Results 2,281-2,300 of 24,635 for speaker:Mary Harney
- Written Answers — Tribunals of Inquiry: Tribunals of Inquiry (11 May 2005)
Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 65, 74 and 141 together. On 1 September 2004 the Government, following a review of the timescales for all tribunals and inquiries, decided that the post mortem inquiry should furnish its final report not later than the 31 March 2005 and that the inquiry would then cease to exist. The chairman of the inquiry was so advised and subsequently delivered a report on...
- Written Answers — Accident and Emergency Services: Accident and Emergency Services (11 May 2005)
Mary Harney: Additional revenue funding of â¬70 million and additional capital funding of â¬10 million has been provided to support the actions identified to improve the delivery of accident and emergency services. The Health Service Executive, HSE, has been charged with responsibility to implement the actions identified in the ten point plan for accident and emergency services. There are also...
- Written Answers — Asthma Incidence: Asthma Incidence (11 May 2005)
Mary Harney: Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases of childhood and approximately 10% have experienced an attack of asthma at some stage. Across Europe the level of asthma has increased significantly and in this country has risen to 20% in young teenagers. There are many risk factors for asthma. It is considered as a complex disorder where genetics and the environment play an interacting role....
- Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (11 May 2005)
Mary Harney: The recently published Revised Estimates for Public Services set out the funding available to the Health Service Executive in 2005. This funding takes into account general factors such as pay and non-pay increases and allows for the continuance of service levels generally together with additional funding of â¬200 million for the following priority service areas: disability, accident and...
- Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (11 May 2005)
Mary Harney: The Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, HSE, which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act the executive has the responsibility to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. This includes responsibility for the funding of the Ballymun Health Centre, including the fit out and equipping of the facility....
- Written Answers — Hospital Staff: Hospital Staff (11 May 2005)
Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 70, 120, 133 and 159 together. The current phase of performance verification for the health sector is the fourth phase of the process set out in the Sustaining Progress agreement. The public service pay agreement provides that the final two phases of the benchmarking increases and the general round increases is dependent on verification of satisfactory...
- Written Answers — Tribunals of Inquiry: Tribunals of Inquiry (11 May 2005)
Mary Harney: I met recently with Judge Harding-Clarke who is chairing the Lourdes Hospital inquiry. She advised me that the work of the inquiry is at an advanced stage. I look forward to early receipt of its report. I have also met with representatives of Patient Focus, the advocacy group which represents, inter alia, former patients of the person referred to by the Deputy. I advised the group that I...
- Written Answers — Cancer Screening Programme: Cancer Screening Programme (11 May 2005)
Mary Harney: I am committed to the national rollout of a cervical screening programme in line with international best practice. International evidence demonstrates the proven efficacy of programmes that are effectively managed and meet quality assurance standards. Careful planning and consultation with relevant professional and advocacy stakeholders is required before I make definite policy decisions on a...
- Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (11 May 2005)
Mary Harney: My Department is not aware of any plans to close the maternity unit at Kerry General Hospital. I understand that management at Kerry General Hospital has taken steps to reassure staff in this regard. In fact, my Department has been informed that interviews were held in March of this year to recruit a permanent third obstetrician for the hospital. This appointment is being processed by the...
- Written Answers — Water Fluoridation: Water Fluoridation (11 May 2005)
Mary Harney: Fluoridation of public water supplies as a public health measure is accepted as being one of the most effective methods of ensuring against tooth decay. The World Health Organisation, WHO, recommends fluoridation of public water supplies and has stated that "fluoridation of water supplies, where possible, is the most effective public health measure for the prevention of dental decay". The WHO...
- Written Answers — Cancer Screening Programme: Cancer Screening Programme (11 May 2005)
Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 80 and 151 together. A new national cancer strategy is currently being finalised by the National Cancer Forum, a multi-disciplinary group of experts in oncology. As part of this work, the forum has reviewed all issues relating to screening, including examining specific diseases such as prostate and colorectal cancer. The forum is also developing criteria...
- Written Answers — Nursing Home Services: Nursing Home Services (11 May 2005)
Mary Harney: A tendering process has been completed to procure nursing home beds from the private sector to meet the needs of 500 people annually for intermediate care of up to six weeks. A total of 90 beds have been procured nationally to allow an annual throughput of 500 patients. My Department understands that the successful applicants have been notified by the Health Service Executive. Some 64...
- Written Answers — Accident and Emergency Services: Accident and Emergency Services (11 May 2005)
Mary Harney: I have already announced a series of measures which are being put in place to improve the delivery of accident and emergency services. These actions take a wide-ranging approach and are aimed at improving access to accident and emergency services, improving patient flows through accident and emergency departments, freeing up of acute beds and providing appropriate longer term care for...
- Written Answers — Hospital Procedures: Hospital Procedures (11 May 2005)
Mary Harney: In January 2003 the then Minister for Finance advised my predecessor that he had been approached by a charitable institution in County Kildare regarding the possibility of an American cosmetic-plastic surgeon carrying out operations free of charge on patients in Ireland. It was indicated that the person in question specialised in the treatment of children who were severely disfigured. I...
- Written Answers — Eating Disorders: Eating Disorders (11 May 2005)
Mary Harney: Persons presenting with eating disorders are generally treated through the local mental health services. Outpatient psychiatric services are provided from a network of hospitals, health centres, day hospitals and day centres. Where inpatient treatment is deemed necessary, it is provided in the local acute psychiatric unit or hospital, beds being allocated on the basis of patient need at any...
- Written Answers — Clinical Indemnity Scheme: Clinical Indemnity Scheme (11 May 2005)
Mary Harney: Discussions are continuing with the Irish Medical Organisation and the Irish Hospital Consultants Association on some residual issues concerning the clinical indemnity scheme. I am confident that these will be resolved in the near future. Earlier this year the Government indicated that it would consider supporting individual consultants who had been left without cover by the Medical Defence...
- Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (11 May 2005)
Mary Harney: Following a recommendation by the board of the Health Service Executive, HSE, I agreed to the appointment of Professor Brendan Drumm as the first chief executive of the HSE. Discussions are under way with Professor Drumm about the arrangements to be put in place to enable him to take up the appointment at the earliest possible date. The chairman of the HSE has also informed me that the...
- Written Answers — Hospital Charges: Hospital Charges (11 May 2005)
Mary Harney: On 1 January 2005, the public hospital statutory inpatient charge was increased by â¬10 to â¬55 per night, subject to a maximum of â¬550 in any 12 consecutive months. The charge for a visit to an accident and emergency department was also increased by â¬10 to â¬55. This increase in the accident and emergency charge will facilitate more appropriate attendances at accident and emergency...
- Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (11 May 2005)
Mary Harney: An organisational structure for the Health Service Executive was announced in November and is currently being implemented. The organisational structure of the executive is a matter for the board and chief executive officer of the executive, subject to the approval of the Department of Health and Children and the Department of Finance.
- Written Answers — Complementary Therapies: Complementary Therapies (11 May 2005)
Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 91, 116 and 153 together. At present there is no statutory regulatory framework for complementary therapists. The provision of all services to the public is currently subject to the supervision of the Director of Consumer Affairs and must conform to the requirements of consumer legislation. A national working group was established by my predecessor in May 2003...