Results 5,421-5,440 of 24,635 for speaker:Mary Harney

Departmental Bodies. (2 Mar 2006)

Mary Harney: Under section 31 of the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive must submit a service plan to the Department of Health and Children within 21 days of the publication of the Estimates. The service plan was submitted in line with this legislation on 8 December 2005. There was a further period of 21 days from its submission to either approve the plan or issue a direction to have it...

Departmental Bodies. (2 Mar 2006)

Mary Harney: The Deputy has made some valid points about the specifics in the plan. The HSE is a new organisation and has only been in existence for 14 months. Rather than the money being broken down along the lines of the old health board regions, I would like to see it broken down along more specific lines. I have communicated this to the HSE and in time that will happen. The plan is available on its...

EU Directives. (2 Mar 2006)

Mary Harney: Implementation of the European working time directive will necessitate the following reductions in the working hours of all doctors: a maximum of 58 hours per week from 1 August 2004; a maximum of 56 hours per week from 1 August 2007; and a maximum of 48 hours per week from 1 August 2009. The national task force on medical staffing was charged with examining how this directive could be...

EU Directives. (2 Mar 2006)

Mary Harney: Regarding negotiations under the auspices of the Labour Relations Commission, LRC, with non-consultant hospital doctors, I understand that good progress has been made. On the wider contract issue, we clearly wish to shrink the number of non-consultant hospital doctors and increase the number of consultants. I have received a very favourable reaction from many consultants to the concept of a...

EU Directives. (2 Mar 2006)

Mary Harney: Recently, Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown won approval for seven new consultants to implement what we are attempting through the contract discussions, including team working. Almost all of them are Irish people who have returned from positions in the US, which is very encouraging. I very much agree with the Deputy that it is not all about the salary. It is also about working conditions....

EU Directives. (2 Mar 2006)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8, 62 and 108 together. The provisions of the European working time directive as it relates to the working hours of doctors in training came into force on 1 August 2004. The relevant provisions were transposed into Irish law by way of the European Communities (Organisation of Working Time) (Activities of Doctors in Training) Regulations 2004. That will...

EU Directives. (2 Mar 2006)

Mary Harney: I do not have an answer to Deputy Twomey's question, unless one takes into account the experience in respect of the seven recent consultant appointments in Blanchardstown. I understand all the appointees came from overseas, mainly from the United States. There are many Irish doctors in the United States, Canada and other countries and many of them might be attracted home. However, much would...

Vaccination Programme. (2 Mar 2006)

Mary Harney: Information provided by the Health Service Executive indicates that the total cost to the State of introducing free influenza vaccinations for the entire population would be more than €160 million a year, based on certain assumptions about the cost of the vaccine and GP fees. However, vaccination for the entire population against seasonal influenza is not currently recommended and there...

Vaccination Programme. (2 Mar 2006)

Mary Harney: I understand the WHO recommends there should be an uptake of 75% among the at-risk groups. It recommends that this target should be achieved by 2010. I am sorry not to have uptake figures and I will try to acquire them for the Deputy. I also lack data pertaining to adverse effects. While I am told the vaccine is effective in up to 90% of cases, I do not know what the adverse effects might be.

Vaccination Programme. (2 Mar 2006)

Mary Harney: I am not in a position to give Deputy Ó Caoláin an update. As for the cost of extending free vaccinations to the group referred to by Deputy McManus, as we have seen in respect of the over-70s medical card, if one announces that something will be made available to a class of citizen by virtue of the class rather than on the basis of economic circumstances, one ends up paying substantially...

Vaccination Programme. (2 Mar 2006)

Mary Harney: We might give consideration to the measure, especially if we could deliver it at a cost of €19 million. However, I suspect that were we to take such an approach, it would cost much more to include the group in question. Clearly, our aim is to have a 70% uptake among the at-risk group by 2010, which has great benefits. Members are all aware, from their experiences with elderly people, that...

Vaccination Programme. (2 Mar 2006)

Mary Harney: If it is in order, I will return to the Deputy on this matter.

Health and Safety Regulations. (2 Mar 2006)

Mary Harney: All employers, including the Health Service Executive and hospitals, are obliged to adhere to the requirements set out in health and safety legislation and to ensure the safety, health and welfare of their staff. Hospitals must also ensure that patients and visitors are not exposed to risks to their safety, health and welfare. Under existing legislation any hazards must be risk assessed and...

Health and Safety Regulations. (2 Mar 2006)

Mary Harney: First, by way of clarification, there is no outbreak of tuberculosis. The report mentioned in newspapers today is three years old and the figures mentioned are for a five-year period. I recently communicated with Professor Drumm on MRSA in hospitals and on informing patients and putting strategies in place. It is the intention of the HSE — it is currently doing this in some cases — to...

Health and Safety Regulations. (2 Mar 2006)

Mary Harney: I am not familiar with Dr.McConkey's observations. First, to refer to Deputy Ó Caoláin's comments, of course I am not suggesting there would not be any visiting but it is unreasonable to have virtually open door visiting from maybe 10 a.m., and sometimes earlier, until 10 p.m. That is difficult for staff but particularly for patients. Certainly in places where patients are sharing rooms, it...

Health and Safety Regulations. (2 Mar 2006)

Mary Harney: I have got over it. I have forgiven them.

Health and Safety Regulations. (2 Mar 2006)

Mary Harney: Policies change. The new paediatric facilities must provide for parents to stay with the children. Policies change in this area all the time. Certainly I am told by many people at hospital level, and I know from patients, that there can be difficulties if there is open access. Confining visiting times to particular hours, if that is possible, is in everybody's interests. Clearly we must do...

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (2 Mar 2006)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 and 17 together. On 3 February last, the Health Service Executive published a report, prepared by McKinsey & Co., on the delivery of tertiary paediatric services in this country. This report was commissioned by the HSE at my request in the context of decisions to be taken on the possible relocation of the facilities at Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children,...

Written Answers — Health Levy: Health Levy (2 Mar 2006)

Mary Harney: The health contribution was introduced by virtue of the Health Contributions Act 1979 and came into effect on 6 April of that year. The contributions are levied on income at a percentage rate set in pursuance of the Health Contributions Act and proceeds are paid to the Minister for Health and Children in aid of the Vote for the Health Service Executive. The current rate of contribution is 2%...

Written Answers — Organ Retention: Organ Retention (2 Mar 2006)

Mary Harney: The Madden Report on Post Mortem Practice and Procedures contained 50 recommendations. Some of the recommendations, such as the formulation of human tissue legislation, are a matter for my Department. Others, such as an audit of organs retained in hospitals, are a matter for the HSE, and others fall under the aegis of other agencies, for example, the coroners legislation, is a matter for the...