Results 17,661-17,680 of 18,372 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Homeless Persons: Homeless Persons (17 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: I assume the Deputy is referring to those young people who have been identified as being homeless on an individual basis and not within their family unit. The most recent figures collated by the Health Service Executive indicate that in 2005 approximately 378 (This figure is a national figure but does not include figure from the south western area in Dublin region) children nationally were...

Written Answers — Asylum Support Services: Asylum Support Services (10 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: In relation to the funding options open to support groups, play-schools and other agencies to establish communal areas, family supports and child care to children of asylum seekers, my colleague, Deputy Brian Lenihan, Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, is the Minister with responsibility for these matters.

Written Answers — Residential Care Homes: Residential Care Homes (10 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 92, 94 and 95 together. Under the Health Act 2004, responsibility for the provision of health and personal social services, including residential care for troubled children, lies with the Health Service Executive. Therefore I have forwarded the Deputy's questions to the Executive and have requested them to reply to the Deputy directly.

Written Answers — Residential Care Homes: Residential Care Homes (10 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Social Services Inspectorate (SSI) was established in April 1999, initially on an administrative basis. The main function of the Inspectorate is to support the child care services by promoting and ensuring the development of quality standards. The Inspectorate play a crucial role in ensuring a quality assured system of care for children and young people who are in the care of the state....

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (9 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Immigration Division of my Department has informed me that no application for residency or permission to remain in the State has been received from the person referred to by the Deputy.

Seanad: Voluntary Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (9 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: I wish to apologise for inconveniencing the House and thank all Members for their co-operation in deferring this discussion from 3.30 p.m. I was launching a child and adolescent centre in Finglas and was back in Leinster House at 3.30 p.m. so I was being cautious in notifying our Whip that I might be delayed. I am reporting back to Seanad Éireann on some minor amendments that were made in...

Seanad: Voluntary Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (9 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: The amendments contained in this group cover minor technical issues, being amendments made on foot of consideration by the Office of the Attorney General of the initial text. Amendments Nos. 7 and 8 more accurately reference the companies and insurance Acts. Some of the amendments have been made to improve the clarity of the provisions. Amendment No. 19 puts it beyond doubt that only one...

Seanad: Voluntary Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (9 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: What Senator Fitzgerald has said is correct. It is important that Members of this House are aware that the health insurance market is changing, as was witnessed very recently by the purchase of VIVAS by Hibernian. It is important that the VHI is empowered to compete in the market while also ensuring that it does so on an equal footing with its competitors. It is hoped that the Bill will...

Seanad: Voluntary Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (9 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Bill, when published, provided for the removal of an exemption from section 2 of the health insurance Acts for cash plan type products that also include cover for outpatient and GP services. When the Bill was previously considered here, the Minister advised the House that the change proposed would limit regulation to the minimum necessary to protect the community rated indemnity market...

Seanad: Voluntary Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (9 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: I understand they will be subject to the law only if it is indemnity. I believe we had a fairly detailed debate on that relationship. The amendments provide for the amendment of sections 10 and 12 of the Health Insurance Act to ensure contracts that relate to relevant health services only, in other words outpatient-type services and GP services and-or to public hospital daily inpatient...

Seanad: Voluntary Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (9 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: The bulk of the amendments to the section improve its layout and structure. While the scope of section 7 is essentially the same as that previously considered by this House, the section has been expanded by the inclusion of the term "or otherwise". It would be undesirable to restrict the manner in which the board may provide insurance financial services after authorisation has been...

Seanad: Voluntary Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (9 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: The amendment clarifies that the provisions included in section 8(3) of the Bill shall also apply to the subsidiary established for the purpose of carrying on the board's health insurance business under section 10. This amendment does not encompass the provisions under section 8(1). However, it clarifies further that on establishment the activities of the relevant subsidiary shall be...

Seanad: Voluntary Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (9 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: This amendment was of interest to Senator Fitzgerald. This section was added to the Bill when this House accepted an amendment tabled by Senator Fitzgerald. The change made in the Dáil reflects that it would be appropriate that VHI should report on its membership as opposed to on the overall market.

Seanad: Voluntary Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (9 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: This amendment clarifies the liability of the board and its subsidiaries for any borrowings that may arise.

Seanad: Voluntary Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (9 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: Regarding the Senator's final point it is clearly relevant to competition. It is to make clear that no State aid is involved.

Seanad: Voluntary Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (9 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: This new section is broadly similar to an amendment tabled by Senator Prendergast in this House. On foot of consideration by the Office of the Attorney General, it specifies the orders to be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas.

Seanad: Voluntary Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (9 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach and all the Members of the House for facilitating me by deferring the debate by half an hour earlier this afternoon. I thank Senator Fitzgerald for her positive contribution to the debate this afternoon. Senators Fitzgerald and Prendergast contributed to the discussion on the Bill previously in this House. I thank all the Members for their co-operation.

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (8 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the National Child-care Investment Programme 2006 — 2010 (NCIP), which will invest €575 million over 5 years, with €358 million of this in capital grant aid for child-care services. I understand that the Group in question has applied for €1.112 million in capital funding through their local County Child-care Committee. The...

Written Answers — Child Abuse: Child Abuse (8 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: I have been in touch with the Health Service Executive. I have asked it to expedite the provision of the information requested by the Deputy. As regards the provision of monthly information, the Deputy will be aware that under section 31 of the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive must prepare and submit to the Minister its National Service Plan (NSP) including amongst other...

Written Answers — Regeneration Programme: Regeneration Programme (8 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: My Department currently is examining the education elements of the Vision Statements of the Limerick Southside and Northside Regeneration Agencies, launched in January of this year, with a view to supporting the regeneration strategy set out in the Fitzgerald report to Cabinet. In this regard the Department's Mid-Western Regional Office is working very closely with the Agencies and with the...