Results 161-180 of 554 for drugs speaker:Leo Varadkar

Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (23 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: ...specifically and also to give an update on funding for the rare diseases office. As a broader issue, the Government acknowledges we have a problem here in that the process by which we approve drugs generally may be inappropriate for orphan drugs because it is the only one available; that is the nature of an orphan drug. However, the pharmaceutical industry takes advantage of the...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Departmental Projects (25 Apr 2018)

Leo Varadkar: In respect of community-based development more generally, I think it is worth noting that a lot of that is very much in place. The local drugs task forces, for example, are funded by Government. We also have the reform of the area partnerships. I was very pleased last week to be able to officiate at the relaunch of the Blanchardstown area partnership, the community development partnership...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Departmental Projects (25 Apr 2018)

Leo Varadkar: ...The assignment of 40 new gardaí to the area earlier this month is a major breakthrough and a positive platform from which to deliver a strong and visible community policing service. The impact of drug addiction is fundamental to the challenges facing the community and is an issue which has been raised by various Deputies. There is a new national drugs strategy with refreshed...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Urban Renewal Schemes (24 Apr 2018)

Leo Varadkar: ...Monday, 26 February. The Report sets out the work of the Programme Implementation Board since it was established last June and outlines the progress made under the four priority areas of crime and drugs; education, training and employment opportunities; services for families and young people; and physical improvements. While this is a long term project, I am satisfied that the initial...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (18 Apr 2018)

Leo Varadkar: ...figure by which we will increase the number with access to free GP care every year. We have also begun the process of reducing prescription charges, both for those who have medical cards and those who do not under the drugs payment scheme. Again, that was a recommendation made in the Sláintecare report. Also, the capacity review has been undertaken and we have begun its...

Leaders' Questions (21 Mar 2018)

Leo Varadkar: ...patients who need them. It has been set out in legislation for quite some time that the Government does not decide on which medicines should be reimbursed. That is decided by the HSE's national drugs committee which takes the advice of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics. There is expert advice which is put together by doctors, pharmacologists and economists - people who know...

Leaders' Questions (21 Mar 2018)

Leo Varadkar: On foot of the Deputy raising the matter, I will speak to the Minister for Health today and ask him to request further engagement involving the HSE's national drugs committee and the company. That is the appropriate way in which to respond on this important issue. I am very much attuned and wise to the humanity and human consequences of it.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Reports (21 Mar 2018)

Leo Varadkar: ...Monday, 26 February. The Report sets out the work of the Programme Implementation Board since it was established last June and outlines the progress made under the four priority areas of crime and drugs; education, training and employment opportunities; services for families and young people; and physical improvements. The Report also sets out details of the spending on the North East...

Questions on Promised Legislation (7 Mar 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I will inform the Minister, Deputy Harris, that Deputy Aylward has raised the matter. We are having a long, hard and deep look at medicines for rare diseases and orphan drugs. While it may not always be the right thing to reimburse a medicine, I do not think any of us like a situation where a medicine is available and reimbursed in another European country, particularly if it is the one...

Questions on Promised Legislation (21 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: ...through the Department of Health. It is very much within the domain of the Minister of State, Deputy Catherine Byrne, to determine how that money is best spent and whether it is through local drugs task forces or other means. I will mention to her that the Deputy raised the matter and ask for a more detailed answer.

Leaders' Questions (21 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: ...by their GPs for uses other than post-shingles pain and 14% of these patients - 670 - have been approved. This means there are now more than 2,300 patients who are approved for the patch in the drug schemes, with more than one third approved for uses other than post-shingles pain.

Leaders' Questions (21 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: ...new arrangements all patients who are receiving lidocaine plasters for a licensed indiction were automatically approved. All of these patients continue to receive the treatment under the community drug schemes. Patients who had been prescribed lidocaine plasters for other indications were given a three month grace period. Doctors were informed in August and the changes came in during...

Questions on Promised Legislation (14 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: ...medicines has been reduced. Prescription charges for medical card patients under the age of 70 years were reduced in January and those who do not have medical cards who obtain medicines under the drugs payment scheme had the cost reduced in January by €10 a month. We intend to continue to reduce the cost of medicines for persons with medical cards and those who do not have them as...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Urban Renewal Schemes (7 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: ...€5 million was invested in 2016. This included an investment of €1 million in sports facilities and projects, €700,000 on local community projects targeting children and youth, €100,000 on drug-related projects and €3 million on physical improvement works, including roads, housing areas, parks lighting and refurbishment of the Sean McDermott swimming...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Urban Renewal Schemes (7 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: ...local programme office. This work seeks to bring a transformational change to an area that has struggled with deprivation for many generations. Families have also been devastated by the impact of drugs and the accompanying and associated violence. First and foremost, the aim is to make the area safe for families living in the community and for people working there, supporting the work...

Questions on Promised Legislation (7 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I am not sure to which group the Deputy refers, whether it is the Health Products Regulatory Authority, HPRA, or the HSE national drugs committee.

Questions on Promised Legislation (7 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: It is important to say first that the national drugs strategy has been produced. I launched it with the Minister of State, Deputy Catherine Byrne, and the Minister, Deputy Simon Harris, only a few months ago. The Minister reports on a quarterly basis as to the particular actions that have been completed, the ones that are in train and those yet to be commenced. There is specific mention...

Leaders' Questions (7 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: ...we have taken some steps towards the implementation of some of the things that are called for in the plan, such as the extension of the GP visit card scheme and reductions in prescription charges and in the cost of the drug payment scheme. All of these real and concrete actions are provided for in the budget. I have often heard Deputy Micheál Martin calling for an honest debate...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements: Supplementary Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (31 Jan 2018)

Leo Varadkar: ...they are not falling for outpatients. The index does point to good outcomes in some areas, which should be recognised. It gives us a green score based on the fact that Irish patients have access to novel drugs, as well as the cost of medicines. The Deputy will be aware that in Northern Ireland patients with cystic fibrosis do not have access to medicines such as Orkambi, but here...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Urban Renewal Schemes (31 Jan 2018)

Leo Varadkar: ...facilities and services in the area. This included €1 million investment in sports facilities and projects; €700,000 spent on local community projects targeting children and youths; €100,000 for drugs related projects; and over €3 million on physical improvement works including, roads, housing areas, parks, lighting, and refurbishment of Sean McDermott...