Results 18,801-18,820 of 49,836 for speaker:Stephen Donnelly

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Health Services Staff (12 Jul 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Deputy. The first ask made was that the scheme be extended and it was something I committed to advocating for. It is not a Department of Health scheme but it is something I committed to and we have secured an extension for a year, and that is very welcome. Any employee who is eligible for the payment receives his or her full rate of basic pay. Such employees receive the fixed...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Health Services Staff (12 Jul 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: -----premium payments as well. The Deputy has raised various issues on which I am in conversations with the Department of Health and on which the officials are talking to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. I again acknowledge that not everything the representative bodies have sought is included. There is an ongoing conversation but critically, what was important was we got...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Cannabis for Medicinal Use (12 Jul 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Deputy and acknowledge his ongoing advocacy work on this area and indeed on the MCAP. The programme was initiated following a ministerially commissioned expert report some time back on cannabis for medical use. Access to cannabis for medical purposes for the treatment of three specified conditions was the recommendation, when all other treatments had failed. The programme...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Cannabis for Medicinal Use (12 Jul 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Deputy. I think the question he is posing is whether we can extend the programme to different conditions. As we were discussing, the original report recommended its use for three conditions once other treatments were no longer deemed viable. The question is whether we can broaden that. The Department of Health has now commissioned an evidence review. This is examining the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Health Services Staff (12 Jul 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. As of last Friday, approximately 90,000 eligible HSE and section 38 staff have received the Covid-19 pandemic recognition payment. We estimate that is approximately nine in every ten people who are eligible for the payment, as public sector healthcare or section 38 staff. This payment recognises the extraordinary contribution and efforts made...

Confidence in Government: Motion (12 Jul 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: I pay tribute to our healthcare workers all over the country. One would be forgiven when listening to the relentless negativity from Sinn Féin for not knowing that our men and women in healthcare around this country will deliver care to tens of thousands of men, women and children today. They will deliver care to millions of our countrymen and countrywomen this year. Sinn Féin...

Confidence in Government: Motion (12 Jul 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: We will continue to add beds. We will continue to add record numbers. We will make sure that people have access to the best quality care in this country when they need it.

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Bill: Second Stage (12 Jul 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: I am delighted to be here. It is a good day in terms of legislation, women's healthcare and the cost of living as it relates to healthcare. The Bill's core purposes have been expanded. Originally the Bill had one aim, namely to abolish inpatient charges for children in hospitals. That is a really important step in the right direction. It is now being amended to encompass provisions to...

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Bill: Second Stage (12 Jul 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: I think we can do what Senator Lombard stated in a shorter period than that. It is off topic, but I was asked about safe access zones. With the Acting Chairperson's permission, I will address the issue briefly.

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Bill: Second Stage (12 Jul 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: There is draft legislation to deliver what we all want to see happen. I want to acknowledge the very constructive debates we have had in the Seanad on the issue. A Private Members' Bill on safe access to termination of pregnancy services was brought forward previously. I acknowledge the significant work put into that Bill by the Members concerned. At the time, I committed to bringing...

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Bill: Second Stage (12 Jul 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: The reason that charges were removed for inpatients aged under 16 is that the children's hospitals take patients up to the age of 15. In terms of medical consent, a patient becomes an adult at the age of 16.

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Bill: Second Stage (12 Jul 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: It is not that we do not want to go further. I would love to go further.

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Bill: Second Stage (12 Jul 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: Earlier in the year I talked about the idea of removing inpatient hospital charges for adults. We do not have agreement on the issue or the funding required currently. However, we want to expand the removal of charges. In response to Senator Conway's question on whether I see it being expanded to include adults, I do. We are looking at how that might work.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Abortion Services (12 Jul 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: It is my priority to ensure that the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 is fully implemented, and is performing as it should be, to enable all women in Ireland to access termination of pregnancy services quickly and easily, without bias or judgment. Termination of pregnancy services are free of charge to anyone who is ordinarily resident in the State. In the case of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (12 Jul 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: I launched the 2022 Waiting List Action Plan in February following extensive engagement between my Department, the HSE and the NTPF. This Plan contains 45 actions to reduce and reform waiting lists, including ambitious targets for significantly reducing hospital scheduled care waiting lists to their lowest level in five years, as well as radically reducing waiting times. Overall,...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (12 Jul 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this most challenging period. On January 19th, the Government announced a COVID-19 pandemic recognition payment for certain front-line workers in healthcare settings, to recognise their unique role during the pandemic. Following extensive engagement with healthcare unions on the matter, criteria...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Disability Services (12 Jul 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: Eligibility for a medical card is primarily based on a financial assessment which is conducted by the HSE in accordance with the Health Act 1970. Since December 2018, the medical card earnings disregard for people in receipt of Disability Allowance was increased from €120 to €427 per week. It applies to the assessment process for both single people and to family...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Healthcare Infrastructure Provision (12 Jul 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: I am pleased to confirm that the Strategic Assessment Report (SAR) for the proposed Emergency Department (ED), Women & Children’s block at University Hospital Galway has recently been submitted to my Department. The SAR is currently being reviewed to ensure that the proposals align with strategic policy considerations for the services proposed. I’d like to acknowledge...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Organ Removal (12 Jul 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: The final draft of the report will be furnished to the families affected as soon as possible once the process is complete. I wish to again express my sympathy to the bereaved families and acknowledge the distress and upset that has been caused to these families. I am aware of the paramount importance of dignity and respect for these parents who have experienced the loss of a child. ...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Disease Management (12 Jul 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: Epidermolysis bullosa is a rare, life-long genetic condition which causes fragile, blistering skin. There is no doubt that Epidermolysis Bullosa places a substantial medical, social, and financial burden on patients and carers. I fully appreciate the difficulties experienced by patients suffering from this painful condition. There are approximately 300 patients in Ireland with Epidermolysis...