Written Answers Nos. 284-301
284. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the bilateral meetings she has had with her EU counterparts over the past six months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26647/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince January of this year my Ministerial colleagues, Ministers of State Pat Breen and John Halligan and I have continued the Government's outreach agenda with Ireland's EU partners. Working closely with a range of EU partners has always been important for Ireland and continues to be a priority.
The following tables list the EU counterparts with whom we have recently engaged on issues related to current EU files at the Competitiveness and Trade Councils, bilateral trade relations and the position of the Irish Government in regard to the evolving Brexit negotiations. Over the same period we also had a significant number of non- EU meetings.
In addition to the bilateral meetings listed, my Ministerial colleagues and I engage with our EU counterparts on an ongoing basis at numerous EU related events.
Minister Heather Humphreys
|
Date of Meeting |
EU Counterpart |
|
25/01/2018 |
House of Commons Exiting the EU Committee chaired by Hilary Benn MP |
|
27/02/2018 |
Mr Didier Reynders Belgium, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs & European Affairs. |
|
27/02/2018 |
UK Minister of State in the Department for International Trade, Greg Hands MP |
|
15& 16/05/2018 |
Swedish Minister for EU Affairs and Trade Ann Linde |
|
22/05/2018 |
EU Trade Commissioner, Cecilia Malmstrom |
|
22/05/2018 |
EU Agriculture Commissioner, Phil Hogan |
|
24/05/2018 |
Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel |
|
13/06/2018 |
UK Minister of State at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Claire Perry MP |
|
13/06/2018 |
UK Secretary of State for International Trade Liam Fox MP and Minister of State in the Department for International Trade, Greg Hands MP. |
Minister Pat Breen
|
Date of Meeting |
EU Counterpart |
|
12/03/2018 |
EU Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society, Mariya Gabriel |
|
12/03/2018 & 28/05/2018 |
UK Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department of Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy Lord Henley |
|
14/03/2018 |
Scottish Cabinet Secretary for the Economy, Jobs, and Fair Work Keith Brown MSP |
|
10/04/2018 |
UK Minister for State for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries, Margot James |
|
15/05/2018 |
Netherlands State Secretary for Economic Affairs, Mona Keijzer |
|
28/05/2018 |
Czech Republic Minister for Industry and Trade, Tomáš Hüner |
|
28/05/2018 |
German Minister for Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy, Peter Altmaier |
|
11/06/2018 |
Polish Minister of Development and Investment, Jerzy Kwiecinski |
|
11/06/2018 |
Polish Minister of Enterprise and Technology, Jadwiga Emilewicz |
|
12/06/2018 |
Polish Minister of Entrepreneurship and Technology Marcin Ociepa |
|
12/06/2018 |
Czech Republic, Minister for Industry and Trade, Tomáš Hüner |
|
13/06/2018 |
Czech Republic Deputy Minister for Foreign Trade and European Union, Vladamir Bartl |
|
14/06/2018 |
Czech Republic State Secretary for EU Affairs Ales Chmelar |
Minister Halligan
|
Date of Meeting |
EU Counterpart |
|
02/02/2018 & 10/05/2018 |
Minister Sam Gyimah, Minister for Higher Education and Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation, UK |
|
02/02/2018 |
Minister Mika Lintilä, Minister of Economic Affairs, Finland |
|
02/02/2018 |
Minister Costas Fotakis, Minister for Research and Innovation, Greece |
|
02/02/2018 |
Italian Minister for Education, University and Research Professor Luigi Nicolais |
|
10/05/2018 |
Minister Sam Gyimah, Minister for Higher Education and Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation, UK |
285. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the actions she has taken to protect jobs at a company (details supplied); the supports in place for employees who will be made redundant; if she has spoken with the management of the company regarding these job losses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26690/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe announcement by Coca-Cola that it will be closing Athy International Concentrates, on a phased basis from September 2018 to December 2019, is very disappointing. While I very much regret this news, I welcome Coca Cola's stated commitment to making every effort to help those employees who will lose their jobs. This includes redundancy packages, as well as financial advice and re-training. Despite this disappointing decision, Coca-Cola has made it clear that it remains fully committed to its other facilities in Ireland. We understand more than half of the jobs that will be lost in Athy will transfer to its facility in Ballina, County Mayo.
The Government will also make every State support available to those impacted. The Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection is aware of the situation and we will be working collectively, across Government, to help these workers transition and find new employment opportunities. The IDA is engaging closely with senior management at Coca-Cola Ireland and I met last week with stakeholders in Athy, including local representatives, to discuss the issue.
This meeting was a useful opportunity to hear first-hand the impact that this announcement will have on Athy and the surrounding area as well as specific challenges Athy faces. At the meeting, I reiterated the Government's commitment to work towards bringing regional unemployment to within one percentage point of the national average. I am pleased that the Mid-East, as a region, is currently performing very strongly on that measure with an unemployment figure of 5.2% at the end of 2017.
The Government's role is to ensure that the right conditions are in place to allow enterprise to thrive. I was glad to see that everyone around the table in Athy – TDs, Councillors, the Local Authority, and local businesses – are committed to a collaborative approach to drive enterprise in the region.
From the Government's part, and to back the ambition and potential of all regions, I announced in April the opening of the second call of the Regional Enterprise Development Fund (REDF) which is worth €30 million.
Under the first round of the Regional Fund, the Co. Kildare Community Network Company secured significant funding to develop a Mid-East Regional Innovation 'Think-Space' to be located in Naas which will be a great support to start-ups and businesses emerging in Kildare and the wider Mid-East. Also, IT Carlow was successful in securing funding for the Insurtech Network Centre, which again will be an important asset to the Carlow/South Kildare area.
I want to see more successful projects from this Region under the second call of REDF. In addition, under Project Ireland 2040, the Government will continue to make this funding available on a rolling basis.
The support of the National Development Plan over coming years will be crucial to delivering on regional development potential, where three quarters of new growth is envisioned for places outside of Dublin by 2040. The Government recently launched four Funds under Project Ireland 2040 which will also help to ensure more balanced regional development and will stimulate renewal and investment in rural and urban areas, the environment and innovation. In particular, the €1 billion Rural Development Fund will support job creation in rural areas, address de-population of rural communities and support improvements in our towns, villages and their hinterlands that enhance the quality of life of communities and enhance their attractiveness for families who want to live and work there. A collaborative mindset along with the Regional Action Plans will be important mechanisms to ensure this funding will be targeted in the right areas.
286. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of orthodontic treatment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26185/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
287. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of orthodontic treatment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26186/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
288. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a cataract operation for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26189/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder 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 National Waiting List Management Policy, a standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, since January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
289. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a cataract operation for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26190/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder 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 National Waiting List Management Policy, a standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, since January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
290. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of orthodontic treatment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26192/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
291. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of orthodontic treatment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26193/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
292. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of orthodontic treatment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26194/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
293. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of orthodontic treatment for persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26195/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
294. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an application for a primary medical certificate by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26210/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy's question relates to an individual case, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
295. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when an application for increased home support services by a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will be processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26229/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
296. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of orthodontic treatment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26233/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
297. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of orthodontic treatment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26234/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
298. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of orthodontic treatment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26235/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
299. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of orthodontic treatment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26237/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
300. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of orthodontic treatment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26238/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
301. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of the charging of persons with medical cards for blood tests (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26247/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the terms of the current GMS contract, GPs are required to provide eligible patients with ''all proper and necessary treatment of a kind usually undertaken by a general practitioner and not requiring special skill or experience of a degree or kind which general practitioners cannot reasonably be expected to possess." There is no provision under the GMS GP contract for persons who hold a medical card or GP visit card to be charged for routine phlebotomy services provided by their GP which are required to either assist in the diagnosis of illness or the treatment of a condition.
The HSE has advised GPs that where a blood test forms part of the investigation or necessary treatment of a patient's symptoms or conditions, this should be free of charge for patients who hold a medical card or GP visit card. Notwithstanding this, I am aware that some GPs have begun to charge GMS patients for phlebotomy services in some circumstances.
This is a matter of concern for me as it has long been the position, under successive Governments, that no user charges should apply to GP services provided to GMS and GP visit card patients. If a patient who holds a medical card or GP visit card believes he or she has been incorrectly charged for routine phlebotomy services by his or her GP, then that patient may take the matter up with their HSE Local Health Office, who will investigate the complaint.
If the local office determines that the charge was inappropriate, it will inform the HSE Primary Care Reimbursement Service who will arrange to refund the cost of the blood test to the patient and recoup this amount from the GP. The local office will inform the GP of the decision to deduct the payment.
