Results 1,801-1,820 of 3,665 for speaker:Seán Power

Seanad: Health (Repayment Scheme) Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (13 Jun 2006)

Seán Power: We indicated in drawing up the scheme that we were trying to introduce a simple system that would clarify for applicants how to apply and receive moneys in the most straightforward way possible and without necessitating recourse to legal professionals. The manner in which people are written to is an administrative matter. Not everything can be put in legislation like the day on which letters...

Seanad: Health (Repayment Scheme) Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (13 Jun 2006)

Seán Power: Senator Ryan is convinced they will receive blunt, one-line letters and that is the worst case scenario. In general, Departments dealing with repayments, such as the Department of Social Welfare, do so in a sympathetic and sensitive way. The sheriff will not be called on the first day, though if moneys were paid in error we have a duty to try to recoup them. The oversight committee has been...

Seanad: Health (Repayment Scheme) Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (13 Jun 2006)

Seán Power: I am a little bit confused about Senator Ryan. An hour ago he told us he was very critical of the appointment of an outside company and he indicated that the HSE was the body to deal with this issue as it had the resources. The Senator is now talking of the poor performance it expects from the executive and its inability to carry out certain functions.

Seanad: Health (Repayment Scheme) Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (13 Jun 2006)

Seán Power: We set up a system, and it is important that within the system there is some mechanism for recouping moneys wrongly paid out. A fraudulent claim could be from a person or son or daughter of such person. If moneys have been paid out which should not have been, every effort should be made to recoup them. This is the system we have put in place to do so. I do not imagine too many older people...

Seanad: Health (Repayment Scheme) Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (13 Jun 2006)

Seán Power: If such agencies did, they would put their hands up. It would not be the first time.

Seanad: Health (Repayment Scheme) Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (13 Jun 2006)

Seán Power: Where humans are working, there will always be errors. Neither the HSE, any company nor any individual would claim otherwise. This is the system we have put in place. The oversight committee has been involved in all the drafting of this legislation and it is quite happy with the process we have put in place today. The heavy-handedness predicted by the Senator will not happen. The oversight...

Seanad: Health (Repayment Scheme) Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (13 Jun 2006)

Seán Power: Many of our constituents will deal with the HSE over the next 12 to 24 months. I am sure we will be kept fully appraised of how the system is operating. I am confident the system we have put in place is a good one which will work well.

Seanad: Health (Repayment Scheme) Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (13 Jun 2006)

Seán Power: I am surprised the Senator is so keen today on putting sanctions in place. When he had an opportunity to table amendments he did not propose any.

Seanad: Health (Repayment Scheme) Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (13 Jun 2006)

Seán Power: This section is a safeguard we have put in place where the Comptroller and Auditor General shall be entitled to audit for the purpose of the Act. It is necessary as a large sum of money is involved. It is important we have the Comptroller and Auditor General involved in that way.

Seanad: Health (Repayment Scheme) Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (13 Jun 2006)

Seán Power: I will not let on that I am familiar with all the details of the companies that tendered. I tried to give the House as much information as possible on the number of companies that tendered for the second process. It is up to the HSE to decide the most competitive, most efficient and the best tender on offer. I assume it will have done the job well and the company chosen will have some...

Seanad: Health (Repayment Scheme) Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (13 Jun 2006)

Seán Power: The impression could be given that we have staff in the HSE twiddling their thumbs with nothing to do, but nothing could be further from the truth. We have no idle staff in the HSE. We spoke to representatives of the HSE in the early stages and they indicated that they were not in a position to administer this scheme. They stated their support for the decision to engage an outside company to...

Seanad: Health (Repayment Scheme) Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (13 Jun 2006)

Seán Power: We will provide all details of the contract at the end of the 14-day period. Within 48 hours we will be able to provide the Members will more information than it is possible for me to give to them here today.

Seanad: Health (Repayment Scheme) Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (13 Jun 2006)

Seán Power: Securing value for money was the priority of the HSE when it sought tenders for the appointment of an outside company.

Seanad: Health (Repayment Scheme) Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (13 Jun 2006)

Seán Power: On Deputy Ryan's point, it will be the responsibility of the company to dig out the records. However, as the Senator is aware, under the legislation introduced in December 2004, we included an ex gratia payment of up to €2,000. In that respect, slightly fewer than 11,000 people received that payment, the cost of which amounted to €21 million. We have the number of the records available...

Seanad: Health (Repayment Scheme) Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (13 Jun 2006)

Seán Power: I am not in a position to accept this amendment because under the provisions of the Bill applicants can already claim recoverable health charges from more than one institution. The Bill allows any recoverable health charge to be reclaimed under the scheme. This refers to the amount paid of a charge imposed on a person with full eligibility under the Health Charges for Inpatients Services...

Seanad: Health (Repayment Scheme) Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (13 Jun 2006)

Seán Power: The scheme will be administered somewhat differently from what the Senators indicate. Not alone will the people receive the moneys illegally taken from them but they will also receive interest. Applications for repayment will be processed and the person will receive notification of the amount to be repaid. On receipt of that letter the person has 28 days within which to decide to accept or...

Seanad: Health (Repayment Scheme) Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (13 Jun 2006)

Seán Power: I cannot be any straighter than I have been. The Senator's proposal is ridiculous. When an application is processed and a figure arrived at, the applicant is notified. It would be impossible to pay the person within the 28 days because he or she has that period to appeal or accept the payment. The Government has no intention of delaying it any longer. If we accept the Senator's proposal and...

Seanad: Health (Repayment Scheme) Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (13 Jun 2006)

Seán Power: While I understand the intent of Senator Ryan's amendment No. 5, I am not in a position to accept it, unfortunately. It would allow for prescribed repayments to be disregarded for the purpose of the assessment of means under non-statutory schemes. If I were to accept the amendment, a number of community or non-statutory schemes could be deemed to be covered by this legislation. That could...

Seanad: Health (Repayment Scheme) Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (13 Jun 2006)

Seán Power: What we are saying is that only statutory schemes will be considered when disregarding repayments for the purpose of the assessment of means. This provision has been included on the advice of the Attorney General.

Seanad: Health (Repayment Scheme) Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (13 Jun 2006)

Seán Power: We could not ignore that advice.