Results 261-280 of 1,184,017 for in 'Dáil debates' OR (speaker:Violet-Anne Wynne OR speaker:Cathal Crowe OR speaker:Mattie McGrath OR speaker:Jack Chambers OR speaker:Alan Dillon OR speaker:Holly Cairns OR speaker:Sorca Clarke OR speaker:Martin Browne OR speaker:Matt Shanahan OR speaker:Brian Stanley OR speaker:Michael Healy-Rae OR speaker:Seán Crowe OR speaker:Joan Collins OR speaker:Brendan Howlin OR speaker:Seán Fleming OR speaker:Catherine Connolly OR speaker:Joe O'Brien OR speaker:James Browne OR speaker:Chris Andrews OR speaker:Thomas Gould OR speaker:Frank Feighan OR speaker:Paschal Donohoe OR speaker:Peter Fitzpatrick OR speaker:Noel Grealish OR speaker:Claire Kerrane OR speaker:Marc MacSharry OR speaker:Peter Burke OR speaker:Colm Brophy OR speaker:Chris Andrews6 OR speaker:Mary Butler OR speaker:Cian O'Callaghan OR speaker:Michael Creed OR speaker:Patrick O'Donovan OR speaker:Maurice Quinlivan OR speaker:Heather Humphreys OR speaker:Gino Kenny OR speaker:Fergus O'Dowd OR speaker:Mary Lou McDonald OR speaker:Mark Ward OR speaker:Willie O'Dea OR speaker:Neasa Hourigan OR speaker:Alan Kelly OR speaker:Seán Ó Fearghaíl OR speaker:Gary Gannon) in 'Committee meetings'

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Oct 2024)

David Cullinane: If there is a charge, it is not free.

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Oct 2024)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I have a question. Is it free or is it not free? Will the Minister explain because it is not coming across very clearly? The State is covering the costs of the products and the HRT.

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Oct 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: The cost of the medicine.

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Oct 2024)

Richard Boyd Barrett: But there is a margin. Who will pay the margin and how much will it be? How much is it likely to be? Why is the State not paying the margin?

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Oct 2024)

David Cullinane: I have the same question.

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Oct 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Deputies. It is the same question and the same answer. What we are doing is funding the costs of the medicines and the devices. What is not included is the GP visit, which is just as relevant. I know the Deputy is not asking about the GP visit but it is just as relevant because it is for a prescription. Half the country now has access to free GP care. For the other half...

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Oct 2024)

Róisín Shortall: What is the timeline involved? Is it years away?

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Oct 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: It is a bit away but it is certainly part of the planning. The latest information I have is St.Vincent's, that is, the national maternity hospital, is still the preferred location for that. On Deputy Boyd Barrett's point, sometimes a spirited response is required.

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Oct 2024)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I am all for that.

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Oct 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: I know you are. I was smiling because, like the Deputy, I speak to healthcare workers every day. He heard me repeatedly accept everything is not perfect. I am the first to admit that. We deal with it every day. We are about halfway through the journey that needs to be taken. It goes to something Deputy Healy-Rae was saying, which is that I am acutely aware the vast majority of the...

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Oct 2024)

Richard Boyd Barrett: It is not.

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Oct 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: I accept that and I am not suggesting everything is perfect. The Deputy talked of an application for a new CT scanner. That will be looked at. The capital budget is bigger than it has ever been. The Deputy did not say and may not have been told that last year and this year two new X-ray machines were funded, there is a national pelvic floor health centre in St.Michael's and additional...

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Oct 2024)

Róisín Shortall: On a point of order, everybody is pressed for time and the Minister is going way off the script.

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Oct 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: I will finish on this.

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Oct 2024)

Róisín Shortall: It is one thing to respond to points raised but the Minister is going way off the subject.

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Oct 2024)

Catherine Connolly: I was giving the Minister some leeway but there is no more leeway. The Minister has time to address the amendments. There is no time limit but we are not addressing the amendments and we are setting a precedent for other Members.

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Oct 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: We do not want to do that.

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Oct 2024)

Catherine Connolly: It has already been done. I gave some leniency but it would be helpful-----

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Oct 2024)

David Cullinane: The point is well made.

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Oct 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: Thank you. In section 1, amendment No. 1 is a consequential amendment to the preliminary and general part of the Bill, required as a result of amendments inserting the hormone replacement therapy provisions. Amendment No. 2 inserts a new Part 2 into the Bill, to provide for free hormone replacement therapy products related to menopause for certain women. It also provides a drafting...