Written Answers Nos. 1058 - 1070
1058. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive a decision on their application for a medical card; the reason for the delay in making a decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31682/15]
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, will he please contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them.
1059. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive a decision on their medical card application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31683/15]
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, will he please contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them.
1060. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health if his Department officials, his advisers or he will consider and discuss a proposal for a national care commission that his Department received in March 2015, a proposal that seeks to strengthen and clarify the legal framework and oversight for the care of vulnerable adults in the State being in both Health Service Executive and private centres or homes. [31716/15]
View answerMy Department is aware of this proposal received some time ago, and now raised by the Deputy. The Deputy will be aware that a number of statutory safeguards exist in relation to health and personal social service provision generally. These include, for example, the Health Information & Quality Authority (HIQA), the Mental Health Commission, the Health and Social Care Professional Act, 2005, and the promotion of Patient Safety and Quality on many fronts. In the circumstances, I do not intend to pursue this proposal.
1061. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding an appointment for a heart transplant at Cork University Hospital for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31723/15]
View answerThe Deputy's question relates to service delivery matters and accordingly I have asked the HSE to respond directly to him.
If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days will he please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow up the matter with them.
1063. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if his Department has undertaken a health impact assessment of the transatlantic trade and investment partnership, particularly on the future ability of his Department to develop the health system, introduce universal health care and to implement public health policy in areas such as tobacco and obesity; the outcome of the assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31728/15]
View answer1064. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if health sector exclusions from the transatlantic trade and investment partnership have been sought by him; if so, the details of these exclusions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31729/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1063 and 1064 together.
The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) is a free trade and investment treaty currently being negotiated between the European Union and the USA.
The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation (DJEI) leads on negotiations for Ireland. DJEI commissioned Copenhagen Economics to prepare a report on TTIP and its impact in Ireland. This report is available on the Department's website http://www.djei.ie/trade/tradepolicy/news.htm.
The EU’s mandate to negotiate the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) states that services supplied in the exercise of governmental authority as defined by Article I.3 of General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) shall be excluded from these negotiations. Both chief negotiators confirmed after the 7th Round of negotiations that no commitments will be taken on public services.
On the 20th March 2015, EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström and the US Trade Representative Michael Froman confirmed in a joint statement that trade agreements do not prevent governments from providing or supporting services in areas such as water, education, health, and social services. On the 8 July 2015, the European Parliament adopted a resolution which built on this statement to exclude current and future Services of General Interest as well as Services of General Economic Interest from the scope of application of TTIP. This includes but is not limited to water, health, social services, social security systems and education, to ensure that national authorities retain the right to introduce, adopt, maintain or repeal any measures with regards to the commissioning, organisation, funding and provision of public services as provided in the Treaties as well as in the EU's negotiating mandate. The resolution also stated that this exclusion should apply irrespective of how the services are provided and funded.
On the 16 September 2015, the European Commission published the text of its proposal for the Investment Chapter of TTIP. It will be presented as the EU text proposal in the EU-US trade talks following consultation with the Council and discussion with the European Parliament. DJEI informs my Department that the proposal states that the right to regulate to achieve legitimate policy objectives such as the protection of public health is preserved; the proposal also clarifies that investment protection provisions shall not be interpreted as a commitment from governments not to change their legal framework, including in a manner that may negatively affect the investor’s expectations of profits.
As negotiations progress my Department continues to liaise with DJEI to consider potential impacts for the health sector. It would not be appropriate for me to comment specifically on matters which are currently under deliberation and are being treated as confidential. My Department welcomes the views of stakeholders in the interests of assessing the potential implications of TTIP for health.
1065. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the steps he took in relation to allegations of abuse of authority brought to his attention (details supplied). [31731/15]
View answerMy Department has examined the issues raised and provided advice to the organisation concerned in relation to the most appropriate course of action.
1066. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that some consultants are refusing to provide their patients' details of medical reports of their illness which is required when applying for a medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31733/15]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on the matter. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, will he please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
1068. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will examine and expedite an application for a medical card by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31740/15]
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, will he please contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them.
1069. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Health when he will appoint an audiologist at the Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore, County Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31744/15]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days will she please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
1070. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Health when he will appoint a nephrologist at the Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore, County Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31745/15]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days will she please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
