Results 8,621-8,640 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Leaders' Questions (16 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: It is deeply regretted that any patient referred to a hospital with possible symptoms of cancer was subjected to a delay in diagnosis.

Leaders' Questions (16 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: As we know, the earlier the diagnosis of a cancer is made and treatment commences, the better for the prognosis. The Minister has been assured by the Health Service Executive that any patient referred to St. Luke's for an endoscopy which was considered urgent by a doctor is given an urgent appointment and is seen within a week or two. That is the stated policy of the organisation. Urgent...

Leaders' Questions (16 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Very regrettably, it was not. Susie Long concluded, from her conversation of that day, that it was because she was a public patient. I can understand that, but that is not the practice or the policy. I do not want to repeat the data to Deputy Gilmore but enormous resources are being put into the health services. In the period I have been Taoiseach, they have increased from approximately...

Leaders' Questions (16 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Most of that figure goes towards staff, with almost 120,000 staff employed to provide services in what is a relatively small country.

Leaders' Questions (16 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I have acknowledged some of the services which we do not have but resources are being prioritised and given to certain services such as those related to cancer. BreastCheck alone has received €60 million in additional funds in the past decade. As part of the capital programme, €27 million was spent on services last year.

Leaders' Questions (16 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Resources are improving services but is it perfect? Are there services in every part of the country? At this stage there are not but I have outlined why the reform programme is necessary. One of the aspects of the reform is based on the continuous advice that we are better having centres of excellence in fewer locations, where all ancillary services and all the medical and surgical...

Leaders' Questions (16 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: ——but that is not the advice of any international group which has looked at the matter. The Health Service Executive is doing its utmost, as are we by committing resources to assist in that regard.

Leaders' Questions (16 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The HSE has approved over €5 million to build a new 24-hour day-procedure purpose-built colonoscopy unit at St. Luke's in Kilkenny. It is putting in the resources for the facilities to provide the services to which Deputies refer.

Leaders' Questions (16 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The Minister for Health and Children has been assured by the Health Service Executive that any patient referred to St. Luke's Hospital for an endoscopy and considered urgent by her doctor will be given an immediate appointment and seen within one or two weeks. I do not look at the health service from a strange or different perspective from Deputy Gilmore. I hear what patients are saying...

Leaders' Questions (16 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: In response, 11% said they were admitted within one month and 4% within three months; 76% of non-GMS patients were admitted to hospital immediately they were told they needed admission; 83% of hospital inpatients felt they had been treated with dignity and respect; and 64% of inpatients and 54% of outpatients rated their experience as excellent.

Leaders' Questions (16 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: There are difficulties but one should not try to paint a picture which puts fear into people who are going into the hospital service when those in hospital rate the service as very good. One should not turn the health service into a fear issue.

Leaders' Questions (16 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I acknowledge difficulties where they occur but these are the facts as given by 3,500 people who were beneficiaries of the health service. They did not all say they were satisfied but a high number, by international standards, commended the service. We will continue to deal with areas where there are difficulties.

Order of Business (16 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: It is proposed to take No. 12, statements on the European Union reform treaty, and No. 13, Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Bill 2006 [Seanad] — Second Stage (resumed). It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that: (1) the Dáil shall sit later than 8.30 p.m. tonight and business shall be interrupted on the adjournment of Private Members' business which shall be No....

Order of Business (16 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: On the first issue, Deputy Kenny is aware that a task force on world hunger has been established. A number of prominent people are working in this area. The task force is doing useful work with the resources contributed by Ireland through the ODA budget. Our current contribution is more than 0.5%. On the two legislative measures, the George Mitchell Scholarship Fund Act 1998 (Amendment)...

Order of Business (16 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The programme for Government states the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance will present an outline carbon report, referred to as a carbon budget, in conjunction with the annual financial budget. It also states the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government will follow the carbon budget with a report that outlines to the House our use of energy in the preceding year, the...

Order of Business (16 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The nursing home support scheme Bill will be introduced this session. I do not have a date in respect of the enforcement of fines Bill.

Order of Business (16 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: No.

Order of Business (16 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: It is ordered for Second Stage, but I do not know when it will be taken.

Order of Business (16 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: If the Deputy tables a question to the Minister, I am sure he will tell him. I am saying the legislation is included in the legislative programme and ordered for Second Stage.

Order of Business (16 Oct 2007)

Bertie Ahern: If the Deputy wishes to table a question to the Minister, he can do so.