Results 22,341-22,360 of 24,635 for speaker:Mary Harney

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (15 Jun 2010)

Mary Harney: I wish to advise the Deputy that due to industrial action affecting the Health Service Executive it is not possible for the Executive to supply the information requested. If this matter remains of continuing concern to you, however, I would invite you to raise it with me again in due course.

Written Answers — Vaccination Programme: Vaccination Programme (15 Jun 2010)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 286 and 287 together. The issues raised by the Deputy are service issues which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive. I wish to advise the Deputy that due to industrial action affecting the HSE, it is not possible for the Executive to supply responses to all the queries raised. If this matter remains of continuing concern to you, however, I...

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (15 Jun 2010)

Mary Harney: The Government's decision to limit the funding available to the Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) was made in view of the current position of the public finances and the 60% increase in expenditure in the DTSS over the past five years. The Health Service Executive (HSE) has introduced measures to contain DTSS expenditure at the 2008 level of approximately €63 million. Under the new...

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (15 Jun 2010)

Mary Harney: The HSE is in the process of initiating a review of cases over the past five years to determine the number of patients who were recommended drug or surgical treatment when the diagnosis of miscarriage was made in error, and where subsequent information demonstrated that the pregnancy was viable. The terms for the conduct of the review are being finalised at present and will be made public...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (16 Jun 2010)

Mary Harney: As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (16 Jun 2010)

Mary Harney: I regret that due to industrial action I am not in a position to provide a substantive response to your Parliamentary Question. If this matter remains of continuing concern to you, however, I would invite you to raise it with me again in due course.

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (16 Jun 2010)

Mary Harney: I am informed by the Health Service Executive (HSE) that the hospital in question undertook an independent internal Review which was led and chaired by an independent external reviewer. Once this report was completed it was sent by the hospital to the family concerned in February 2010. I understand that the hospital is in the process of implementing the recommendations of the report of the...

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (16 Jun 2010)

Mary Harney: The HSE is aware of the challenges currently being experienced by Tallaght Hospital in relation to dermatology services and is actively in discussion with the hospital with a view to putting an action plan in place which will allow for the resumption of referrals for dermatology patients, both adult and paediatric, as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (16 Jun 2010)

Mary Harney: As the Deputy's question relates to service matters it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Written Answers — Hospital Staff: Hospital Staff (16 Jun 2010)

Mary Harney: The Incentivised Scheme of Early Retirement (ISER) in the public health sector, announced by the Minister for Finance in his Supplementary Budget Statement of 7 April 2009 is now closed. As the Minister for Finance indicated in his Financial Statement on Supplementary Budget day, this is the only voluntary early retirement scheme that the Government intends to make available in the civil and...

Written Answers — General Medical Services Scheme: General Medical Services Scheme (16 Jun 2010)

Mary Harney: I take it that the Deputy is referring to the announcement in Budget 2010 that, in order to address rising costs in the General Medical Scheme (GMS) scheme, and to influence to some degree demand and prescribing patterns, a 50 cent charge per prescription item would be introduced, subject to a monthly ceiling of €10 per family. The full details of the prescription charges will be set out in...

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (16 Jun 2010)

Mary Harney: I have asked the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists to prepare a report for me concerning the practice of symphysiotomy in Ireland. I have asked that the report would: provide the Institute's assessment of the circumstances in which symphysiotomy was carried out in Irish obstetric units; indicate what protocols or guidance existed over the years to guide professional practice; and...

Written Answers — Hospital Waiting Lists: Hospital Waiting Lists (16 Jun 2010)

Mary Harney: As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Written Answers — Food Safety: Food Safety (16 Jun 2010)

Mary Harney: EU food labelling requirements look to provide consumers with the information needed to make informed choices and to make safe use of food. A key principle underlying the labelling of food is that the purchaser must not be misled. The information on the label must be clear and unambiguous and must not be such as could mislead the consumer to a material degree. Novel foods and the use of...

Written Answers — Voluntary Health Insurance: Voluntary Health Insurance (16 Jun 2010)

Mary Harney: A key element of the Government's strategy for the future of the private health insurance market is to establish VhI Healthcare in a position where it is authorised by the Financial Regulator and therefore regulated for prudential solvency purposes on the same basis as its competitors. The Government has committed to making a substantial capital investment into the VHI in order to secure its...

Seanad: Provision of Health Services by the HSE: Statements (16 Jun 2010)

Mary Harney: It is a great pleasure to be here to discuss the health services. I propose to make some opening comments to set the context of what we are doing with our health services and then, by way of reply, to deal with the issues raised by Senators. One measurement used in any country to establish the quality of health services is life expectancy. When we joined the EU, life expectancy in Ireland...

Seanad: Provision of Health Services by the HSE: Statements (16 Jun 2010)

Mary Harney: I have seen fantastic examples of more being done for less. Senator Quinn is well experienced in this from a business perspective. When people apply their minds to how they can do things differently and in a more innovative way, it is amazing what can happen. For example, with less money this year Beaumont Hospital has treated more patients than last year. It has fewer inpatient beds and...

Seanad: Provision of Health Services by the HSE: Statements (16 Jun 2010)

Mary Harney: That is how parents feel when they experience a terrific, successful outcome to their child's serious illness. Well-informed patients also have that perspective and the challenge for us in politics is to support the best outcome for patients whatever than involves for us as politicians. It requires courage and leadership but there never has been a better time to show that than in the...

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (17 Jun 2010)

Mary Harney: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — National Treatment Purchase Fund: National Treatment Purchase Fund (17 Jun 2010)

Mary Harney: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. As the Deputy may be aware, subject to the resources available to it, the National Treatment Purchase Fund arranges treatment for patients who have been on a surgical waiting list for more than three months. It is open to the person in question or anyone acting on their behalf to contact the Fund directly in...