Results 11,361-11,380 of 21,128 for speaker:James Reilly

Seanad: Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (10 Oct 2012)

James Reilly: Just like you.

Seanad: Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (10 Oct 2012)

James Reilly: As I outlined previously, the Bill provides that members of the directorate be drawn from HSE employees holding the grade of national director but does not specify individual national director posts. In tandem with the proposed new governance structures, new administrative structures will be put in place in the HSE to reflect the need for greater operational management focused on the...

Seanad: Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (10 Oct 2012)

James Reilly: I have a clear recollection of the reason this provision was included in the Bill, which is the following. This is a temporary arrangement. An open competition would have involved procurement issues and so on, which process could go on for six months. This is a temporary arrangement to carry us on to the next phase when the HSE is abolished in toto and we move to an integrated care agency....

Seanad: Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (10 Oct 2012)

James Reilly: Regarding amendment No. 4, the service plan is designed to take account of a number of matters and must include information on various issues. For example, it must indicate the type and volume of health and social services to be provided by the HSE during the period to which the plan relates. The proposed amendment could have unintended consequences with its emphasis on ministerial...

Seanad: Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (10 Oct 2012)

James Reilly: This is a technical drafting amendment to clarify that the new Part inserted in the Health Act 2004 in regard to the directorate is to be called Part 3A and not Part 2A. The numbering of the sections contained in this new part starts at 16A in order to follow section 16 of the Health Act 2004.

Seanad: Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (10 Oct 2012)

James Reilly: These are drafting amendments. Section 16A(3) states: "The Directorate may perform its functions notwithstanding a vacancy in the membership of the Directorate." Amendment No. 7 proposes to delete this subsection because section 16K(10), subject to amendment No. 20 captures the objective of providing that the directorate may continue perform its functions in the event of a vacancy even in...

Seanad: Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (10 Oct 2012)

James Reilly: I appreciate the Senator's help and the sentiments.

Seanad: Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (10 Oct 2012)

James Reilly: The Chair has already ruled.

Seanad: Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (10 Oct 2012)

James Reilly: I will respond to each of the amendments separately. I appreciate that the Senators are motivated by a concern to ensure that provisions are sufficiently robust to ensure that the HSE abides by priorities set by the Minister. In regard to amendment No. 4, the Bill provides that the Minister may specify priorities to which the HSE must have regard in its service plan. The HSE must take...

Seanad: Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (10 Oct 2012)

James Reilly: I appreciate Senator Barrett's support and share his sentiment. I want to expedite the changes as quickly as possible but the abolition of the HSE, as an entity, will take careful planning, consultation and complex further legislation. It would be premature, therefore, to include a date for the abolition of the HSE in the Bill. The Bill is intended, as a transitional measure, to help...

Seanad: Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (10 Oct 2012)

James Reilly: I understand the concern underlying amendment No. 2, that the Minister will not be able to act fast enough or that he or she may have to wait until the HSE has failed to take account of policy before he or she can issue a direction under section 10(1)(c). The provision, as drafted, would not result in this scenario. Section 10(1)(c) balances the Minister's responsibility for policy with the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Primary Care Centres (10 Oct 2012)

James Reilly: The management and delivery of the health capital programme is a service matter. Therefore your question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Governance (10 Oct 2012)

James Reilly: As these are service matters, they have been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (10 Oct 2012)

James Reilly: As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Ministerial Meetings (10 Oct 2012)

James Reilly: I last met with the Chairperson and the Chief Executive Officer of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) on 20th July 2012. would expect to have a further meeting before the end of the year. A range of important issues, which are of mutual concern, are discussed at these meetings. Outside of my formal meetings with HIQA, my officials are in regular contact with HIQA to deal...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Ministerial Meetings (10 Oct 2012)

James Reilly: I have not met with the National Cancer Registry recently, but officials of my Department have a regular and positive working relationship with the Director of the Registry and his staff. I would be happy to meet with the Registry should the occasion arise.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Accident and Emergency Departments Waiting Times (10 Oct 2012)

James Reilly: The number of patients on trolleys is reported as the aggregate number of such patients, as counted by the INMO, at 8a.m. from Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays. Separately, SDU collates the number of patients waiting 0-6 hours, 6-9 hours, 9-18 hours and over 18 hours, in order to allow detailed analysis of patient attendance and admittance patterns in Emergency Departments. These...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (10 Oct 2012)

James Reilly: As this is a service issue, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Accommodation Provision (10 Oct 2012)

James Reilly: It is important to note that across the acute hospital sector as a whole, reduction in costs will come from greater efficiencies where possible, including shorter Average Length of Stay (AvLOS) which is key to the delivery of agreed activity levels with fewer beds, and therefore less staffing. This in turn reduces the number of bed days needed. This year, general AvLOS has been reduced from...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff Sick Leave (10 Oct 2012)

James Reilly: The health sector, as with other public service employers, has sick leave schemes for staff when they are absent from work through illness. The HSE has strengthened its policies and procedures on attendance management in light of the 3.5% target in its 2012 National Service Plan, including: - Action plans for all sites for the management of absence over 3.5% - Analysis of certified and...