Written Answers Nos. 409-431
409. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health if he will address the calls by patients from County Donegal to have the rheumatology outreach clinic in Letterkenny, County Donegal restored, given that patients currently have to travel to Our Lady's Hospital in County Leitrim to access rheumatology treatment, which causes undue hardship on those patients, including physical discomfort; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17820/15]
View answerAs this is a service matter, 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.
410. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the estimated payments that will be made in each of 2015, 2016, and 2017 to St. James's Hospital in Dublin 8 in relation to its participation in the joint bachelor of science in diagnostic radiography being offered by Trinity College, Dublin and the Singapore Institute of Technology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17823/15]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply. 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.
411. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the way members or staff, including consultants or managers, of St. James's Hospital, Dublin 8, are participating in the joint bachelor of science in diagnostic radiography being offered by Trinity College, Dublin and the Singapore Institute of Technology; if their participation falls, or is it planned to fall, within their public service contract hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17824/15]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply. 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.
412. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of clinical practice tutor radiographer posts that exist within the Health Service Executive; in which hospitals; the number which are reserved for students participating in the joint bachelor of science in diagnostic radiography being offered by Trinity College, Dublin and the Singapore Institute of Technology, or in any other course being offered by, or in conjunction with, any educational or medical institution in Singapore; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17825/15]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply. 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.
413. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health when the rheumatology outreach clinic in Letterkenny, County Donegal will be restored, in view of the comments in December 2012 by then Minister for Health (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17830/15]
View answerAs this is a service matter, 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.
414. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health if he will refer nine patients (details supplied) waiting for operations to a private hospital for their surgery, if the Health Service Executive cannot or will not operate on them. [17834/15]
View answerUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
Spinal conditions, including scoliosis, in children and young people are predominantly managed at Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin (OLCHC). It is acknowledged by all that waiting times for surgery are unacceptable and the HSE, Children's Hospital Group and OLCHC are actively working to address them as quickly as possible and exploring all short, medium- and long-term options to increase capacity. I am pleased to say that funding has been allocated in the 2015 Service Plan to facilitate the appointment of an orthopaedic surgeon, anaesthetist and support staff to maximise utilisation of available theatre sessions in OLCHC.
In relation to the particular patient query raised by you, as this is a service matter, 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.
415. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 565 of 14 January 2015, if he will provide an update on the appointment of an orthopaedic surgeon, anaesthetist and support staff to maximise utilisation of available theatre sessions in Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Dublin 12, in view of the fact that recruitment should have been resourced by March 2015; and if he will provide a breakdown of the waiting list, as of 1 May 2015, with no dates, and a breakdown of the figures for procedures. [17841/15]
View answerAs this is a service matter, 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.
416. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a hospital appointment in Cork University Hospital in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17857/15]
View answerUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
The scheduling of appointments for patients is a matter for the hospital to which the patient has been referred. Should a patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he or she should take the matter up with the consultant and the hospital involved. In relation to the specific case raised, 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.
417. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, a breakdown of clinical to non-clinical staff in the Health Service Executive for the past three years; if he is satisfied with the way this compares with other similar jurisdictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17867/15]
View answerWith regard to workforce planning for the health service, Action 46 of Future Health provides for the Department to work with the HSE to implement an effective approach to workforce planning and development with the objectives of: recruiting and retaining the right mix of staff; training and upskilling the workforce; providing for professional and career development; and creating supportive and healthy workplaces.
In 2015, the Department of Health will develop a national integrated strategic framework for health workforce planning, on a cross-sectoral basis. A cross-sectoral Working Group will be convened to develop the framework in the near future and consultation with key stakeholders will form part of the Group's work.
I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly regarding the breakdown of clinical to non-clinical staff. 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.
418. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Kildare will receive a psychological assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17871/15]
View answerAs this is a service issue this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. If you have not received a response within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
419. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 402 of 3 March 2015, if he will ensure that the information requested in that question is actually answered; that a general response, as provided on 13 March 2015, is not again produced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17872/15]
View answerI have asked the Health Service Executive to look into this matter again with a view to providing a more comprehensive response to the question raised.
420. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health when respite beds will reopen in a nursing unit for the elderly (details supplied) in County Cavan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17873/15]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply. 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.
421. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health the reason incorrect information was provided by the Health Service Executive in response to a previous question (details supplied); the reason clarification sought from the executive on this matter has not been forthcoming; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17874/15]
View answerThe HSE have advised my Department that the information sought has been posted to the individual on 5 May 2015.
422. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding financial support for a medical procedure in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17879/15]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive 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 the matter with them.
423. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the date that has been scheduled for an operation in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17883/15]
View answerIt is acknowledged that the waiting times for spinal surgery services at Our Lady's Hospital Crumlin are unsatisfactory and must be addressed as a priority. Accordingly, funding was allocated in the HSE Service Plan for 2015 for the appointment of an orthopaedic surgeon, anaesthetist and support staff at Crumlin. This will maximise the use of available theatre sessions in the hospital. The first of these additional staff is now in post, and recruitment for the remaining posts is in process. In addition, capital funding has been agreed for a new theatre on site at Crumlin, which will expand theatre capacity further. As a further measure, available capacity is being identified in other hospitals and some children are being transferred for their surgery, where it is considered clinically appropriate for them.
Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual. In relation to the particular patient query raised by you, 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.
424. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health regarding the plans for minimum unit pricing of alcohol, if his attention has been drawn to concerns, notwithstanding the positive implications of the legislation on public health, of the impact on artisan distillers and producers; and if consideration will be given to exempting duty free and travel retail, so as not to place such Irish businesses at a distinct disadvantage to international competitors. [17886/15]
View answerThe General Scheme of the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill was approved by Government on the 3 February 2015. The Scheme includes provisions for minimum unit pricing, health labelling on products that contain alcohol, restrictions on the advertising and marketing of alcohol and the regulation of sports sponsorship. As part of the pre-legislative scrutiny process, the measures were debated by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children. The Committee received over fifty written submissions on the General Scheme of the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill. The hearings commenced on the 10 March and concluded on the 23 April.
The Public Health (Alcohol) Bill will make it illegal to sell or advertise for sale alcohol at a price below a set minimum price. Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) sets a minimum price per gram of alcohol. The minimum price of an alcohol product would be based on the number of grams of alcohol in the product. MUP is a targeted measure, aimed at those who drink in a harmful and hazardous manner, and designed to prevent the sale of alcohol at very cheap prices. MUP is able to target cheaper alcohol relative to its strength because the minimum price is determined by and is directly proportional to the amount of pure alcohol in the drink. The University of Sheffield study reported that the alcohol products most affected by this policy are those that are currently being sold very cheaply, often below cost prices, in the off-trade, i.e. supermarkets and off-licences. It is not expected that minimum unit pricing will affect the price of duty free alcohol products or artisan beers sold at full retail prices. The General Scheme of the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill does not provide for any exemptions to minimum unit pricing.
The Department of Health is continuing to work on the preparation of the legislation. Parliamentary Counsel has been assigned to draft the Bill. It is expected that the Bill will be published during the Spring/Summer Session 2015.
425. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health the plans of the Health Service Executive to introduce new procedures in order that retirements of staff in front-line services, which are known in advance, can be better prepared for, thus ensuring no gaps in service provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17887/15]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply. 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.
426. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Health the research his Department has undertaken to identify if there are any negative effects on human health in communities where industrial-sized wind turbines have been installed in close proximity to persons' homes; if not, the research his Department is relying upon; his plans to undertake independent research in this area, in view of the extent of wind energy development currently under way; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17890/15]
View answerPolicy responsibility with regard to planning and the legislative framework in relation to the siting of wind turbines rests with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. My Department provides advice from time to time when requested by the above mentioned Department.
At this time, my Department is not aware of any reliable or consistent evidence that wind turbines directly cause adverse health effects in humans. My Department will continue to monitor developments and evidence and provide advice accordingly.
427. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the criteria which determine the list of covered hospitals, set by agreements with the Government, as outlined (details supplied); if he is satisfied that such practices are fair; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17898/15]
View answerUnder the Health Insurance Act 1970, everyone who is ordinarily resident in Ireland qualifies for public hospital care. Notwithstanding this, 44% of the Irish population has private health insurance and many people opt to be treated privately.
The private health insurers operate in a competitive market and are free to impose certain terms and conditions on their policies, providing they comply with the Minimum Benefit Regulations. For services that are covered by private health insurance, each private health insurance provider in the Irish market has the right to determine which health care provider they will cover for the benefit of their customers. It is a matter for each insurer to determine how much capacity in any particular area is purchased by it to deliver the services required by its members.
The private health insurers have no legal obligation to cover all public hospitals, and may opt to offer plans that do not cover certain hospitals, providing they are in compliance with the health insurance legislation.
While the introduction of lower-cost, more affordable health insurance plans is welcome, cost should not be the only factor considered by consumers when selecting a health insurance product. It is also important to select a plan that provides an adequate level of cover and that consumers are fully aware of any reduced level of cover provided at the time of purchase. All insurers offer a 14 day "cooling-off" period from the commencement of a customer's contract during which time a person may cancel and get a full refund.
428. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of recruitment under the aegis of his Department to the public sector since the partial lifting of the embargo on recruitment. [18254/15]
View answerThere was a requirement to reduce public service numbers and maximise savings in the public service from the time of the downturn in the economy. The HSE introduced an embargo on recruitment in 2007, and this was followed by the moratorium on recruitment and promotion in the public sector in 2008. The HSE has had the capacity to recruit where it is necessary to deliver front-line services.
The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform announced in Budget 2015 that he intends to delegate greater autonomy to Departments and Agencies to manage their own staffing levels. The change from the application of a rigid employment control framework, with its particular focus on a moratorium on recruitment and compliance with employment ceilings and targets, to one operating strictly within allocated pay frameworks will allow for recruitment where it is determined that this can achieve more economical service delivery.
The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) has advised that the HSE and Department of Health are required to submit a 2015 Pay and Numbers Strategy, outlining planned pay expenditure and staff numbers. Following approval of the strategy by DPER, a letter of delegated sanction will be issued. As this process is still ongoing, the existing moratorium and Employment Control Framework arrangements will continue to apply. However the number of nurses employed has already increased by nearly 500 in the past 12 months. This increase partly reflects the initiative being undertaken by the HSE to reduce reliance on agency and to offer contracts of employment where agency can be replaced by full time posts. The increase also reflects the continuing capacity of the HSE to recruit where it is necessary to deliver front line services.
429. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in view of the recent remarks by other European Union states, his views on whether the 1915 killings of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire was genocide. [17251/15]
View answer434. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reason Ireland is not recognising the Armenian massacres as genocide; if he will support the Armenian people on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17671/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 429 and 434 together.
I would refer the Deputies to my most recent reply to a question on this issue which sets out Ireland's position.
In the two weeks since my reply, centenary commemorations have been held in many parts of the world, including here in Ireland. Ireland's sympathy and concern was expressed formally by our Ambassador, John Biggar, through his attendance at the official Armenian commemoration in Yerevan on 24 April.
I welcome this renewed international focus on the history of the Armenian people and the terrible events of 1915. I am aware of many statements of sympathy by European leaders on this centenary, including some which referred to genocide. However, the position remains that there is no international consensus and neither the UN nor the EU have adopted a position on this case.
At this time of centenaries, when we in Ireland hope that our commemorations will increase mutual understanding, I would again urge both Turkey and Armenia to take advantage of any opportunity for reconciliation between their two peoples. Despite their painful memories from that era of European war and communal hatred, there are some reasons to hope that these two neighbours can find a basis to work together for the good of their people and the wider region.
430. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on his meeting with the Egyptian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Sameh Shoukry, in New York in the United States of America; his views on any developments in the case of a person (details supplied) who is detained in Egypt; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17349/15]
View answerI met Egyptian Foreign Minister Shoukry in New York on Monday 27 April. I took the opportunity, as I have done on numerous occasions, to discuss this case with him in some detail and to outline Ireland's concerns regarding this case.
In our discussion I noted my disappointment that a decision on the application for bail, an application formally supported by the Irish government, had been refused along with other bail applications in the case.
I underlined once again to Minister Shoukry the Government's strong desire to see this young Irish citizen released by the Egyptian authorities as soon as possible so that he can return to his family and his studies in Dublin. Minister Shoukry emphasised that the matter was currently before the courts but that he was conscious of the Irish Government's concerns regarding this citizen's welfare. On the conditions of his ongoing detention, he undertook to pursue my concerns regarding this individual's welfare with the appropriate Egyptian authorities.
We agreed that our channels of communication would remain open about this important matter. I also emphasised to Minister Shoukry our strong desire to ensure our citizen's welfare for as long as he remains in detention, and it was clear that Minister Shoukry's Ministry will continue to facilitate active consular assistance and welfare access by our Embassy in Cairo.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will continue to provide consular support in the run up to the next scheduled hearing on 3 June, and to take all appropriate action that is in his best interests.
431. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he attended the United Nations debt resolution meeting in New York in the United States of America from 28 to 30 April 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17580/15]
View answer438. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he, or officials from his Department, attended the second ad hoc committee session on sovereign debt restructuring processes that took place in the United Nations in New York in the United States of America, from 28 to 30 April 2015; the reason Ireland voted against the establishment of a United Nations committee on sovereign debt restructuring, in September 2014 and in December 2014; and if he will prioritise the restructuring of unfair and unsustainable debt, as well as debt justice, as issues in Ireland's foreign affairs policies. [17781/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 431 and 438 together.
In September 2014, the UN General Assembly was presented with a draft Resolution on the modalities for the implementation of General Assembly Resolution 68/304 on the establishment of a multilateral legal framework for sovereign debt restructuring processes. The main focus of the resolution was the setting up of an ad hoc committee to elaborate a binding debt resolution mechanism. Following detailed consideration of the proposal and discussions with our EU partners and other UN members, Ireland, and our EU partners, were unable to support the Resolution.
We engaged actively and in good faith in the process, including through the extensive efforts of our Permanent Representative to the UN. We supported the EU's statement clarifying the important considerations which informed the negotiating approach on the Resolution, as follows:
“The ad-hoc committee must be limited to the elaboration of a non-binding 'set of principles' which builds upon a market-based voluntary contractual approach to sovereign debt restructuring and aims at furthering its implementation and use. Neither the EU nor Member States will participate in discussions aiming at the establishment of a binding multilateral legal framework for sovereign debt restructuring processes.
The ad-hoc committee should reflect the recent and ongoing work on sovereign debt restructuring undertaken in the IMF, subject to the previous considerations, and should take place in close coordination with and with technical support from the Fund. Discussions should also make reference to the work in other fora on these issues, such as the Paris Club, which has a history of discussing sovereign debt restructuring issues.”
In the event, the Resolution continued to propose the elaboration of a new legal framework and, in these circumstances, Ireland, in common with EU partners, will not be participating in the work of the committee.
Ireland is actively engaged in ongoing global processes to address the issue of sovereign debt restructuring. Work being undertaken at other levels, including in the IMF and at the Third International Conference on Financing for Development to be held in Addis Ababa in July, offer appropriate, established and constructive means for meaningful dialogue on the matter. We are playing our full role, in partnership with our EU colleagues, in working for the success of the Financing for Development Conference in Addis, which is central to the ongoing negotiations on a new framework for global development to follow on from the Millennium Development Goals. These major international negotiations at the UN are being co-chaired by Ireland's Permanent Representative to the UN, with Kenya.
We recognise the importance of continuing to address global debt issues in a development context and will continue to engage in processes, in appropriate fora, that promote constructive dialogue and propose effective and suitable mechanisms to support the countries most seriously affected.
