Noonan, MichaelThursday, 8 February 1996 |
Dáil Éireann Debate
Page of 102
|
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Nurses' Dispute.
Was asked: the current situation in relation to the nurses dispute; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Was asked: the efforts, if any, he is making to ensure that there is no strike action by nurses in the health boards; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Was asked: the issues and concerns, if any, that have been brought to his attention by nursing organisations; his views on the dispute with the nursing profession; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Limerick East): I propose to take Questions Nos. 1, 24 and 69 together. Unions representing general and psychiatric nurses have been involved in negotiations with health service management for some ti...
(Limerick East): The Deputy was in Government when the Programme for Competitiveness and Work was negotiated. She is, therefore, very well aware of its provisions and of the possibilities for negotia...
(Limerick East): I think it is possible to resolve this dispute within the parameters of the Programme for Competitiveness and Work, but I need the people across the table negotiating with me to negot...
(Limerick East): I will deal with the last part of the question first. It is self-evident that any Minister would like to resolve a dispute with a profession as dedicated as the nurses. That goes wit...
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Publication of Reports of Investigation into Child Abuse.
Was asked: if he will publish the full findings of the investigation into the Kelly Fitzgerald case; the other reports of investigations, if any, into child abuse which have not been published; and if he will ma...
Was asked: when he will be in a position to outline the current position in relation to the report on Madonna House, Dublin in view of the urgent consultations he had with the Attorney General on the question of...
Was asked: the status of the inquiry which he ordered into the Western Health Board's handling of the Kelly Fitzgerald case; the reason it took so long to report and publish the findings of this inquiry; and if ...
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Kilkenny Incest Case.
Was asked: the recommendations, if any, of the report on the Kilkenny Incest Case that are currently outstanding; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Was asked: when a child abuse register will be established as recommended by the report on the Kilkenny Incest Investigation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Hepatitis Victims.
Was asked: the contacts, if any, he has had with the hepatitis C compensation tribunal; the progress, if any, made with the groups representing the victims of Hepatitis C, particularly in relation to the level o...
Was asked: the number of applications which have been made to the hepatitis C compensation tribunal; the number of applications which have been withdrawn; the way in which the Tribunal is briefing itself on Hepa...
(Limerick East): I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 and 28 together. The compensation tribunal is independent of my Department. However, in response to anxieties expressed by Positive Action in relat...
(Limerick East): The Blood Transfusion Service Board sent out application forms in order to be of service to people who might wish to apply to the tribunal. My Department and the tribunal sent applic...
(Limerick East): The tribunal is not fundamentally flawed. Never was a tribunal put in place with such a range of measures as this tribunal is putting at the disposal of applicants. The most recent e...
(Limerick-East): The functions of the courts are separate from those of this House. It has never been in order in this House to ask a Minister to reply to a case before the court. I will not create...
(Limerick-East): The Deputy raised a range of questions with underlying accusations, political and otherwise, all of which are incorrect. I am not equating the events which led to the establishment o...
(Limerick East): That is like asking whether a judge made contact with a person claiming before a court. The terms of reference of the tribunal are laid down. Application forms are available and peo...
(Limerick East): Two issues have been running for the past 12 months. The first relates to the provisions that could be put in place for the ongoing health needs of persons with hepatitis C, on which...
(Limerick East): I did not say that. I was making a point that would be helpful to victims. Persons who have been advised they have a claim have nothing to lose by bringing their cases to the tribun...
(Limerick East): The courts by their nature will process claims in the usual way. This brings me to the point I was making when I was interrupted by Deputy Geoghegan-Quinn who misunderstood what I wa...
(Limerick East): The skills needed in the tribunal are those required to measure, in so far as it is possible, the appropriate amount of compensation to be given in, say, a civil damages case. Those ...
(Limerick East): I do not object to political point-scoring, but Members should be aware of the circumstances of applicants and that the spin they might put on a reply to a question might discourage v...
(Limerick East): I am now being asked to comment on a case which is before the courts in respect of which I understand there is a hearing today.
(Limerick East): I am not claiming it is sub judice, I am saying it is entirely inappropriate for a Minister or Member of this House to attempt to argue a case across the floor of the House which is b...
(Limerick East): Its terms of reference say the tribunal is available to persons who contracted hepatitis C from a blood or blood product where the blood or blood product is the factor which transmitt...
(Limerick East): No, I have outlined the scope of the tribunal and the categories of applicants that can apply. Deputy McDaid is endeavouring to obtain a more precise definition than that, which com...
(Limerick East): If I did, I will correct it.
(Limerick East): No, people can always ask a tribunal, or a judge in court, to deal with a matter in a confidential way. There is a set of procedures laid down, there is an application form which has...
(Limerick East): I am repeating what I said earlier, that the tribunal has a job to do, it has a huge budget, is independent of me and has full authority to conduct its affairs in accordance with its ...
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Services for Mentally Handicapped.
Was asked: if he will make a statement on the recent allocations in the financial Estimates for his Department regarding the mentally handicapped and the additional allocations of moneys to the various voluntary...
Written Answers. - Cancer Services.
Was asked: the specific initiatives, if any, which he has sanctioned to ensure the cancer mortality and morbidity rates are systematically reduced in this country; and the estimated cost of each initiative.
Limerick East): Cancer is the second leading cause of mortality in Europe with approximately 1.3 million cases each year and more than 840,000 deaths. As with other Western European countries, the sta...
Written Answers. - Lung Transplants.
Was asked: if his attention has been drawn to the fact that vital organ transplantation is available in Ireland for all patients requiring necessary life saving transplant operations, with the whole exception of...
Limerick East): I am aware of difficulties being experienced by patients requiring lung and heart/lung transplants. These difficulties are caused by the lack of suitable matched donor organs and also ...
Written Answers. - Women's Refuges.
Was asked: if he has satisfied himself that adequate refuge places are available throughout the country for women fleeing from domestic violence; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Limerick East): I want to assure the House that I am committed to the development of appropriate services within the health area for victims of domestic violence. The discussion document, Developing...
Written Answers. - Nursing Course.
Was asked: if he intends to designate hospitals in the Southern Health Board area for the Diploma in Nursing studies; and if funding is to be made available in 1996.
Limerick East): It is my intention that the diploma programme in nurse education and training which commenced in Galway in October, 1994 will be extended to all schools of nursing and other discipline...
Written Answers. - Spending on Elderly People.
Was asked: the level of increased expenditure on elderly people, aged 65 years or more in his Department during 1995; if he will subdivide the total amount into distinct cost centres or programmes; and the plans...
Limerick East): In 1995 my Department allocated an additional £2.1 million in development money for services for the elderly to the eight health boards. A sum of £1.1. million of this development mon...
Written Answers. - Hepatitis C Case.
Was asked: if a woman has informed his Department that she has become infected with Hepatitis C as a result of alleged contamination by a blood product known as gammaglobulin which she received by vaccine prior ...
Limerick East): My Department received a phone call from an individual alleging that his wife contracted hepatitis C from the administration of a blood product, gammaglobulin and requesting a copy of ...
Written Answers. - Hospital Delays.
Was asked: if his attention has been drawn to the number of times patients awaiting elective hospital procedures have their appointments cancelled due to the shortage of beds; and if he will make a statement on ...
Was asked: the measures, if any, that have been taken to ease the accident and emergency crisis in hospitals; the cost of these measures; and the agency conducting the current advertising campaign urging the pub...
Limerick East): I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 26 together.
Written Answers. - Travellers' Health Needs.
Was asked: if he intends to make special provisions available to meet the health needs of the travelling community in view of their nomadic way of life; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Was asked: the steps, if any, being taken to implement the recommendations of The Report of the Task Force on the Travelling Community; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Limerick East): I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 and 39 together. The Report of the Task Force on the Travelling Community contains a wide range of recommendations for the provision of services, in...
Written Answers. - Misuse of Drugs Acts.
Was asked: the plans, if any, he has to amend the Misuse of Drugs Acts, 1977 and 1984.
Limerick East): I have no plans to amend the Misuse of Drugs Acts, 1977 and 1984 in so far as relaxing controls on drugs is concerned. It will be necessary from time to time to amend the Schedules to...
Written Answers. - Substance Abuse.
Was asked: the level of co-operation between his Department and the Department of Education regarding awareness on the law and health effects of substance abuse; and the plans, if any, there are to publicise mor...
Written Answers. - Blood Products Recall.
Was asked: the schedule of events surrounding the recent recall of blood products from hospitals supplied by the Blood Transfusion Service Board; and the findings of the investigation into the alert.
Limerick East): The Blood Transfusion Service Board (BTSB) informed my Department on Friday, 12 January 1996 that they had received a report of the development of serratia marcescens septicaemia in a ...
Written Answers. - Meningitis Research.
Was asked: if he has satisfied himself that there is full reporting of the incidences of meningitis in each health board area; the research, if any, that has been carried out into the causes of meningitis by his...
Was asked: the current level of investment in research and publicity on meningitis by his Department; the funds, if any, he will provide for the investigation of the filter method of treatment; and if he will ma...
Limerick East): I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 27 together.
Written Answers. - Control of Doctor's Fees.
Was asked: the plans, if any, he has to impose controls on the private patient fees charged by general practitioners in view of reports that the IMO may seek to increase fees to between £20 and £25; and if he wi...
Limerick East): In accordance with the provisions of the Health Act, 1970, health boards have entered into contracts with general practitioners for the provision of a number of services for patients i...
Written Answers. - Special Needs Placement.
Was asked: the number of people with special needs under the special hospital programme that are waiting appropriate placement in service but due to lack of necessary funding will be denied such service; if he w...
Limerick East): I am assuming that the Deputy is referring to persons with a mental handicap in psychiatric hospitals when he refers to people with special needs under the special hospital programme. ...
Written Answers. - Tallaght (Dublin) Hospital.
Was asked: the changes, if any, in the design and layout of the Tallaght Hospital, Dublin 24; the cost of these changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Limerick East): The brief for the Tallaght Hospital was completed in March 1984 and the design stage for the project was completed in 1987. Because of the time that will have elapsed between the comp...
Written Answers. - Air Ambulance Services.
Was asked: when the Standing Committee on Air Ambulances was set up; the reports and recommendations, if any, that have been made by the Standing Committee to date in respect of dedicated and purpose equipped ai...
Limerick East): A standing committee on air ambulance services under the aegis of the Departments of Defence and Health was set up in mid-1995 on foot of the recommendations of the report of the Revie...
Written Answers. - Mammography Service.
Was asked: the waiting period for mammograph services in each of the health board areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Limerick East): Diagnostic mammography services are currently provided at 19 centres throughout the country. Within each health board area immediate appointments are available for urgent referrals. ...
Written Answers. - Accommodation of Children.
Was asked: the number of children under the care of health boards who were accommodated in hospitals beds, bed and breakfasts and adult hostels in each health board area in 1995; the average number of days spent...
Was asked: the concerns, if any, he has at the increasing high number of children placed in bed and breakfast type accommodation; the action, if any, he proposes to take to have this practice stopped; and if he ...
Limerick East): I propose to take Questions Nos. 29 and 41 together. The detailed information requested by Deputy Lynch in relation to the number of children in the care of health boards accommodated ...
Written Answers. - Cork Obstetric Service.
Was asked: if he will give immediate approval for the setting up of a design team for the obstetrics unit for Cork.
Was asked: if he will put funding in place to ensure that an improved obstetric service is provided in the Cork area until such time as an obstetrics unit is put in place in the grounds of University Hospital, C...
Limerick East): I propose to take Questions Nos. 30 and 60 together. The Deputy will be aware that I have repeatedly given a commitment to putting the resources in place to support the development of ...
Written Answers. - Communications Technology for Elderly.
Was asked: whether the recommendations of the 1986 report on Communications Networks and The Elderly were implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Was asked: if the pilot scheme to assess the potential of radio and telephone based alarm systems to assist the elderly recommended in The Years Ahead - A Policy for the Elderly, 1988 was set up; if its findings...
Limerick East): I propose to take Questions Nos. 31 and 43 together. The 1986 report on Communications Networks and the Elderly was published to provide technical advice to the health boards on the po...
Written Answers. - Radon Risks.
Was asked: the survey work that has been carried out on the health implications for people living in high level radon areas; the survey work that has been carried out on the health implications on people who hav...
Limerick East): Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas. Long-term exposure to very high levels of radon in an enclosed area can be a contributory factor in increasing the risk of contracting ...
Written Answers. - Health Board Savings.
Was asked: the percentage saving each health board has been asked to find in 1996.
Limerick East): As the Deputy is aware the Government set out its targets in relation to the growth in public expenditure last June. As part of this process each Minister was asked to identify propos...
Written Answers. - VHI Price Increase.
Was asked: if he has received notification from the VHI of a further price increase; and the view he intends to take on an application for a further increase.
Limerick East): I have not received notification from the VHI of a proposed increase in premium charges applicable to its schemes of voluntary health insurance. It would not be appropriate for me to s...
Written Answers. - Radiation Monitoring.
Was asked: the plans, if any, he has to establish a special monitoring force for low dose radiation along the east coast with particular concentration in County Louth, comprising personnel from health authoritie...
Limerick East): The monitoring of ionising radiation levels in the State and in any waters, including international waters, surrounding the State is the function of the Radiological Protection Institu...
Written Answers. - Trudder House (Wicklow) Allegations.
Was asked: the investigations, if any, carried out by the Eastern Health Board into allegations of abuse in Trudder House; the action, if any, he intends to take in this matter; and if he will make a statement o...
Limerick East): I can confirm to the House that the Eastern Health Board and the Garda have been investigating allegations of abuse of residents at Trudder House. Newtownmountkennedy, County Wicklow,...
Written Answers. - Health Insurance Regulations.
Was asked: the current situation in relation to the renegotiation of the Health Insurance Regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Limerick East): Following the circulation of the draft Health Insurance Regulations pursuant to the Health Insurance Act, 1994, my Department has been in discussions with the European Commission relat...
Written Answers. - Patient Follow-up.
Was asked: if he will issue guidelines to the health boards and psychiatric institutions regarding the discharge and follow-up of patients from these institutions, who have a known suicidal risk, in view of the ...
Limerick East): It would be inappropriate for me to comment specifically on the recent court case to which the Deputy has referred and which is still being given full consideration by the North-Wester...
Written Answers. - Medical Insurance Premium Costs.
Was asked: if his attention has been drawn to the spiralling cost of medical protection insurance premiums; if he intends introducing a medical review panel to hear cases in a speedy and non-adversarial manner i...
Limerick East): My Department has been concerned with the growing cost of medical indemnity cover for doctors and dentists working in public health agencies. This country has, in common with all devel...
Written Answers. - Hospital Accommodation.
Was asked: the degree to which male and female patients are accommodated in mixed hospital wards excluding emergencies and coronary care; if he approves of such a practice; the measures, if any, he proposes to t...
Limerick East): In the interests of ensuring that the privacy and dignity of patients, both male and female, are respected, I would of course be concerned at any mixing of patients, outside the areas...
Written Answers. - Child Abuse Cases.
Was asked: when he intends publishing central guidelines for the recording of reported cases of child abuse, follow-up procedures in cases where child abuse has been alleged but not proven and the operation and ...
Written Answers. - Long Term Care Bed Numbers.
Was asked: the total number of long-term care beds in State owned hospitals; if he will give a breakdown of this figure by health board; and if he will give an estimate of the total number of such beds in the pr...
Limerick East): The number of long-term care beds in health board geriatric, district and community hospitals at 31 December 1994 is set out in the following table. Excluded from these figures are 1,...
Written Answers. - Geratric Services.
Was asked: his assessment of the level of adequacy of acute geriatric services throughout the country; the counties without any such service at present; and the plans, if any, he has to remedy current deficits.
Limerick East): The report of the working party on Services for the Elderly, the Years Ahead — A Policy for the Elderly which was published in 1988, recommended the development of additional departmen...
Written Answers. - Hague Convention Ratification.
Was asked: if he considers enabling legislation to ratify the Hague Convention necessary, particularly in view of the distressing plight of Chinese children; if so, the time-frame in which this will be done; and...
Limerick East): I presume the Deputy is referring to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in respect of Intercountry Adoption which was completed in 1993 under the aegis of ...
Written Answers. - Medical Cards.
Was asked: the proposals, if any, he has to allow all MS patients be provided with a medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Limerick East): Under the Health Act, 1970, medical cards are issued to persons who, in the opinion of the chief executive officer of the appropriate health board, are unable, without undue hardship t...
Written Answers. - Helios II Programme.
Was asked: the total amount drawn down under the Helios II Programme for 1995; the projects which have been assisted under the programme; the plans, if any, he has for the further development of projects under t...
Limerick East): The Helios II Programme is an EU Programme aimed at promoting exchange of information on good practice between the member states and with NGOs based on the best innovative and effecti...
Written Answers. - Temporary Consultant Post.
Was asked: the reason the Sexually Transmitted Disease temporary consultant's post has not been advertised; and if he intends to provide funding for ancillary staff and equipment.
Limerick East): The Southern Health Board is responsible, in the first instance, for the management of services and the deployment of staff in its own area. On foot of a number of recommendations and...
Written Answers. - Cancer Patient Support.
Was asked: the resources and support that is provided by the Southern Health Board to parents of cancer patients who have to attend Crumlin Hospital, Dublin for treatment over prolonged periods of time; and if h...
Limerick East): As Minister for Health I am very conscious that a very important part of the child's welfare while in hospital is having access to one or both parents particularly at critical times in...
Written Answers. - Women's Nutritional Status.
Was asked: his views on the claim by certain charities that a lack of proper nutrition among pregnant women on benefits contributes to a higher illness rate in children.
Limerick East): The importance of nutrition during pregnancy is well established. There are however, no specific studies relating to the nutritional status of Irish women. The health promotion unit o...
Written Answers. - Method of Payment.
Was asked: the number of community welfare officers in Ireland who are using their cars in order to pay people supplementary welfare allowances; the health board area and location of each officer; and if proposa...
Limerick East): There are four community welfare officers issuing payments to supplementary welfare allowance recipients from their cars. The locations are in the Southern Health Board as follows: 1. ...
Written Answers. - Low Dose Radiation.
Was asked: if his attention has been drawn to survey reports from anywhere in the world on the impact of low dose radiation on the health of people living in the vicinity of nuclear plants.
Limerick East): Medical officers in my Department are aware of various studies carried out on the possible health implications from low dose radiation for people living in the vicinity of nuclear plan...
Written Answers. - Sexual Abuse Allegations.
Was asked: the current position regarding the allegations made against a medical consultant, now retired from the Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, County Louth, in connection with allegations of sexual abuse against ...
Limerick East): The current position with regard to this case is as follows. The Deputy will be aware that the consultant in question retired with effect from 13 October 1995. He also subsequently re...
Written Answers. - Hospital Accommodation.
Was asked: the progress, if any, being made regarding the need of additional long stay nursing beds in the Dublin area; the identified needs; the progress, if any, made since May 1995; and if he will make a stat...
Limerick East): With the elderly population set to rise, there is a need to provide some additional health board long-stay places and to improve existing accommodation. I announced in the summer of 1...
Written Answers. - Hip Replacement Operations.
Was asked: the waiting period for assessment and necessary treatment procedures for people awaiting hip replacement operations; the existing waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Limerick East): The total number of people awaiting hip replacement operations at December 1995 was 1,286 of whom 412 had been on the waiting list for a period greater than 12 months. The remaining 87...
Written Answers. - Psychiatric Beds.
Was asked: if he has satisfied himself with the total number of beds available for psychiatric patients; the concerns, if any, of those working in the service regarding the required number of beds to meet the de...
Limerick East): Planning for the Future, the report on the development of the psychiatric services published in 1984, recommended a shift in the delivery of mental health care from a predominantly ins...
Written Answers. - Respiratory Infections Research.
Was asked: the research, if any, that has been carried out regarding the huge increases in respiratory infections over the past six months; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Limerick East): Respiratory infections which are notifiable to my Department include whooping cough, tuberculosis and influenzal pneumonia. The returns to my Department do not indicate an increase ov...
Written Answers. - Meningitis Statistics.
Was asked: the number of meningitis cases reported in 1995 by each health board area; the age and gender of the sufferers; the comparable figures for each of the years 1990 and 1985; and if he will make a statem...
Limerick East): The number of cases of bacterial meningitis, including meningococcal septicaemia and acute cases of viral meningitis reported to the Department in each of the years 1995, 1990 and 198...
Written Answers. - Non-Smoking Ban.
Was asked: the action, if any, he proposes to take regarding organisations who are flouting the non-smoking ban, particularly in bingo halls.
| Last Updated: 21/05/2011 14:28:43 |
Page of 102
|