Written Answers Nos. 187-197
187. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if and when a medical card will be approved in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26873/15]
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.
188. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if and when a renewal of a medical card will take place in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26874/15]
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.
189. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health if he will take steps to ensure that correspondence (details supplied) which has been furnished to medical personnel will be immediately addressed, that the concerns therein will be dealt with and that, if necessary, the patient's advocate will be corresponded with; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26886/15]
View answerAs this is a service issue this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. If you have not received a reply with 15 working days, please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
190. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of cases received by the Health Service Executive where a doctor certified that a person should be granted a medical card on discretionary grounds, since the Taoiseach’s comments in Dáil Éireann on 18 June 2014, and where a doctor certified that a person should be granted a medical card and home help hours on discretionary grounds and, in the case of both of the above, the number of such cases where a medical card was granted or a medical card and appropriate home help hours were granted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26890/15]
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.
191. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, the expenses incurred by him from 2011 to date in 2015, including the date, expense type, description and amount; if each expense was vouched; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26998/15]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy in respect of expenses paid to me is set out in the following table. All payments are based on travel and subsistence rates approved by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
|
Period of travel |
Amount |
Description |
|
From 14/07/2014 to 31/12/2014 |
€7,300.82 |
Motor mileage |
|
From 01/01/2015 to 30/06/2015 |
€7,644.66 |
Motor mileage |
|
From 22/07/2014 to 23/07/2014 |
€72.66 |
Subsistence attending McGill Summer School |
|
From 18/11/2014 to 21/11/2014 |
€413.01 |
Subsistence attending International Nutrition conference in Rome |
|
01/12/2014 |
€72.33 |
Subsistence attending EPSCO meeting in Brussels |
|
From 08/2/2015 to 11/02/2015 |
€345.17 |
Subsistence attending European Parliament duties in Strasbourg |
|
From 14/03/2015 to 22/03/2015 |
€328.62 |
Subsistence for travel to Mexico for St Patrick's Day |
The information in relation to expenses paid to Minister James Reilly is set out in the following table.
|
Period of travel |
Amount |
Description |
|
From 01/05/2011 to 31/12/2011 |
€12,769.05 |
Motor mileage |
|
From 01/01/2012 to 31/12/2012 |
€16,301.75 |
Motor mileage |
|
From 01/01/2013 to 31/12/2013 |
€13,461.85 |
Motor mileage |
|
From 01/01/2014 to 13/07/2014 |
€11,006.60 |
Motor mileage |
|
03/2014 to 10/2014 |
€1,554.30 |
Vouched refund for tolls |
|
From 03/04/2011 to 5/04/2011 |
€244.27 |
Subsistence attending Informal meeting of Health Ministers in Budapest, Hungary |
|
From 12/04/2011 to 13/04/2011 |
€144.66 |
Subsistence attending World Health Care Congress in Brussels |
|
From 30/06/2011 to 25/07/2011 |
€133.69 |
Subsistence in Ireland |
|
From 29/08/2011 to 05/09/2011 |
€907.19 |
Subsistence visiting Health Care facilities etc in China |
|
From 17/09/2011 to 20/09/2011 |
€576.94 |
Subsistence at UN High Level meeting in New York |
|
From 24/02/2013 to 25/02/2013 |
€126.58 |
Subsistence at Tobacco Products hearings in Brussels |
|
From 13/03/2013 to 17/03/2013 |
€470.05 |
Subsistence for travel to Birmingham, UK for St Patrick's Day |
|
From 19/05/2013 to 21/05/2013 |
€285.48 |
Subsistence attending the World Health Assembly in Geneva |
|
From 20/06/2013 to 21/06/2013 |
€134.59 |
Subsistence attending EPSCO meeting in Luxembourg |
|
From 09/12/2013 to 10/12/2013 |
€126.58 |
Subsistence attending EPSCO meeting in Brussels |
|
From 14/03/2014 to 20/03/2014 |
€762.12 |
Subsistence for travel to USA for St Patrick's Day |
|
From 03/04/2014 to 04/04/2014 |
€108.49 |
Subsistence attending EU summit meeting on Chronic Diseases in Brussels |
|
From 27/04/2014 to 29/04/2014 |
€232.16 |
Subsistence attending Informal meeting of Health Ministers in Athens |
|
From 19/06/2014 to 20/06/2014 |
€188.42 |
Subsistence attending EPSCO meeting in Brussels |
192. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of requests for meetings he has received from private, external, non-State-funded lobby groups; the number of meetings he has held with these groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26701/15]
View answerSince my appointment in July 2014 I have met with the groups listed in the following table, on the dates indicated. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade also receives many requests for meetings at Headquarters and in Missions abroad from a wide-range of groups and individuals whom it is not always possible for me to meet.
|
Date of meeting |
Details of meeting |
|
27 August 2014 |
Meeting with Mary Robinson |
|
8 October 2014 |
Meeting with representatives of the following NGOs: Trócaire Dóchas Plan Sightsavers GOAL Oxfam Ireland Camara Tearfund Ireland World Vision Ireland |
|
27 November 2014 |
AmCham |
|
22 January 2015 |
DFAT NGO Standing Committee on Human Rights |
|
5 March 2015 |
AmCham (Launch of the Ireland-US Economic Relationship 2015 Report) |
|
1 April 2015 |
Launch of Asia Trade Forum Programme of Activities |
|
15 May 2015 |
Meeting with Justice for the Forgotten/Pat Finucane Centre |
193. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reason the United States of America is still interfering in the affairs of Cuba, despite claims that there are normalised relations; if he will raise this concern with the United Nations and the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26789/15]
View answerI warmly welcome the historic decision by President Obama and by President Castro in December on the restoration of bilateral diplomatic relations, and subsequent developments including the removal of Cuba from the US State Department’s list of state sponsors of terrorism. Talks are ongoing between the US and Cuba with a view to the normalisation of relations between the countries, and I believe that these are advancing in a promising manner. On 1 July the reopening of bilateral embassies was announced by the US and by Cuba. The US embargo against Cuba is codified in legislation passed by the US Congress and President Obama has indicated his willingness to engage with Congress in an honest and serious debate about lifting the embargo, which we welcome.
Ireland’s concerns regarding the US embargo are long-standing and clear and were set out in the United Nations on 28 October last year in our support for the relevant resolution at the UN General Assembly. We are firmly of the view that the lifting of the embargo would facilitate an opening of Cuba’s economy to the benefit of its people. The recent UN debate also recorded continued concerns and criticisms regarding governance and human rights in Cuba. It was noted that while the US embargo has a damaging effect on the Cuban economy, domestic Cuban economic policy seriously hampers its own economic development. Together with our EU partners we have urged that the package of economic and social reforms adopted by the Cuban Congress in August 2011 be extended and implemented in a manner that will address the key concerns of the Cuban population. I urge the Cuban authorities to bring about real improvements in all areas mentioned, and to grant its citizens internationally recognised civil, political and economic rights and freedoms.
At the April Foreign Affairs Council, EU Foreign Ministers agreed to continue to support the ongoing reforms in Cuba and are working on the negotiation of a Political Dialogue and Co-operation Agreement between the EU and Cuba. Ministers also welcomed the restoration of relations between the US and Cuba, and I made it clear in my intervention that Ireland sees the removal of Cuba from the US government’s state sponsors of terrorism list and the lifting of the embargo as vital steps to facilitate an opening of the island’s economy to the benefit of its people.
The historic developments of recent months have seen considerable progress in US-Cuba relations. We look forward to the ending of the embargo with the removal of all remaining inhibitions to trade and contact with Cuba.
194. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if information is regularly updated to advise Irish persons on safety concerns while visiting certain countries; if such information is widely circulated to the travel industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26804/15]
View answerTravel advice for individual countries worldwide, including the level of caution recommended, is publicly available to individuals and travel companies on the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade's website at https://www.dfa.ie/travel/travel-advice/.
This advice is published in order to make useful information available to assist Irish citizens in making well informed decisions when planning their trips and when travelling.
Through our network of Embassies, the Department closely monitors developments in countries to which they are accredited and consults with local actors in country and other EU and international partners to draw up the most appropriate travel advice and security status. The travel advice can advise citizens on events or developments in particular countries that it is felt they should be aware of whilst travelling or working abroad.
So as to ensure up to date and important information is provided to Irish citizens who consult these pages, the travel advice is reviewed and updated regularly and as may be necessary to reflect any immediate developments in the relevant countries.
The Department highlights and widely disseminates news on its travel advice and updates through the use of the twitter feed @dfatravel.
In addition to publishing travel advice, the Department operates a citizen registration facility. This facility allows Irish citizens to register their contact details with the Department so that they are easily contactable in the event of an emergency. Registration with this service is encouraged for all travelers, but is of particular use to people who are travelling to remote destinations or locations where they may be at a higher risk. Registration can be completed at https://www.dfa.ie/travel/citizens-registration.
195. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his Department has received any request for financial assistance from Galway City Council and Sligo County Council in respect of costs associated with the recent visit of members of the British royal family; if his Department had budgeted for the visit; the level of funding his Department plans to provide for Galway City Council and Sligo County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26820/15]
View answerThe recent significant visit to Ireland by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall celebrated the depth and potential of contemporary Irish-British links, while also acknowledging more difficult moments from the past.
Peace and reconciliation were key themes of this visit. The programme also highlighted modern research and educational links, as well as promoting Ireland’s cultural heritage and the attractions of the West of Ireland as a tourist destination.
Costs accruing to my Department from the visit by the Prince of Wales are being finalised. However, the issue of costs incurred by local authorities for high level visitors is not a matter for my Department.
196. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide, in tabular form, the expenses incurred by him from 2011 to date in 2015, including the date, expense type, description and amount; if each expense was vouched; his plans to introduce changes to the expenses system to ensure all expenses are fully vouched for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26997/15]
View answerThe following table sets out the mileage and subsistence expense paid to me as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and to my predecessor Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Eamon Gilmore T.D. in the period March 2011 to June 2015.
|
- |
IN OFFICE |
MILEAGE |
EXPENSE CLAIMS |
SUBSISTENCE |
|
2011 |
€ |
€ |
€ |
|
|
Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore T.D. |
March to Dec |
Nil~ |
Nil |
Nil |
|
2012 |
||||
|
Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore T.D. |
Jan to Dec |
Nil~ |
Nil |
€4,701.00 |
|
2013 |
||||
|
Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore T.D. |
Jan to Dec |
Nil~ |
Nil |
€3,273.00 |
|
2014 |
||||
|
Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore T.D. |
Jan to July |
Nil~ |
Nil |
€1,315.00 |
|
Minister Charles Flanagan T.D. |
July to Dec |
€6,573.00 |
€300# |
€1,999.00 |
|
2015 |
||||
|
Minister Charles Flanagan |
€8,792.00 |
Nil |
€3,212.00 |
~ Tánaiste Gilmore was provided with a State car and Garda drivers.
# - Additional motor insurance premium for use of personal vehicle for official business. This expenditure was vouched.
Tánaiste Gilmore was provided with a State car and Garda drivers. There is no official car provided to Minister Flanagan and the figures provided reflect the motor travel expenses claimed in respect of official travel undertaken, and processed subject to guidelines as set out by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
Subsistence payments in respect of official travel are paid in accordance with Department of Public Expenditure and Reform set subsistence rates.
The Department pays motor travel expenses and subsistence rates in accordance with Department of Public Expenditure and Reform guidelines. Other expenses claimed (e.g. taxi) outside these two categories must be fully vouched.
197. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills the supports in place to assist the technical and skills training, for example, boning and so on, of operatives in meat factories; if she will examine the establishment of an apprenticeship scheme in this area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26661/15]
View answerIt is considered international best practice for training in meat processing skills to be industry led and based in the workplace. Skillnets, the State funded industry-led training facilitator, includes two networks who provide training for Meat Industry Operatives - the Taste4Success Skillnet and Food and Drink Industry Ireland Skillnet. The Taste4Success Skillnet have delivered courses specifically for operatives in the meat industry, including an intensive 20 week course in Food Industry Skills: General Knife Skills; Food Industry Award in Beef and Pork Butchery Skills – FDQ/EQF – Level 3 Award; Operative skills – various operative skills; Supervisor Skills – Beef and Pork Butchery.
During 2015 they plan to deliver further knife and technical skills at various levels for member companies and Job Seekers looking to get into the sector. Food and Drink Industry Ireland (FDII) Skillnet has invested a significant amount of time around the development of a traineeship programme for knifing and boning skills. The key companies they have been working with are ABP, Kepak and Dawn Meats. There are certain elements of the programme that remain to be finalised, however it has not been possible to progress as the companies have not committed the requisite experienced knifers and deboners to deliver the training on-site. With regard to the question of apprenticeships in this area, it should be noted that, by its nature, apprenticeship is an employer-led initiative. Following on from the recent Review of Apprenticeship in Ireland, a new Apprenticeship Council was appointed by me in November 2014. The Council is made up of a wide variety of stakeholders and is industry-led. In January 2015, the Apprenticeship Council formally invited proposals for new apprenticeship programmes from consortia of enterprise, professional bodies and education and training providers. Over 80 separate proposals were received by the deadline of end March. These proposals have been evaluated by the Council and recommendations have, this week, been received by my Department for consideration. No proposal was received to develop a new apprenticeship for operatives in the meat processing industry.
