Results 9,141-9,160 of 24,635 for speaker:Mary Harney
- Health Insurance. (20 Feb 2007)
Mary Harney: For the first time, I have secured a Government decision to put VHI on a commercial footing. The tragedy is that it was not done in 1996, when we legislated for risk equalisation, since it is among the reasons that we do not have a level playing field. VHI does not have to meet its competitors' solvency requirements, a major issue for the latter. The Deputy knows that it is being pursued...
- Health Insurance. (20 Feb 2007)
Mary Harney: On the supply of private facilities or consultants, in most insurance markets companies like to see more suppliers of products and services because this drives innovation and drives down prices. The health insurance industry in Ireland is unique, perhaps because there has mainly been one company, apart from the providers of the ESB and Garda medical schemes, offering insurance in the market...
- Medical Cards. (20 Feb 2007)
Mary Harney: The Health Service Executive has detailed operational guidelines in place for the assessment of medical card applications. The purpose of these guidelines is to ensure every person entitled to a medical card or GP visit card is given the opportunity to avail of his or her entitlement and that a consistent approach is taken to means testing nationally. The guidelines include provisions...
- Medical Cards. (20 Feb 2007)
Mary Harney: Guidelines are in place with regard to savings. The first â¬20,000 in savings for a single person, or â¬40,000 for a couple, is disregarded, â¬1 is applied per â¬1,000 per week for the next â¬10,000 and â¬2 is applied in respect of the following â¬10,000. These guidelines have either just issued or are issuing in the context of special savings incentive accounts.
- Medical Cards. (20 Feb 2007)
Mary Harney: I am unclear on the matter because I have been supplied with two different notes, one which states the guidelines have issued and another which states they are about to be issued. With regard to medical cards, some 1.3 million people hold doctor-only or full medical cards. Incomes have increased by 60% in real terms over the period to which Deputy McManus refers. The scenario was very...
- Medical Cards. (20 Feb 2007)
Mary Harney: Will I circulate them before I resign?
- Medical Cards. (20 Feb 2007)
Mary Harney: He expects me to be nice to him.
- Hospital Acquired Infections. (20 Feb 2007)
Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 90, 125, 175, 191, 196, 199, 206, 367 and 368 together. While it is an unfortunate fact that health care associated infections are not preventable in all cases, I assure the House that every effort is made to minimise the incidence of such infections. The Health Service Executive has appointed an assistant national director of health protection as the lead...
- Hospital Acquired Infections. (20 Feb 2007)
Mary Harney: The Government has a plan. I understand Fine Gael recently held a meeting that was addressed by my good friend, Dr. Maurice Nelligan, who told the audience that half of them had MRSA. Deputy Twomey is a doctor and knows that one can swab people's hands and they may have it and one can swab their noses and they do not, or vice versa. The action plan is being led by Dr. Doorley, Dr. Kelleher...
- Written Answers — Industrial Relations: Industrial Relations (20 Feb 2007)
Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 91, 95, 99, 105, 115, 116, 128, 361, 365 and 366 together. The issues of nurses' pay and working hours have been fully processed through the State's industrial relations structures and procedures â the Labour Relations Commission and the Labour Court. While health service management have accepted the Labour Court Recommendation, the Irish Nurses...
- Written Answers — Hospital Accommodation: Hospital Accommodation (20 Feb 2007)
Mary Harney: In 2001, the year of the publication of Health Strategy, the average number of in-patient beds and day places available in the 53 public acute hospitals was 12,145. At the end of 2005, this figure had increased by 1,199 to a total of 13,344, involving an additional 719 in-patient beds and 480 day places. This expansion of capacity by 300 beds and places a year on average is one of the...
- Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (20 Feb 2007)
Mary Harney: I take it the Deputy is referring to the recent report by the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists on the future of maternity and gynaecology services in Ireland. The report sets out the Institute's views on a range of issues, including, for example, the need to develop clinical maternity networks throughout the country. The report also points to what the Institute sees as...
- Written Answers — Information Communications Technology: Information Communications Technology (20 Feb 2007)
Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 94, 155, 167 and 193 together. There have been significant advances in the deployment of ICT in healthcare in recent years but there remains significant scope to further expand the use of ICT. In order to support this approach, capital funding of â¬490 million is being provided for Health Information and Communications Technology under the National...
- Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (20 Feb 2007)
Mary Harney: I have no plans to introduce routine population screening for urea electrolytes, creats and liver abnormalities. If there is clinical suspicion of liver or kidney disease then it is good clinical practice to conduct these tests. However, there is currently no evidence to support population screening for these diseases. My Department continues to keep evidence and practice in other countries...
- Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (20 Feb 2007)
Mary Harney: The Health Service Executive advises that Monaghan General Hospital provides the following range of services: General Medicine Day Surgery Gynaecology (Out-Patient And Day Gynaecology) High Dependency/Special Care/Coronary Care Day Services Treatment Room Services Out-Patient Services Radiology Services Pathology Services Physical Medicine Services Ante Natal Services The HSE has...
- Written Answers — Infection Control: Infection Control (20 Feb 2007)
Mary Harney: Health Service employment is reported through the Health Service Personnel Census which collates employment levels in the Health Service Executive, Voluntary Hospitals and certain Disability Services. The information in relation to the number of Clinical Nurse Specialists, Infection Control employed in the public health services is set out in the following tabular statement. I am pleased to...
- Written Answers — Data Collection: Data Collection (20 Feb 2007)
Mary Harney: The Health Bill 2006, which is currently before the Oireachtas, provides for the establishment of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA). This Bill represents a crucial element of the Reform Programme and is a new departure for the health services. For the first time, we are creating a body whose purpose will be to set quality standards and monitor enforcement of standards in...
- Written Answers — Drugs Classifications: Drugs Classifications (20 Feb 2007)
Mary Harney: I am aware of the report of the Drug Policy Action Group "Criminal Justice Drug Policy in Ireland" to which the Deputy refers. I understand that the UK system divides different kinds of illegal drugs into three categories, or classes. These classes (A, B and C) carry different levels of penalty for possession and dealing. Class A drugs are those considered most harmful and are subject to the...
- Written Answers — Hospital Accommodation: Hospital Accommodation (20 Feb 2007)
Mary Harney: Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services is a matter for the Health Service Executive and funding for all health services has been provided as part of its overall Vote. My attention was drawn to pressures on the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) capacity at St. James's Hospital at the end of January. The HSE advises that it has been in...
- Written Answers — Nursing Home Charges: Nursing Home Charges (20 Feb 2007)
Mary Harney: I am aware of a number of individual cases where people have experienced problems in accessing information in relation to the repayment scheme. However, I understand that this has been addressed. The health repayment scheme is administered by the Health Service Executive (HSE) in conjunction with the appointed Scheme Administrator KPMG/McCann Fitzgerald. The HSE has informed the Department...