Results 16,721-16,740 of 24,567 for speaker:Róisín Shortall

Seanad: Long-Term Illness Scheme (2 Feb 2012)

Róisín Shortall: The long-term illness scheme is a non-means tested scheme introduced in 1971. It provides free medicines and medical appliances to people with specified conditions. Some 16 conditions are covered by the scheme. Requests to expand the range of conditions are frequently made but at this point there are no plans to extend the list of conditions covered by the scheme. People who cannot,...

Seanad: Long-Term Illness Scheme (2 Feb 2012)

Róisín Shortall: I accept that people who suffer from lupus and those who suffer from other conditions would make the case to be included under the scheme. In an ideal world, we could do that but the policy we have decided on is to pursue free universal access to GP care. As I said, we cannot do everything. However, the Senator raised the issue of information being made available. I will check that with...

Health Service Plan 2012: Statements (Resumed) (2 Feb 2012)

Róisín Shortall: The Deputy knows why. Does he need a history lesson in the role played by Bertie Ahern in all of this?

Health Service Plan 2012: Statements (Resumed) (2 Feb 2012)

Róisín Shortall: I thank all the Members who contributed to this useful debate, with many important issues raised. We all share an interest and concern in the health service, which is one of the most fundamental services in terms of the impact on our constituents. The Government is committed to introducing a better and more efficient health system, which will have improved services for the people of this...

Community Care (2 Feb 2012)

Róisín Shortall: I thank Deputy Byrne for raising this matter. Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive, HSE, is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services, including disability services. The HSE's service plan for 2012 states that the allocation for disability services will reduce by 3.7% as a consequence of the impact of the...

Community Care (2 Feb 2012)

Róisín Shortall: Every sector of the health services wants assurances that things will not change, but we have no choice but to try and change the way we deliver services, because budgets are being cut. This is a reality with which we must all live and we must work within those constraints. This means we must try to get better value for money from the services we provide and closely examine how we spend...

Child Abuse (2 Feb 2012)

Róisín Shortall: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I am taking the debate on behalf of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Fitzgerald, who is attending a North-South Ministerial Council meeting in Armagh today. She regrets that she cannot be here. I note that this debate stems from a report in today's The Irish Times on the Garda Inspectorate report on responding to child sexual...

Child Abuse (2 Feb 2012)

Róisín Shortall: We all share a concern about this issue. I know that the Minister has been very involved in addressing it and it is being treated with absolute urgency in her Department. There is a clear focus on developing child protection services and the interaction between the different agencies. It is important to recognise the positive findings on the high level of co-operation between the Garda and...

Health Service Plan 2012: Statements (Resumed) (2 Feb 2012)

Róisín Shortall: It was the Deputy's party in Government.

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (1 Feb 2012)

Róisín Shortall: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (1 Feb 2012)

Róisín Shortall: General Practitioners (GPs) who hold General Medical Services (GMS) contracts with the HSE must not seek or accept money from medical card or GP visit card holders for services covered under the GMS contract. In circumstances where the taking of blood is necessary to either (a) diagnose a patient or (b) monitor a diagnosed condition, the GP may not charge the patient if they are eligible for...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (1 Feb 2012)

Róisín Shortall: As all persons ordinarily resident in the State may avail of public hospital services, I take it that the Deputy's question relates to the cost of providing free General Practitioner (GP) care to children up to one year of age. In the time available, it is difficult to provide an accurate estimate of the cost of providing a free GP service to all children under one year of age. While the...

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (1 Feb 2012)

Róisín Shortall: No policy decision has been made to reduce the number of medical cards being issued. In 2010, the number of medical cards increased by 137,000. In 2011, the number of medical cards increased by 78,849. The National Service Plan 2012 has provided for a forecast of over 100,000 additional medical cards during 2012. As the actual number of medical cards is demand-led based on individuals'...

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (1 Feb 2012)

Róisín Shortall: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (1 Feb 2012)

Róisín Shortall: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (1 Feb 2012)

Róisín Shortall: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (1 Feb 2012)

Róisín Shortall: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (1 Feb 2012)

Róisín Shortall: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (1 Feb 2012)

Róisín Shortall: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Control of Drugs: Control of Drugs (1 Feb 2012)

Róisín Shortall: Cannabis is designated as a Schedule 1 controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 which means that the manufacture, production, preparation, sale, supply, distribution and possession of cannabis and cannabis-based medicinal products is unlawful in Ireland except for the purposes of research. Cannabis misuse is detrimental to health, and significant physical and mental health risks...