maximum...

Seanad: Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (8 Feb 2007)

Seán Power: Moreover, the HSE may still consider such individuals for enhanced subvention and consequently, although the figure of €10,400 could be raised, it would be futile to so do. It could also raise public expectations unfairly and arguably, it could be seen as being misleading, as people with houses valued at more than €365,000 and with income of €20,800 would not be eligible for...

Seanad: Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (8 Feb 2007)

Seán Power: As Senator Ryan indicated, he raised the issue of disclosure of information relating to home care providers on Committee Stage. It was a valid point and I thank him for bringing the issue to the fore. He stated he was poorly prepared.

Seanad: Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (8 Feb 2007)

Seán Power: It is just as well we do not meet him too often on a good day. People often question the role of the Seanad and its necessity. Senator Ryan showed the role the Seanad has, particularly that of a vigilant Senator, in checking legislation.

Seanad: Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (8 Feb 2007)

Seán Power: One should give recognition when it is due.

Seanad: Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (8 Feb 2007)

Seán Power: Senator Ryan made a good point which we took on board and acted on.

Seanad: Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (8 Feb 2007)

Seán Power: I gave the Senator the good news before the bad news.

Seanad: Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (8 Feb 2007)

Seán Power: It is not proposed to accept amendment No. 2 and when I explain Senator Ryan will accept my point. We often spend time considering the words "may" and "shall" when discussing legislation. Amendment No. 3 is more appropriate with regard to publishing or making available information. The reason for not accepting amendment No. 2 is not because we do not see the merit in the principle behind...

Seanad: Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (8 Feb 2007)

Seán Power: This is a straightforward technical amendment relating to correct referencing on foot of advices received from the Bills office.

Seanad: Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (8 Feb 2007)

Seán Power: I thank Senators for their contributions since Second Stage, the interest they have shown in issues concerning the elderly and the help they have given in promoting that cause, which is a priority of the House and is debated regularly. The Bill was designed to put the current subvention arrangements on a sound legal footing. The bulk of the amendments made in the Seanad relate to a range of...

Written Answers — Maternity Protection Rights: Maternity Protection Rights (7 Feb 2007)

Seán Power: The Department of Health and Children recommends that mothers breastfeed their children until they are 2 years of age or older. This recommendation is based on a vast scientific literature demonstrating the substantial health, social and economic importance of breastfeeding. The advantages of breastfeeding include lower infant and young child morbidity and mortality from diarrhoea, other...

Written Answers — Maternity Protection Rights: Maternity Protection Rights (7 Feb 2007)

Seán Power: Funding for all health services has been provided as part of the Executive's overall vote for health and personal social services in 2007. The allocation of resources in the case raised by the Deputy is a matter for the executive to be determined within the overall priorities for particular services set out by me in the Budget. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary...