Written Answers Nos. 182-191
182. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the progress to date in determining an application for a medical card for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27983/15]
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.
183. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the current position regarding an application for a medical card by a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27984/15]
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.
184. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the progress to date in determining an application for a medical card for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27986/15]
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.
185. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the progress to date in determining an application for a medical card for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27992/15]
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.
186. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Health the measures that are in place to combat obesity; his views on the concerns raised by a person (details supplied) in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27996/15]
View answerIn recognition of the challenges caused by obesity, the Department of Health is currently developing an Obesity Policy and Action Plan. A National consultation day was held recently and further consultation is being organised. The fiscal, marketing and educational issues raised in the correspondence will be considered as part of the Obesity Policy and Action Plan.
187. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the progress to date in determining an application for a medical card for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27998/15]
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 Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health his plans to hold a public consultation on the transposition of the European Union tobacco products directive; the timeframe for the transposition of the directive into Irish law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28001/15]
View answerThe revised Tobacco Products Directive came into force in May 2014 following approval by the European Parliament. The Directive sets out rules for tobacco products and e-cigarettes, including labelling and packaging, ingredients and emissions, traceability and security features, which member States must transpose into national law by 20th May 2016.
In addition, the Directive contains a number of discretionary measures which Member States may implement if they so wish. My Department, as part of its considerations of the options, will shortly conduct a public consultation to obtain the views of interested parties. This consultation will inform decisions regarding the possible transposition of those measures, if any, alongside the mandatory elements.
My Department is working in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General to meet the 2016 deadline.
189. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if Ireland has responded directly to any of the concerns raised by various European Union member states to the Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2014 during the European Union notification procedure; if there has been any follow-up correspondence on this issue from or to any of the European Union member states in question; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28002/15]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Act 2015 was passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas and signed into law by the President on 10 March 2015.
Prior to enactment, the draft legislation was formally notified to the Commission and to Member States under the EU Technical Standards Directive (98/34/EC) and the Tobacco Products Directive (2014/40/EU) on 17 June 2014. Detailed opinions on the proposed measures were received from a number of Member States.
A response was drafted by officials in my Department, in consultation with the relevant Government Departments, and was submitted to the Commission on 26 January 2015. A further comment was received from one Member State. The Commission has not issued any comment on the matter.
The Government considers that the Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Act 2015 is a justified and proportionate public health measure. It is one of a suite of measures being put in place by Ireland to reduce the number of people smoking in order to meet the target of achieving a Tobacco Free Ireland (i.e. a prevalence rate of less than 5%) by 2025.
190. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health the cost incurred to date by the State in legal actions in respect of tobacco plain packaging; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28011/15]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is not immediately available. The information will be compiled and forwarded to the Deputy once it becomes available.
191. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 218 of 1 July 2015, if he will publish the memorandum of understanding referred to in the reply. [28017/15]
View answerThe Memorandum of Understanding was made publicly available on 27th February 2015. A copy will be sent directly to the Deputy.
