Results 4,981-5,000 of 24,635 for speaker:Mary Harney

Written Answers — Ambulance Service: Ambulance Service (1 Feb 2006)

Mary Harney: The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, the Department has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Order of Business. (2 Feb 2006)

Mary Harney: It is proposed to take No. 12, proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the draft Companies (Auditing and Accounting) Act 2003 (Prescribed Accountancy Bodies) Regulations 2006, which is back from committee; No. 15, Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005 [Seanad] — Second Stage (resumed); No. 1, Air Navigation (Eurocontrol) Bill 2005 [Seanad] — Second Stage; and No. 2, University College Galway...

Order of Business. (2 Feb 2006)

Mary Harney: I am not in a position to respond for Deputy Ned O'Keeffe.

Order of Business. (2 Feb 2006)

Mary Harney: As regards the proposed development at the Mater site, there is no question of any money being wasted on a new hospital. It is essential for the Mater, as one of the country's oldest hospitals. There are four hospitals in Dublin from which tertiary paediatric facilities are supplied to children from throughout the country. I do not believe there is any other place in the world with a similar...

Order of Business. (2 Feb 2006)

Mary Harney: It is not late in the day. What was proposed was a new hospital for Crumlin costing €400 million and one for Temple Street, which would cost another €200 million. It might well be that we can get the right answer for much less. The HSE, with my approval, commissioned a consultancy report which it received yesterday. It is being discussed this morning at the HSE board meeting. I will be...

Order of Business. (2 Feb 2006)

Mary Harney: As regards the M50, with which I am more than familiar, as the Deputy is aware, the decisions on the announcements made last Friday were made by the National Roads Authority. As regards Bord na gCon, obviously——

Order of Business. (2 Feb 2006)

Mary Harney: My understanding is that the NRA issued a letter last Friday, and for some reason——

Order of Business. (2 Feb 2006)

Mary Harney: ——that letter was leaked to a Sunday newspaper on Friday afternoon. I understand that is how the matter came into the public domain.

Order of Business. (2 Feb 2006)

Mary Harney: As regards Bord na gCon, clearly serious issues are involved from what we hear. Like the Deputy, I have had a good deal of anonymous correspondence about dogs and I must admit I do not know much about them.

Order of Business. (2 Feb 2006)

Mary Harney: I took a phone call from a leading journalist last Friday night asking whether I had a dog, which I took to be a joke. I do not have such an animal anyway. The Minister, Deputy Noel Dempsey, says he does not even have one as a pet. The Minister has appointed Mr. Tim Dalton, the former Secretary General of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. I understand he will conduct a full...

Order of Business. (2 Feb 2006)

Mary Harney: The appointment of a Minister of State is a matter for the Taoiseach. The Taoiseach must put a name before the Government for its approval and that has not yet happened. No Government meeting is planned for today, tomorrow, Saturday, Sunday or Monday.

Order of Business. (2 Feb 2006)

Mary Harney: There will be a meeting on Tuesday so I will ensure the Taoiseach is made aware of the Deputy's interest. The roads Bill will be published this year, the building societies Bill will be published this session and there are no plans, to the best of my knowledge, to amend the freedom of information legislation.

Order of Business. (2 Feb 2006)

Mary Harney: It is always good if these issues are discussed in the House. That can happen on this occasion if there is agreement.

Order of Business. (2 Feb 2006)

Mary Harney: Many aspects of the agreement come before the House for discussion. The Deputy should raise the matter with the Whips. My view is that it would be good to have a debate on the partnership agreement in the House.

Order of Business. (2 Feb 2006)

Mary Harney: I dealt with this matter previously. As the Minister for Education and Science has made clear, hostels are not covered by the legislation.

Order of Business. (2 Feb 2006)

Mary Harney: I am aware that Marie Therese O'Loughlin was also in another institution which is covered by the legislation but no abuse took place in that institution. That is the real issue. We cannot extend the redress scheme to hostels and other such places, even for one case. It would be a major——

Order of Business. (2 Feb 2006)

Mary Harney: The Bills are to be published in this session. That information was given to the Deputy yesterday.

Order of Business. (2 Feb 2006)

Mary Harney: It will be ready this year.

Order of Business. (2 Feb 2006)

Mary Harney: The Attorney General did not suggest that random breath testing was unconstitutional. His advice was that there were constitutional issues and it had to be dealt with in a certain way. Legislation is necessary. Of course, gardaí are free to establish checkpoints where they believe they are appropriate, but the Attorney General has advised that to ensure clarity and certainty, new legislation...

Order of Business. (2 Feb 2006)

Mary Harney: Not on a widespread scale.