47 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the arrangements, if any, he is making to extend medical card eligibility to all persons over 70 years of age; and the negotiations, if any, he will enter into with general practitioners to address all relevant outstanding issues concerning the implementation of this decision and, in particular, to ensure a continuity of medical care of the elderly who are not presently eligible for the medical card.
[5785/99]
46 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will discharge the fees payable by student nurses undertaking a fourth year nursing undergraduate degree course and render them eligible for maintenance grants in view of the nursing shortages in hospitals and the proposal of the Commission on Nursing that a nationwide nursing degree programme be put in place to commence in 2002, to be funded in the same way as other undergraduate degree programmes in conjunction with the Department of Education and Science.
[4766/99]
44 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of persons on the waiting list at 31 December 1998 including the detailed in-patient hospital waiting lists in respect of each health board, each hospital within each health board area and each speciality within each hospital; and, if this information is not available, the reason for the delay in the collation of the necessary information and its furnishing to Members of Dáil Éireann.
[5784/99]
59 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of persons deleted from the hospital waiting lists as a consequence of the verification of waiting lists undertaken by hospitals and health boards prior to certifying the waiting list figures at 31 December 1998; the number deleted for the reason that those people on the waiting list (a) chose to have the procedure as a private patient or (b) died; and, of those who died, the number of adults and children concerned and the specialties in respect of which they were awaiting in-patient hospital treatment.
[5952/99]
48 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the psychiatric committal system operated under the Mental Treatment Act, 1945, has collapsed and that the Garda Síochána is not prepared to co-operate in the transfer to hospital of patients in respect of whom papers have been signed ordering them to be detained under section 184 of the Act; and the steps, if any, he proposes taking to address this difficulty.
[5786/99]
47 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the arrangements, if any, he is making to extend medical card eligibility to all persons over 70 years of age; and the negotiations, if any, he will enter into with general practitioners to address all relevant outstanding issues concerning the implementation of this decision and, in particular, to ensure a continuity of medical care of the elderly who are not presently eligible for the medical card.
[5785/99]
46 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will discharge the fees payable by student nurses undertaking a fourth year nursing undergraduate degree course and render them eligible for maintenance grants in view of the nursing shortages in hospitals and the proposal of the Commission on Nursing that a nationwide nursing degree programme be put in place to commence in 2002, to be funded in the same way as other undergraduate degree programmes in conjunction with the Department of Education and Science.
[4766/99]
44 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of persons on the waiting list at 31 December 1998 including the detailed in-patient hospital waiting lists in respect of each health board, each hospital within each health board area and each speciality within each hospital; and, if this information is not available, the reason for the delay in the collation of the necessary information and its furnishing to Members of Dáil Éireann.
[5784/99]
66 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the action, if any, he will take to end the unacceptable delays and chaos experienced by patients attending the accident and emergency departments of hospitals in recent weeks.
[2055/99]
66 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the action, if any, he will take to end the unacceptable delays and chaos experienced by patients attending the accident and emergency departments of hospitals in recent weeks.
[2055/99]
53 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources when the 1992 Torremolinos Protocol, which relates to the International Convention for the Safety of Fishing Vessels, will be signed.
[26564/98]
53 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources when the 1992 Torremolinos Protocol, which relates to the International Convention for the Safety of Fishing Vessels, will be signed.
[26564/98]
152 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will provide funds to St James's Hospital, Dublin 8, for an MRI scanner as requested by the hospital; and his views on whether the hospital has a need for this facility.
[23824/98]
152 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will provide funds to St James's Hospital, Dublin 8, for an MRI scanner as requested by the hospital; and his views on whether the hospital has a need for this facility.
[23824/98]
53 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to a difference of opinion between his Department and the Association of Electrical Contractors (Ireland) in relation to proposed terms for fixed price tendering; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that these differences could seriously delay work on many important infrastructural projects funded through his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19139/98]
53 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to a difference of opinion between his Department and the Association of Electrical Contractors (Ireland) in relation to proposed terms for fixed price tendering; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that these differences could seriously delay work on many important infrastructural projects funded through his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19139/98]
99 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of peri-natal deaths in hospitals in Cork city for each of the years from 1994 to date; and the investigation, if any, undertaken into the weight of the babies, the age of the mother, social status and pregnancy history in each instance.
[18988/98]
98 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the steps, if any, he will take to facilitate persons of 65 years and over obtaining health insurance from the Voluntary Health Insurance Board or BUPA; and the consideration, if any, given by him to proposing amendments to the relevant provisions contained in the Health Insurance Act, 1994.
[18987/98]
97 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will have investigations made into the reason, in 1994, a rate of 13.9 babies per one thousand born to women living within the Cork city boundary died in the first year of life as compared with an average of 5.7 babies per thousand nationally; and if consideration will be given to the reason Cork city has the highest infant mortality rate in the country in 1992 and 1993 according to statistics released by the Central Statistics Office.
[18986/98]
96 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of peri-natal deaths in Tralee General Hospital, County Kerry, in each of the years from 1995 to date; and the investigation, if any, undertaken into the weight of the babies, the age of the mother, social status and pregnancy history in each case.
[18985/98]
99 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of peri-natal deaths in hospitals in Cork city for each of the years from 1994 to date; and the investigation, if any, undertaken into the weight of the babies, the age of the mother, social status and pregnancy history in each instance.
[18988/98]
97 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will have investigations made into the reason, in 1994, a rate of 13.9 babies per one thousand born to women living within the Cork city boundary died in the first year of life as compared with an average of 5.7 babies per thousand nationally; and if consideration will be given to the reason Cork city has the highest infant mortality rate in the country in 1992 and 1993 according to statistics released by the Central Statistics Office.
[18986/98]
96 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of peri-natal deaths in Tralee General Hospital, County Kerry, in each of the years from 1995 to date; and the investigation, if any, undertaken into the weight of the babies, the age of the mother, social status and pregnancy history in each case.
[18985/98]
98 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the steps, if any, he will take to facilitate persons of 65 years and over obtaining health insurance from the Voluntary Health Insurance Board or BUPA; and the consideration, if any, given by him to proposing amendments to the relevant provisions contained in the Health Insurance Act, 1994.
[18987/98]
5 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the plans, if any, he has to introduce new regulations in relation to health warnings on tobacco products; his views on health warnings on all cigarette packets which state the product to be addictive; and the plans, if any, he has to classify nicotine in cigarettes as a drug.
[19017/98]
4 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the steps, if any, taken by him to address the financial crisis affecting Tallaght Hospital, Dublin 24.
[19016/98]
3 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on whether nurses are entitled to have extra qualifications fully recognised in their pay scale; the Government's policy in the referral of this issue to the Labour Court as recommended by the Commission on Nursing; and his views on whether nurses with extra or specialist qualifications are entitled to extra remuneration or allowances.
[19015/98]
1 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the discussions, if any, he had in his Department or the memo or documentation, if any, received prior to a decision being made to request the United Kingdom authorities to delay payment of a sum of £20 million due in December 1997 to January 1998 to reimburse his Department under EU regulations for the cost of health services provided to persons insured for health services in the United Kingdom; whether he was party to the letter sent in November 1997 requesting the United Kingdom authorities to delay payment and to the decision made following receipt of the sum of £20 million by the Central Bank on 16 December 1997 to delay issuing accounting instructions to the bank to credit these moneys to his Department's account until January 1998 to prevent this sum being brought to account as appropriations-in-aid in 1997 in order that the appropriation account for that year's Vote would not reflect the full receipts proper to 1997; and his views on whether conducting his Department's accounting processes accords with proper procedures and his obligation to properly account to Dáil Éireann.
[19014/98]
8 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Defence the plans, if any, he has for the Army Apprentice School; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17946/98]
219 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of patients awaiting cardiac bypass surgery; the number who have been awaiting this surgery for less than six months, between six and 12 months, in excess of 12 months and in excess of two years; the arrangements, if any, made by him to reduce this waiting list; and the projected position as at 31 December 1998.
[14275/98]
219 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of patients awaiting cardiac bypass surgery; the number who have been awaiting this surgery for less than six months, between six and 12 months, in excess of 12 months and in excess of two years; the arrangements, if any, made by him to reduce this waiting list; and the projected position as at 31 December 1998.
[14275/98]
8 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will provide details of his recent communication to the Rotunda Hospital, Dublin 1, regarding their embryo freezing programme and the reply, if any, received; the communication, if any, there has been between him, his Department and the medical director of Bourn Hall and those involved with the Clane clinic regarding the subject of embryo freezing; when it is proposed to introduce legislation on the new scientific methods of reproduction, and the status of the children born by use of these methods.
[14111/98]
7 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of dialysis stations that will be open for use in Tallaght Hospital on the designated opening day out of the total number of stations for which provision has been made in the hospital; the reason all dialysis stations or units as provided for will not be available for use on that day; the arrangements, if any, made to bring the latter dialysis stations into use; and the initiative, if any, he proposes taking with regard to the serious concerns expressed by the Irish Kidney Association in this regard.
[14110/98]
5 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the proposals, if any, there are to recall for further testing those women who were assumed to show false positives in their original tests in 1994 for hepatitis C, who were tested as a result of receiving contaminated anti-D blood products; whether there is a concern that these recipients of anti-D may, as a result of their exposure to hepatitis C, have suffered liver damage; whether his Department or the Blood Transfusion Service Board has made contact with those who may be so affected for the purpose of their undergoing further examination and testing; if not, whether it is intended to do so and when this will take place; the number of women who may be recalled; and the procedures, if any, he is putting in place or has put in place to address this matter.
[14109/98]
46 Mr. Shatter r asked the Minister for Defence the steps, if any, he will take to ensure that the Air Corps has sufficient personnel to staff marine rescue services; the position on the development of the east coast rescue service and the new services being developed in the Navy in association with the Department of Marine and Natural Resources to protect our fisheries.
[9041/98]
46 Mr. Shatter r asked the Minister for Defence the steps, if any, he will take to ensure that the Air Corps has sufficient personnel to staff marine rescue services; the position on the development of the east coast rescue service and the new services being developed in the Navy in association with the Department of Marine and Natural Resources to protect our fisheries.
[9041/98]
Bill entitled an Act to render it unlawful for any unauthorised person to sell, or offer for sale tickets for major sporting, musical or theatrical events for a price in excess of the officially designated price
5 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the instances that have occurred involving patients undergoing blood transfusions during 1997 receiving transfusions of a different blood type from their own or being given the wrong blood product due to a failure of proper practices and procedures by either the Blood Transfusion Service Board or any hospital in the State; the reason the recommendation made by the Finlay report to ensure a proper reporting system of such incidents has not been implemented; and the steps, if any, taken to avoid the recurrence of similar incidents in future.
[10390/98]
4 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the steps, if any, taken by him to date regarding the appointment of a permanent chief executive by the VHI; and his views on whether it is acceptable that a consultant acting as temporary chief executive costs £250,000 per annum.
[10387/98]
1 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children whether he will sanction additional funding for Tallaght hospital, Dublin 24, to ensure essential works are carried out to facilitate the opening of the hospital on 21 June 1998; if the operating theatres in the hospital will be fully and adequately equipped and the computer facilities properly functioning at the date of opening; and if he will give a guarantee that the hospital upon opening will fully meet the needs of the patients for whom it was constructed.
[10388/98]
17 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on the criticism raised that there is no public hospital which has medical oncology, radiotherapy and oncology surgery, with the backup of specially trained oncology nurses and support staff, available in the same institution and that Dublin is unique as a European capital city in not having an integrated comprehensive cancer centre involving all the range of disciplines and providing a centralised cancer care concept, while also ensuring that adequate services are available in other parts of the country.
[5940/98]
17 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on the criticism raised that there is no public hospital which has medical oncology, radiotherapy and oncology surgery, with the backup of specially trained oncology nurses and support staff, available in the same institution and that Dublin is unique as a European capital city in not having an integrated comprehensive cancer centre involving all the range of disciplines and providing a centralised cancer care concept, while also ensuring that adequate services are available in other parts of the country.
[5940/98]
16 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the progress, if any, that has been made by him with regard to the institution of court proceedings by this State and by each health board against tobacco companies for the damaging impact of their products on the health of those who use them; and if the Government intends to provide any financial assistance or protection for private citizens who are instituting or who have instituted civil court proceedings seeking damages against tobacco companies.
[5945/98]
13 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the action, if any, the Government proposes to take to ensure that reports of alleged child abuse or neglect when made to a health board are speedily investigated and assessed; his views on whether the Eastern Health Board is overwhelmed by these reports and incapable of a speedy response and on whether as a consequence of the growing crisis in this area hundreds of children who are the alleged victims of physical or sexual abuse and neglect remain at risk.
3 Mr. Shatter asked the Taoiseach which Minister has responsibility for children's legislation and child care services; the nature of the responsibilities relating to children vested in each Cabinet Minister and Minister of State in relation to children's legislation and children's services; and the reason, if any, for the change in Government policy in regard to ministerial responsibilities in this area.
[1926/98]
1 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children if he regards it as appropriate for a health board to invoke the Statute of Limitations in civil actions in which it is alleged that a health board was negligent in providing protection for children at risk; if he will issue a direction to each health board in the State not to invoke this statute in these cases; if he will arrange for the holding of an independent inquiry into the manner in which a family (details supplied) was treated by the North-Western Health Board in the period from 1978 to 1993 and that the terms of reference of any inquiry include a consideration of the legal strategy adopted by the health board in the court proceedings brought against it and the failure of the Department of Health and Children in the period from 1978 to 1993 to ensure that guidelines issued by it on child abuse comprehensively prescribed the appropriate steps to be taken by health boards in providing proper protection to children at risk.
[2257/98]
Act to grant immunity from civil liability to any person who in good faith reports a child to be a victim of abuse and containing provision to protect any person who makes such report from unfair dismissal from his or her employment
5 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children whether he will provide a cash injection of £3 million to avert a crisis in the Dublin hospitals accident and emergency services in the winter of 1997 in accordance with the request made by the Accident and Emergency Steering Group.
[19943/97]
4 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the extent of the risk of patients contracting new variant CJD from blood products supplied by the Blood Transfusion Service Board; whether all red blood cells will be filtered in order to eliminate the possibility of BSE related agents getting into blood products; the steps, if any, he is taking to ensure that the medical profession is vigilant in identifying possible cases of new variant CJD; and whether he intends to sanction additional consultative posts in virology and infectious diseases for the Blood Transfusion Service Board.
[20018/97]