Results 221-240 of 527 for speaker:Mary Wallace

Written Answers — Alcohol Marketing: Alcohol Marketing (13 Nov 2008)

Mary Wallace: My Department established the independent Alcohol Marketing Communications Monitoring Body to monitor the implementation of, and adherence to, the codes on alcohol advertising by advertisers and media owners. To date, the two annual reports prepared by the body found that there was general compliance with the codes. In order to bring the views of a broader constituent of stakeholders on the...

Written Answers — Sports Sponsorship: Sports Sponsorship (13 Nov 2008)

Mary Wallace: My Department is consulting other relevant Government Departments to find the most suitable means of progressing this issue. My Department will seek to ensure that relevant stakeholders, including those representing children and young people, will have an opportunity to set out their views and concerns.

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (12 Nov 2008)

Mary Wallace: The Deputy's question relates to the funding, management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (12 Nov 2008)

Mary Wallace: The Deputy's question relates to the funding, management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Tobacco Products: Tobacco Products (12 Nov 2008)

Mary Wallace: Since the introduction of the Tobacco Products (Control of Advertising, Sponsorship, and Sales Promotion) Act, 1978 Ireland has operated a "floor" price mechanism, and cigarette companies cannot sell below these prices. The primary purpose of this measure is to prevent the use of price as a sales promotional device by setting price levels below which brands may not be sold. Cigarette pricing...

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (11 Nov 2008)

Mary Wallace: My Department is developing proposals on the labelling of all alcohol containers advising of the risks of consuming alcohol during pregnancy. The labelling of foodstuffs, including alcohol products, is subject to European regulation and scrutiny so the proposals will have to take this into account.

Vaccination Programme: Motion (11 Nov 2008)

Mary Wallace: Each year in Ireland there are between 250 and 300 new cases of cervical cancer, and between 70 and 100 women die from it. However, the figures hide the full impact of the disease. This is a cancer which affects younger women more than many other forms of cancer — younger women who have children, commitments and responsibilities. Worldwide, it is the second highest cause of cancer deaths...

Health Services. (5 Nov 2008)

Mary Wallace: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue as it provides us with an opportunity to reaffirm the Government's commitment to services for older people generally and, in particular, to the important area of the management of existing services and associated funding. I should advise the Deputy that the Health Service Executive has informed me that it is unaware of any proposal to close 60...

Cancer Screening. (5 Nov 2008)

Mary Wallace: Yesterday the Health Service Executive published the review of chest X-rays and CT scans reported by a locum consultant radiologist at Louth-Meath hospitals group from August 2006 to August 2007. The review commenced in May 2008 and examined 6,000 X-rays and CT scans from 5,000 patients. The review found that nine patients in Drogheda and Navan hospitals had their diagnoses of lung cancer...

Drug Treatment Programme (5 Nov 2008)

Mary Wallace: In dealing with this Adjournment matter the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has asked me to put his funding commitment to community-based projects at the centre of the debate. It has been said that the planned closure of Harristown House is linked to monetary issues alone. I, on behalf of the Minister, want to categorically reject that assertion. The Minister's first priority...

Anti-Social Behaviour. (5 Nov 2008)

Mary Wallace: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter on the Adjournment. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform regrets that he cannot be present due to other business, but he assures the Deputy that he shares his concerns and those of all right thinking people about anti-social and unlawful behaviour at Hallowe'en and at any other time. The overwhelming majority of people celebrated an...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (4 Nov 2008)

Mary Wallace: I propose to take Questions Nos. 229 to 233, inclusive, together. The Deputy's questions relate to the funding, management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have these matters...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (4 Nov 2008)

Mary Wallace: The Deputy's question relates to the funding, management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Food Safety: Food Safety (29 Oct 2008)

Mary Wallace: Responsibility for the enforcement of labelling and traceability legislation rests with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) and its official agents, which include the Health Service Executive, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Local Authorities and the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland conducted an audit to determine...

Written Answers — Sale of Tobacco Products: Sale of Tobacco Products (23 Oct 2008)

Mary Wallace: From 1/7/2009 some key provisions of the Public Health (Tobacco) Acts 2002 and 2004 are to be commenced, including a ban on all point of sale advertising and a requirement that tobacco products are dispensed from a closed container out of view of the customer. It is anticipated that, in most retail outlets, what will be required of retailers to meet the requirements of the legislation are...

Seanad: Health Promotion Priorities: Statements (23 Oct 2008)

Mary Wallace: I thank the Senators who contributed to this important debate relating to the drawing up of priorities in respect of health promotion. Many speakers focused on the specific issues of tobacco, alcohol and obesity. Senator Fitzgerald and others highlighted the fact that prevention is better than cure. The Senator stated that this aspect is not afforded the same focus as others. However, this...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (23 Oct 2008)

Mary Wallace: I thank Senator Fitzgerald for raising this matter and giving me an opportunity to outline to the House the Government's strategy for capital investment in education projects and, in particular, the current position in respect of the purchase of a new site for Gaelscoil Eiscir Riada in Lucan, County Dublin. The Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, has asked me to clarify...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (23 Oct 2008)

Mary Wallace: My knowledge of such matters is based on my experience of dealing with schools in my local area. I am sure the Senator has similar experience. As both of us represent constituencies in commuter land, we have to deal with many schools building projects. I understand that when a school is told that its project has a low band rating, it is bad news for the school. If a project is one of the...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (23 Oct 2008)

Mary Wallace: I thank the Senator for raising this matter as it provides me with the opportunity to outline to the House the position on the proposed building project for Marymount national school, The Rower, County Kilkenny. Marymount national school is a fully vertical, co-educational facility. This means it caters for boys and girls from junior infants to sixth class inclusive. The enrolment as at 30...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (23 Oct 2008)

Mary Wallace: While I understand the band is in category two rather than one, it is not a kick in the teeth. A band of 2.4 clearly reflects the fact that a refurbishment of the school building is needed. I am familiar with projects that have a band of four, and they are stacked well behind the project that has a rating of 2.4.