Results 10,341-10,360 of 21,128 for speaker:James Reilly

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (5 Dec 2012)

James Reilly: This information is collected and collated by the Business Intelligence Unit within the Health Service Executive. Therefore, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy.

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (4 Dec 2012)

James Reilly: I reassure Deputy Naughten there is no need for a sunset clause because the provision exists for me to close this by setting the daily rate at nil.

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (4 Dec 2012)

James Reilly: With the Leas-Cheann Comhairle's permission, I wish to provide the House with some information. On Committee Stage I gave the details of the risk equalisation credits but it would be remiss of me if I did not inform the House, as I informed the insurers, of the new stamp duty rates. I have sent them to the Minister for Finance and he has agreed with my recommendations which, in a...

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (4 Dec 2012)

James Reilly: Deputy Naughten's amendment aims to encourage people to stay or become involved in health insurance and make sure they will go into universal health insurance. The key point there is that universal health insurance will be mandatory so there is no need for incentives to get people into universal health insurance. It will be the law and we have a mandate from the people to do that. It is in...

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (4 Dec 2012)

James Reilly: I will deal with the last point. I would not have been greatly impressed with the role the HIA had in the past. It is intended to beef it up considerably so it can act as a regulator. One is nearly afraid to use the word "regulator" in this country, having seen all the failures of regulation in the past.

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (4 Dec 2012)

James Reilly: However, it will be independent and will protect the consumer, define the standard policy to be available and monitor very closely any products created by the insurance companies to ensure there is no attempt at cherry-picking and segmenting in the market. By that I mean trying to encourage younger people into certain products and to discourage older people. I would be the first to accept...

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (4 Dec 2012)

James Reilly: I thank the Deputy and while I share the sentiment, as I explained on Committee State, the previous risk equalisation scheme in 2003 was mainly set out in regulations. The new scheme, including rates for risk-equalisation credits and stamp-duty levies are strengthened in future by being set in primary legislation. The Houses will have ample opportunity to discuss amendments now and in the...

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (4 Dec 2012)

James Reilly: Sadly, Deputy Ó Caoláin has misconstrued the situation, which is a recurring problem. This universal health insurance, as outlined and committed to in the programme for Government, is not based on private insurance. The programme for Government is very clear the VHI will be retained. It is a State-owned insurer and it is to be retained as a public option. Furthermore, the...

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (4 Dec 2012)

James Reilly: I take on board what the Deputy is saying. Insurers are locked in competition for younger customers because that is where they make their greatest profit. For that reason, they will not cut prices too much. We want to encourage them to reduce their costs so that they are in a position to cut their prices. We have already undertaken to discuss lifetime community rating with insurers....

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (4 Dec 2012)

James Reilly: The Health Insurance Act regulates how private health insurance is provided for those who choose to purchase it. Currently, the figure amounts to 46% of the population. This has always been a remarkable feature of our system, given that, in theory, everyone is entitled to free hospital care. Over a period covering several Governments people lost faith in the ability of the public service...

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (4 Dec 2012)

James Reilly: I agree with Deputy Billy Kelleher in the sentiments he expressed. Young people are not being discouraged from entering the market. I hope the Deputy joins me in calling on insurers to provide student cover until the age of 23 years, as provided for in legislation. The insurers can do so if they want, but they have chosen not to do so. They are free to offer products and set prices at...

Report of the Expert Group on the Judgment in the A, B and C v. Ireland Case: Statements (4 Dec 2012)

James Reilly: I am pleased to have the opportunity to make this statement on the report of the expert group on the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in A, B and C v. Ireland. The reason for this debate - more than 20 hours have been set aside for statements to be taken in the Houses of the Oireachtas on this topic - is that the Government is committed to allowing all Members of the Houses...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Insurance Cost (4 Dec 2012)

James Reilly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 557 and 617 together. I recently published the Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill, 2012 on 18 October, which provides for a permanent Risk Equalisation Scheme (RES) to be in place from 1 January 2013. The main object of the Bill is to ensure that, in the interests of societal and intergenerational solidarity, the burden of costs of health services be shared...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Social Welfare Appeals (4 Dec 2012)

James Reilly: The Health Service Executive had responsibility for operating the Community Welfare Service prior to the transfer of this function and the associated staff to the Department of Social Protection on 1 January 2012. I have, therefore, arranged for the Deputy’s inquiry to be referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to him. In the event that there are aspects of his inquiry...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Vaccination Programme (4 Dec 2012)

James Reilly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 560 and 668 together. NIAC is a committee of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland comprising of experts in a number of specialties including infectious diseases, paediatrics and public health. The committee's recommendations are informed by public health advice, international best practice and by the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE). There...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Staff (4 Dec 2012)

James Reilly: Since it was established last year, the SDU has been working to unblock access to acute services by improving patient journeys through the system through encouraging hospitals to better manage their use of bed days and staffing resources and by streamlining waiting lists, including GP referrals. The initial focus for the SDU's Scheduled Care Team has been on waiting times for in-patient and...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Sick Pay Scheme (4 Dec 2012)

James Reilly: As a result of Labour Court recommendations, reformed sick leave rules across the public service are being introduced over the next 15 months: - A halving of self-certified sick leave to a maximum of seven days in a rolling two-year period. These changes have been introduced with effect from 1 November 2012 and should have some effect on staff with a high incidence of such absences; - ...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Home Help Service (4 Dec 2012)

James Reilly: On 29 June 2012, the Labour Court recommended that the HSE and SIPTU should engage in relation to matters concerning home help contracts and that in the event that there are any outstanding issues, they may be referred back to the Court. The HSE engaged with SIPTU concerning the recommendation and advised that as part of the process it would be undertaking an information-gathering exercise to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (4 Dec 2012)

James Reilly: As regards to this particular issue, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Capital Expenditure (4 Dec 2012)

James Reilly: My Department's capital expenditure was not under profile by €32m at the end of October 2012. However the HSE's net capital expenditure was under profile by €23m at end October 2012. It is assumed that the reference to €32m is a typographical error. At that time, the HSE stated that while capital expenditure was under profile, the Executive expected that this...