Written Answers Nos. 489-505
489. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the supports a person (details supplied) in County Dublin received from the Health Service Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8224/15]
View answerAs the Deputy's question relates to the provision of health and personal social services to an individual, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, he can contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE.
490. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Health the reason the pension-related deduction is not taken into account when assessing means for a medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8229/15]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has issued to Oireachtas members. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them.
491. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8231/15]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has issued to Oireachtas members. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them.
492. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if the allegations of staff changes from nursing staff to care administrators at a group home (details supplied) in County Dublin, within the community for adults with intellectual disabilities, are true; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8249/15]
View answerAs the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, she can contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE.
493. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the total amount spent on agency staff at Portlaoise hospital, County Laois in 2014; and the anticipated spend on agency staff, at this hospital in 2015. [8257/15]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on the matter. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
494. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal was admitted to Letterkenny General Hospital; when this person was referred to Galway University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8271/15]
View answer495. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal may expect to be transferred from Letterkenny General Hospital to Galway University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8272/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 494 and 495 together.
In relation to the particular patient query raised by you, as these are service matters, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up with them.
496. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health if counselling services are provided, free of charge, as part of the public mental health service, in view of the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 10. [8274/15]
View answerThe HSE Mental Health Division, as part of the requirement under the Programme for Government to increase access to counselling and psychotherapy developed the National Counselling Service - Counselling in Primary Care Service (CIPC). This was launched in July 2013 as part of the programme for government investment in mental health in 2012 and 2013 and is one of a range of initiatives taken by the HSE to build the capacity of primary care to respond to mental health needs appropriate to primary care. At the end of September 2014, there were 10,601 referrals to the CIPC services, with 1,683 individuals receiving counselling and 31,232 sessions offered.
Counselling is also provided by a range of voluntary organisations across the health service and within the HSE Mental Health Division the National Office for Suicide Prevention funds voluntary organisations such as Pieta House and Console to provide support across a range of needs.
Within the specialist secondary care mental health services, counselling and psychotherapy is provided within community mental health teams when service users are clinically assessed as requiring this intervention and is provided by a health professional on the team.
In relation to the specific case raised, as this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my private office and they will follow up with them.
497. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health when the building of a primary health care centre will commence, consisting of the health centre, the Mother McCauley centre and the Alzheimer's centre on Curlew Road, Drimnagh, Dublin 12; and when the primary care unit will commence operation. [8297/15]
View answerCrumlin-Drimnagh was one of 16 locations to be delivered through the PPP project. Unfortunately it was one of two locations which did not complete the planning process within the timeframe for inclusion in the PPP project; the other was Knocklyon/Rathfarnham. There is limited funding available for new construction projects over the next multiannual period 2015-2019 given the level of commitments and the costs to completion already in place. In addition, the HSE cannot exceed or plan to exceed its commitment thresholds. It is essential that all projects, other than those where existing contractual commitments are in place, are assessed on their merits to ensure that the limited capital funding available goes to those developments which address the greatest service need. The HSE is concentrating on applying the limited funding available for infrastructure development in the most effective way possible to meet current and future needs.
498. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the actions he has taken to assist in the search for the kidnapped schoolgirls, abducted in Nigeria in April 2014; the actions he will take; if he has conveyed his concern, and that of the Irish people, at the abduction to the Nigerian authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7854/15]
View answerI have repeatedly condemned the abduction of more than 200 young girls by Boko Haram from a school in the Nigerian town of Chibok in April 2014. I have also condemned other appalling acts of violence being perpetrated in Nigeria and its neighbouring countries by Boko Haram. These include the killing in January of a large number of civilians in an attack by militants in the north-eastern state of Borno, and the more recent attacks in Chad, Cameroon and Niger. I have given my full support to the clear demands of the United Nations Secretary General and the High Representative of the European Union that the girls abducted in Chibok be released and that those responsible be brought to justice. I am deeply disappointed that hopes that the girls would be released as a part of ceasefire discussions last October were not realised.
The EU as well as several individual EU Member States, the UN and the USA, continue to assist the Nigerian authorities in strengthening their ability to provide security and to combat terrorism. The EU Foreign Affairs Council, which I attended in Brussels on 9 February, noted that the responsibility to address the immediate security challenge in the region lies primarily with the countries most affected, and called upon them to urgently intensify cooperation and coordination. We welcomed the decision of the States in the region, endorsed by the African Union, to deploy a multinational force to combat Boko Haram, and this is now being established.
The Council also expressed concern about the humanitarian consequences of the Boko Haram attacks and pledged to continue providing immediate relief to those in need and to increase supports at regional level. Ireland provided €1 million in December 2014 to the UNHCR to assist and support Nigerian refugees in Chad.
Our Embassy in Abuja, working locally in co-operation with the EU and other key partners, remains in close contact with the Nigerian authorities on all issues related to the Boko Haram insurgency, including the appalling abduction of the schoolgirls.
499. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on recognising the Armenian genocide of 1915, which resulted in the loss of life of almost one million persons. [7928/15]
View answerThese terrible events continue to overshadow relations between Armenia and Turkey and the two sides maintain sharply different historical interpretations of these events. Ireland has not taken a position on the issue of the recognition as genocide. As we in Ireland know well, the process of reconciliation and coming to terms with the past is never easy. In this year of centenary commemorations, Ireland would urge Armenia and Turkey to take advantage of any opportunity to progress reconciliation for the good of their people, the region, and their shared future. The Irish Government has expressed sympathy for the enormous suffering of the Armenian people during the period in question.
500. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide more support in respect of a person (details supplied) awaiting trial in Egypt; if he will make this a priority case. [8062/15]
View answerI remain deeply concerned at this individual’s continued detention as well as the recent further postponement of his trial. From my first day in office, I have taken a strong interest, and an active role, in this case and indeed in my first week in office I spoke to Egyptian Foreign Minister Shoukry setting out my concerns. I have spoken to FM Shoukry on a number of further occasions, stressing that the individual was only 17 at the time of the alleged offences and asking for the case to be reviewed, so that he may be released and can return to his studies and his family. I have also raised the matter with HRVP Mogherini who assured me of the ongoing assistance which the EU institutions can provide. I have met this individual’s family on a number of occasions, most recently on 12 February.
We are monitoring all developments closely. This is a difficult case involving a foreign legal system and the judicial processes of another state in which we cannot interfere. However, I wish to assure the deputy of my ongoing commitment to the welfare of this young Irish citizen. I wish also to assure the deputy that officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, both in Dublin and in Cairo, are in ongoing contact with this individual and his family, and with the Egyptian authorities, and will continue to work actively towards the achievement of a positive outcome to this case and will continue to offer full consular support to this Irish citizen.
501. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will support the international efforts to have a free and fair campaign for democratic elections in Venezuela, without outside interference, and without violence from extreme right wing elements (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8063/15]
View answerThe ongoing situation in Venezuela is a cause of great concern. It is apparent that tensions are growing and the country is suffering an increasing degree of political polarisation. As I have indicated before, the deaths, casualties and detentions arising from the unrest there require full, impartial investigation in accordance with due legal process. The apparently high levels of impunity in the case of serious crimes is a matter of further concern as is, indeed, the serious economic situation affecting the people of Venezuela. I share the concerns expressed by EU High Representative Mogherini, and those expressed previously by High Representative Ashton, concerning the detention of political figures and of students. Human rights, including the freedom of expression, of assembly and of association must be protected and upheld. I renew my call for all parties, including government, opposition, students and civil society, to work together to find a consensus for overcoming Venezuela’s current difficulties. I remain of the view that the best hope for progress in Venezuela, and for the successful conduct of the forthcoming elections, is for an inclusive dialogue that will address, through peaceful means alone, the legitimate concerns of all parties.
502. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the Government's invitation to Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, to the 1916 Commemorations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7713/15]
View answerThe centenary of the Easter Rising in 2016 will be the centre-piece of the Government’s Decade of Centenaries programme. The Taoiseach launched the outline plans for the Ireland 2016 commemorations on 21st November 2014. These outline plans are currently being developed and the public are being consulted for their views. My colleague, the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Heather Humphreys T.D., who has lead responsibility for the 1916 commemoration, has tasked a team from her Department to have meetings in all parts of the country to engage with people on how Easter 1916 is most appropriately commemorated. The Government has not issued any invitations to the United Kingdom or other international partners for events in Ireland to commemorate Easter 1916. Clearly, some of the 2016 events will be moments for national commemoration, as may be the case for the Easter Sunday programme on the 27th March and the actual centenary of the start of the Rising on 24th April. There may also be events, at home and abroad, where it would be appropriate to invite our international partners, at a suitable level, to join with us to reflect on the events of 1916 and to mark this key moment on Ireland’s path to independence and place amongst the nations of the world.
This will be considered further by the Government following the publication of the Government’s programme for Ireland 2016 in the coming weeks.
503. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 420 of 17 February 2015, that his Department's emigrant support programme is funding a global networking hub, if this includes the creation of an Irish emigrant register; and if not, if he will create this proposed register. [8107/15]
View answerIn the context of preparing a new Diaspora Policy, the Government is considering initiatives along the lines of the Deputy’s question. I expect the Diaspora Policy to be launched very soon, after which, I would be happy to provide the Deputy with more detailed information.
504. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will condemn the slaughter of the native Christians of Egypt, known as Copts, other Christians, and civilians, by Islamic State of Iraq and Syria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8161/15]
View answerI issued a statement condemning the murder of 21 Egyptian citizens by the terrorist group ISIS on 16 February: "I am deeply shocked by the reports of the brutal killing of Coptic Christians in Libya by ISIS. This is a monstrous act beyond comprehension, which must be condemned in the strongest possible terms.
It is also a savage attack on a minority community.
Ireland has repeatedly recalled the duty of States to protect vulnerable minorities in the Middle East, including Christian communities. I reiterate that call and will be raising this with my EU colleagues at the earliest opportunity."
505. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to provide a full briefing to the Justice for the Forgotten Group, in relation to the Stormont House Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8226/15]
View answerThe Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has a longstanding relationship with the Justice for the Forgotten group. My Department has had several meetings with the group at both official and Ministerial level. The Government continues to support the Justice for the Forgotten group in their campaign on behalf of the Dublin-Monaghan families. In this regard, the group has received grant support of €48,000 in early 2014 from my Department’s Reconciliation Fund. The funding will assist Justice for the Forgotten with its important work.
I know that my officials are in contact with the Justice for the Forgotten group in relation to arranging a meeting to discuss the Stormont House Agreement.
The focus of the Government is currently on the effective and expeditious implementation of the Stormont House Agreement. In this context, I participated in the first implementation and review meeting of the Agreement in Belfast on 30 January last at which a detailed implementation timeline was agreed. Work on implementation is progressing well and a second review meeting will take place in March. A progress report will be published in June 2015. The Government remains committed to playing its part in ensuring the full implementation of the Agreement.
