Results 1,241-1,260 of 2,629 for speaker:Tim O'Malley

Written Answers — Mental Health Services: Mental Health Services (15 Feb 2006)

Tim O'Malley: Information on the number of persons suffering from depression on an age basis is not collected by my Department. It is known however, that depression was the most frequent cause of admissions to Irish psychiatric units and hospitals in 2004 and accounted for 29.5% of all admissions. The age profile of such admissions for persons suffering from depression is as follows: Age Number of...

Irish Medicines Board (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (15 Feb 2006)

Tim O'Malley: I do not have much to add to what has already been said. The amendment would be superfluous.

Irish Medicines Board (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (15 Feb 2006)

Tim O'Malley: I thank Deputies for their consideration of and input into this technical and complex Bill. It provides for important and urgent improvements in a number of areas. I sincerely thank all Deputies for their thoughtful contributions throughout the process, which has been an interesting and challenging one. The Bill succeeds in creating and consolidating a stronger structure in which the Irish...

Irish Medicines Board (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (15 Feb 2006)

Tim O'Malley: Deputy McManus made several comments on aspects of the practice of pharmacy in Ireland. The practice of pharmacy is governed by legislation dating from 1875 to 1962. The Minister for Health and Children is well aware that the current fitness to practice provisions in these Acts are inadequate to the modern practice of pharmacy. On foot of the recommendations of the pharmacy review group,...

Irish Medicines Board (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (15 Feb 2006)

Tim O'Malley: I do not accept the amendment.

Irish Medicines Board (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (15 Feb 2006)

Tim O'Malley: He retired in April 2005.

Irish Medicines Board (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (15 Feb 2006)

Tim O'Malley: Yes.

Irish Medicines Board (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (15 Feb 2006)

Tim O'Malley: There may have been a recent announcement but I do not know from where it emanated. There has not been a recent announcement by the Department of Health and Children.

Irish Medicines Board (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (15 Feb 2006)

Tim O'Malley: That is correct.

Irish Medicines Board (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (15 Feb 2006)

Tim O'Malley: I will take what the Deputy has said on board.

Irish Medicines Board (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (15 Feb 2006)

Tim O'Malley: I wish to respond to the issues raised by Deputy Twomey about the practice of pharmacy. The Department of Health and Children has examined carefully the issue of prescribing. I assume he is referring to other professions, such as nursing. It is considered that apart from in the cases of nurses and existing prescribers, the necessary regulatory regime, with adequate fitness to practice...

Irish Medicines Board (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (15 Feb 2006)

Tim O'Malley: I understand it will be vested in the employer, which will normally be the HSE.

Irish Medicines Board (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (15 Feb 2006)

Tim O'Malley: No.

Irish Medicines Board (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (15 Feb 2006)

Tim O'Malley: One can never pre-empt what may happen in the future. The Deputy has correctly stated that many changes, which would have been questioned by the relevant professions several years ago and might not have happened, are taking place at present. It is a grey area. Every Deputy is aware that this is a company law issue. This complex matter is being examined by the Department of Health and...

Irish Medicines Board (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (15 Feb 2006)

Tim O'Malley: In response to the Deputy's question——

Irish Medicines Board (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (15 Feb 2006)

Tim O'Malley: The Deputy is referring to standards of practice in all of the professions involved in the medical area and I agree with him. Responsibility for best practice lies with the various professions. With regard to the Neary case in Drogheda, one could query that many things happened, but I do not want to talk about any case in particular. Where bad practice evolved, be it in medicine or pharmacy,...

Irish Medicines Board (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (15 Feb 2006)

Tim O'Malley: The Tánaiste has given a commitment to the House that the pharmacy legislation will be brought before the House. With regard to new prescribing procedures for nurses, a consultation process is in place at the moment and the educational requirements for nurses and midwives will be raised for discussion. It is anticipated that An Bord Altranais will create the structures needed to initiate...

Irish Medicines Board (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (15 Feb 2006)

Tim O'Malley: All midwives are nurses anyway. They are, therefore, automatically qualified under the word "nurse".

Irish Medicines Board (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (15 Feb 2006)

Tim O'Malley: I have no difficulty with it, but at the moment, all the hospital consultants are independent contractors to the HSE.

Irish Medicines Board (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (15 Feb 2006)

Tim O'Malley: The wording provided in the Bill is standard for dealing with offences related to body corporates. As it stands, the wording also covers the activities of a CEO. To limit responsibility to the CEO alone is considered too narrow an approach. For example, managers who may not be the CEO may be responsible for a pharmacy and therefore must also remain liable if convicted of an offence related to...