Results 6,701-6,720 of 24,635 for speaker:Mary Harney

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (1 Jun 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, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (1 Jun 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, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Vaccination Programme: Vaccination Programme (1 Jun 2006)

Mary Harney: I am well aware of the potential consequences of pneumococcal infection. Ireland's recommended immunisation programme is based on the guidelines of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland. These guidelines are prepared with the assistance of an active committee from associated disciplines in paediatrics, infectious diseases, general practice...

Written Answers — National Health Strategy: National Health Strategy (1 Jun 2006)

Mary Harney: The National Health Strategy Quality and Fairness — A Health System for You was announced by the Government in 2001 to provide vision and strategic direction for the health and personal social services. The Strategy sets out the key objectives for the health system up to 2010, which are centred on four national goals: ·Better Health For Everyone ·Fair Access ·Responsive and Appropriate...

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (1 Jun 2006)

Mary Harney: It is understood from the Health Service Executive (HSE) that the statistics the Deputy has requested are not kept in this format and are not available. The assessment of eligibility to medical cards is statutorily a matter for the HSE and is determined following an examination of the income and medical need of the applicant and his/her dependants. Under Section 45 of the Health Act 1970...

Written Answers — Cancer Screening Programme: Cancer Screening Programme (1 Jun 2006)

Mary Harney: I am fully committed to the national roll out of a cervical screening programme in line with international best practice. My Department has requested the Health Service Executive to prepare a detailed implementation plan for a national programme. The plan is to have cervical screening managed as a national call/recall programme via effective governance structures that provide overall...

Written Answers — Hospital Staff: Hospital Staff (1 Jun 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 (HSE) under the Health Act 2004. It has not been possible for the Health Service Executive to compile the information requested by the Deputy in the time available. My Department has requested the HSE to provide the information...

Written Answers — Ambulance Service: Ambulance Service (1 Jun 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, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (1 Jun 2006)

Mary Harney: As the Deputy will be aware, the Health (Repayment Scheme) Bill 2006 and the Health (Nursing Homes)(Amendment) Bill 2006 are currently being debated in the Oireachtas and I expect that they will be enacted during the current Dáil. The following Bills are those which I intend to publish before the end of 2006 and have enacted during the lifetime of the current Dáil:

Written Answers — Primary Care: Primary Care (1 Jun 2006)

Mary Harney: A review is being conducted at present under the auspices of the Labour Relations Commission of the contractual arrangements for the provision of general practitioner services to General Medical Services (GMS) clients and for the provision of other publicly funded GP services. It is intended that the outcome of the review should provide the basis into the future for the delivery of...

Written Answers — Hospital Waiting Lists: Hospital Waiting Lists (1 Jun 2006)

Mary Harney: The judgement to which the Deputy refers, known as the "Watts case", relates to the question of prior authorisation for hospital treatment abroad where a patient would otherwise be subject to undue delay in their country of residence. My Department is studying the implications of the ruling and has had a preliminary meeting with the HSE to review current practices. My main concern is to...

Written Answers — Hospital Staff: Hospital Staff (1 Jun 2006)

Mary Harney: The aim of the negotiations on the new consultants' contract is to resolve a number of key elements of the current system in order to promote equity of access, organisational improvements, flexible work practices and more clinical involvement in, and responsibility for, management programmes. Talks on a new contract commenced on 24th November 2005 under the independent chairmanship of Mr....

Written Answers — Primary Care: Primary Care (1 Jun 2006)

Mary Harney: I am advised by the Health Service Executive (HSE) that Work has been underway over the last year under the auspices of Co-Operation and Working Together (CAWT) to introduce Cross-Border co-operation in the area of GP out of hours services. Interreg funding has been obtained for the project. This service will be of benefit to people across the border area who live closer to a GP out of hours...

Written Answers — Cancer Screening Programme: Cancer Screening Programme (1 Jun 2006)

Mary Harney: I have met with representatives of BreastCheck and they are fully aware of my wish to have a quality assured programme rolled out to the remaining regions in the country as quickly as possible. For this to happen, essential elements of the roll out must be in place including adequate staffing, effective training and quality assurance programmes. I have made available additional revenue...

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (1 Jun 2006)

Mary Harney: In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of births by caesarean section in Ireland. Approximately one in five births are now performed through this procedure. The decision to perform a caesarean section is a clinical one that is taken by qualified medical practitioners. Reasons suggested for the increasing caesarean rates include more widespread availability of foetal...

Written Answers — Primary Care: Primary Care (1 Jun 2006)

Mary Harney: The HSE has informed me that in November 2005, a sub-committee of the Executive's National Primary and Community Care Reform Working Group was established to review the current status of GP access to diagnostics; to explore current and potential capacity; and make short, medium and long-term recommendations. I am advised that work is being undertaken at present to progress two specific...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (1 Jun 2006)

Mary Harney: The HSE CEO has supported the recommendations of the Internal Audit Unit's review and report in respect of PPARS' recruitment of the companies providing computer consultancy services (technical contractors) and acknowledged that deviation from official public procurement policy is not acceptable. The recommendations of the Internal Audit Unit's report are being implemented and together with...

Written Answers — Hospital Staff: Hospital Staff (1 Jun 2006)

Mary Harney: Talks on a new hospital consultant contract commenced on 24th November 2005 under the independent chairmanship of Mr. Mark Connaughton SC. At that meeting, and at a further plenary meeting in December, both the IHCA and the IMO indicated that they required a number of issues to be addressed before they could engage in substantive negotiations on a new contract. Proposals for a new employment...

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (1 Jun 2006)

Mary Harney: Information supplied to my Department by the Health Service Executive (HSE) indicates that as at 29th May 2006 there were 16,920 persons holding a GP visit card. Since 2005, I have made significant improvements to the way in which people's eligibility for medical cards and GP visit cards is assessed. In January 2005, I increased the income guidelines used in the assessment of medical card...

Written Answers — Public Health: Public Health (1 Jun 2006)

Mary Harney: Iodine tablets offer protection from radioactive iodine of which iodine-131 is normally the most significant in terms of radiation dose. Radioactive iodine is no longer produced at Sellafield since the closure of the Calder Hall reactors in March 2003 and there is no iodine-131 stored in the HASTs (highly active storage tanks). An accident at Sellafield would not result in a release of...