Results 10,341-10,360 of 24,635 for speaker:Mary Harney

Seanad: Medical Practitioners Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Apr 2007)

Mary Harney: The Senators made some valid points. Many of the foreign students educated in our medical schools wish to return to their own countries to practise medicine. Moving the intern year to a postgraduate year may mean that many of them will complete their clinical placement or internship abroad and this could help ease some of the pressure for places in Ireland. I am of the view that our...

Seanad: Medical Practitioners Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Apr 2007)

Mary Harney: A period of three months would not be unreasonable. Two issues arise in respect of the six-month period. For all sorts of reasons, 1 January is the worst possible day of the year on which to start a new job. The position is similar as regards 1 July. It was suggested to me that the commencement dates should be moved to March and October. I have forgotten what reasons were offered in...

Seanad: Medical Practitioners Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Apr 2007)

Mary Harney: I completely agree with the Senator in that regard.

Seanad: Medical Practitioners Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Apr 2007)

Mary Harney: That is the case and that is why it must be given priority. However, I am of the view that a great deal of money will be saved in the medium to long term because if doctors are competent, up to speed and possess the requisite skills, patients do better. Such patients are obviously less of a burden on the health system than those who were treated inappropriately by doctors who did not...

Seanad: Medical Practitioners Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Apr 2007)

Mary Harney: I agree. That is why we did not use the phrase "as far as is practicable".

Seanad: Medical Practitioners Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Apr 2007)

Mary Harney: It will be kept in place. The inclusion of the Postgraduate Dental and Medical Board in this legislation came on foot of the recommendations of the Fotrell and Buttimer reports.

Seanad: Medical Practitioners Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Apr 2007)

Mary Harney: This is a technical amendment which corrects a minor typographical error. The word "this" is not required in this context.

Seanad: Medical Practitioners Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Apr 2007)

Mary Harney: These technical amendments correct various references to articles, paragraphs and subparagraphs in Schedule 2. They merely ensure consistency with the normal drafting style of Irish legislation, in which references are generally to paragraphs, subparagraphs and clauses of Schedules to Bills.

Seanad: Medical Practitioners Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Apr 2007)

Mary Harney: This technical amendment corrects a minor typographical error whereby the word "Minister" was incorrectly spelled.

Seanad: Medical Practitioners Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Apr 2007)

Mary Harney: I have no idea but it is clearly good practice to address these errors once they are discovered.

Seanad: Medical Practitioners Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Apr 2007)

Mary Harney: I thank Senators for an informed and insightful debate. I always derive great pleasure from attending the Seanad for debates. I am delighted the Bill has seen a speedy passage because everybody recognises it is long overdue. I thank the Leader and the staff of the House for facilitating today's debate.

Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (5 Apr 2007)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 197 to 202, inclusive, together. The information provided in the tables below gives the cost of employing each grade specified by the Deputy for one year at current pay levels. The figures include basic pay plus employer PRSI. The mid-point of the salary scale for each grade has been used. Premium pay has also been included for a general staff nurse and the...

Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (5 Apr 2007)

Mary Harney: On foot of a Government decision, I issued a policy direction to the Health Services Executive in July 2005 on the co-location of private hospitals on the sites of public hospitals which will result in the provision of an additional 1,000 beds for public patients. It is a matter for the HSE to implement the policy of the Government. In May 2006, the Health Service Executive published a notice...

Written Answers — Drug Treatment Programme: Drug Treatment Programme (5 Apr 2007)

Mary Harney: I am aware that the drug Subutex (active ingredient buprenorphine) is an alternative choice to methadone in the treatment of opiate dependent addicts. The current position is that Subutex can only be prescribed to opiate users by addiction service consultants in specialist drug treatment clinics, where the prescription and dispensing of Subutex is tightly controlled. Another alternative...

Written Answers — National Treatment Purchase Fund: National Treatment Purchase Fund (5 Apr 2007)

Mary Harney: The National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) was established to arrange treatment for patients who have been waiting longest on surgical, in-patient waiting lists. Under the provisions of its establishment order, the NTPF currently arranges hospital-based treatment. As dental treatment does not normally require in-patient care, it does not fall currently within the remit of the NTPF. My...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (5 Apr 2007)

Mary Harney: Over 120,000 people work full-time or part-time in our public health services. In recent years, the Government's ongoing high level of investment in health has achieved and maintained significant increases in the numbers of doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals employed in the public health services. The Government has also invested heavily in the education and training of such...

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (5 Apr 2007)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 210, 211 and 265 together. I have identified the enhancement of services for people with cystic fibrosis as a key priority in 2006 and again in 2007. Development funding of €4.78 million was provided to the Health Service Executive in 2006 to facilitate the recruitment of additional medical, nursing and allied health professional staff to improve services...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (5 Apr 2007)

Mary Harney: General Practitioners, including those who hold contracts to provide services to public patients under the terms of the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme, work in the private sector as independent service providers. General Practitioners are not employed by the State. As such, GPs, in common with other professional groups are, in the first place, solely responsible for making provision...

Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (5 Apr 2007)

Mary Harney: Over 120,000 people work full-time or part-time in our public health services. In recent years, the Government's ongoing high level of investment in health has achieved and maintained significant increases in the numbers of doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals employed in the public health services. The Government has also invested heavily in the education and training of such...

Written Answers — Hospitals Building Programme: Hospitals Building Programme (5 Apr 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. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular issue raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division...