Results 12,481-12,500 of 21,128 for speaker:James Reilly

Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (19 Jun 2012)

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

Written Answers — Organ Donation: Organ Donation (19 Jun 2012)

James Reilly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 697 and 698 together. EU Directive 2010/53/EU on standards of quality and safety of human organs intended for transplantation must be transposed into national law by 27 August this year. The Directive will be transposed by means of a Statutory Instrument under the European Communities Act, 1972 and not primary legislation. The Directive sets out a common...

Written Answers — Job Initiatives: Job Initiatives (19 Jun 2012)

James Reilly: No report has been prepared on this matter by my Department. I understand that it has been clarified with the Deputy that the subject matter of this question is not relevant to my Department.

Hospital Services (19 Jun 2012)

James Reilly: I will not be providing Deputy Ó Caoláin with copies of that information. This is a consultation process that will be predicated on safe clinical practice, but also on the principle, to which I alluded in the previous answer, around the smaller hospital framework. If we are going to have a situation where we want the larger hospitals that have that received investment to deliver the...

Medicinal Products (19 Jun 2012)

James Reilly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 113, 609, 615, 654, 672 and 695 together. The manufacturer of fingolimod, Gilenya®, has submitted an application to the Health Service Executive for the product to be reimbursed through community pharmacies under the high-tech drug scheme. The list of medicinal products provided under the scheme is reviewed on a regular basis. The application in respect of...

Medicinal Products (19 Jun 2012)

James Reilly: The pharmacological unit carries out a health technology assessment of a medication, but that is only part of the equation. The HSE has a group that further advises on and evaluates the matter above and beyond what the pharmacological unit has stated and the health technology assessment has shown. It is not true to say, therefore, that this alone decides whether a drug will be made...

Medicinal Products (19 Jun 2012)

James Reilly: It will be made as soon as is practicable. That is all I can say. In the case of some of these drugs, it is not as simple as making a decision today, following which it will be available immediately. There are other things that have to be done and the position is different in the case of each drug. There is a major responsibility on everybody to be involved, not just policymakers and...

Medicinal Products (19 Jun 2012)

James Reilly: The decision was made within the HSE and the pharmacological unit. I will have to find out for the Deputy precisely which individuals were involved. As the drugs are being made available, nobody will suffer loss as a consequence. The last thing anybody wants to do, or the last thing anybody should do, he or she a doctor, a politician or the Minister for Health, is to play God. That is a...

Universal Health Insurance (19 Jun 2012)

James Reilly: The Government is committed to fundamental reform of health care that will deliver a single tier health system, supported by universal health insurance, where access is based on need, not income. A new insurance fund will subsidise or pay insurance premiums for those who qualify for a subsidy. As part of the reform programme, the Government is committed to introducing universal GP care...

Universal Health Insurance (19 Jun 2012)

James Reilly: The Deputy has asked a number of questions. We all understand that nothing is free and that somebody must pay. However, we are discussing making something free at the point of delivery so that no one need be concerned about being able to pay. I hope all sides of the House agree on this point. We do not want a situation in which someone must make a decision between attending a doctor or...

Universal Health Insurance (19 Jun 2012)

James Reilly: The Deputy has raised a number of issues. I assure him that I, as the VHI's major shareholder, have made it clear that it is not the company's job to determine the market. However, as a court case involving a particular hospital is ongoing, it is not wise for me to comment on the specifics of this issue.

Medical Inquiries (19 Jun 2012)

James Reilly: In 2011, I indicated that the issues raised by the case of Michael Shine would be the subject of an inquiry by an Oireachtas committee. This was dependent on the powers that had been proposed under the Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution Bill. As I cannot now proceed as proposed, I am considering how best to deal with these issues. I must take into account the fact that Garda...

Medical Inquiries (19 Jun 2012)

James Reilly: All options are being looked at, but it would be premature at this point to go into specifics. I am concerned that we need to bring closure for those who have suffered in this instance. I am, however, somewhat hamstrung by the fact that there is litigation pending.

Medical Inquiries (19 Jun 2012)

James Reilly: On the Deputy's last point, I am afraid there is not. I share his frustration at the delay in the investigation. I understand it is not with the Garda, but there is a multiple of files with the Director of Public Prosecutions who is, correctly, independent of the Government. It is a cause of concern, however, that it seems to take forever to have a decision made on some files. As things...

Early Retirement Scheme (19 Jun 2012)

James Reilly: The Government is committed to reducing the cost of the public service through reducing the numbers employed, combined with measures to increase efficiency. We must ensure the maximum levels of safe services are provided within the resources available. I acknowledge and welcome the improvements in productivity being achieved by health service staff through the public service agreement...

Early Retirement Scheme (19 Jun 2012)

James Reilly: The figure of 600 to 700 rehired retirees which has been quoted in the media relates to the years 2010 and 2011. Since the grace period, 38 people have been rehired out of a total workforce of 103,000, which is pretty minimal. I have made it clear that I do not want staff rehired if people are available to be hired. I want to give young nurses, doctors, administrators and anybody due to...

Early Retirement Scheme (19 Jun 2012)

James Reilly: There is very often a lack of clarity around this. The grace period to the end of February did not relate to an incentivised retirement scheme. Those who had the option to retire could do so on their current terms and conditions before-----

Early Retirement Scheme (19 Jun 2012)

James Reilly: I did not interrupt the Deputy but I need to correct the record of the House. It was not an incentivised retirement scheme; it was simply a case of those who had the option to retire doing so on their current terms and conditions which were due to change. Some people took the option to retire while many others did not. We are grateful to those who did not because we had a challenge in the...

Hospital Waiting Lists (19 Jun 2012)

James Reilly: There has been no reduction in 2012 in the number of scheduled outpatient clinics for the specialties referred to due to cost containment at Waterford Regional Hospital. I have circulated a table with the activity for the hospital for the first five months in 2011 and 2012. The current initiatives to address waiting times at the hospital are as follows: the existing patient administration...

Hospital Waiting Lists (19 Jun 2012)

James Reilly: I assure the Deputy that it is the Government's priority to ensure waiting lists are tackled, and we have prioritised action in this area in a very logical fashion. The most acutely suffering patients are those awaiting treatment in emergency departments, a situation that is being tackled by the special delivery unit. I am pleased to report that the first five months of this year saw a 20%...