Results 1,441-1,460 of 24,635 for speaker:Mary Harney
- Written Answers — Medical Aids and Appliances: Medical Aids and Appliances (3 Mar 2005)
Mary Harney: The cost of medical equipment, including that referred to by the Deputy, depends primarily on specification requirements and the response to tender procedures in specific instances. The Health Service Executive has responsibility for the procurement of medical equipment in the public health sector. I have requested the executive to provide the Deputy with an indication of costs incurred in...
- Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (3 Mar 2005)
Mary Harney: The Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the executive has the responsibility to manage and deliver or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. This includes responsibility for the provision of services at Waterford Regional Hospital. Accordingly, my Department has requested the...
- Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (3 Mar 2005)
Mary Harney: The Health Act 2004 provides for the Health Service Executive, which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the executive has the responsibility to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. This includes responsibility for services at Naas General Hospital. Accordingly, my Department has requested the chief officer for the...
- Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (3 Mar 2005)
Mary Harney: My Department has been in contact with the Health Service Executive in the eastern regional area and requested that contact be made with the individual concerned as a priority in relation to the issue raised.
- Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (3 Mar 2005)
Mary Harney: The information requested is being collated by my Department and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.
- Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages. (8 Mar 2005)
Mary Harney: The contributions reminded me of the Second Stage debate. Although the Deputies opposite had some of their amendments ruled out of order, they managed to talk to the subject of those amendments. Perhaps I can address some of the issues raised. In regard to Deputy Twomey's amendment, I agree it is important to have clear policy directions on long-term care and issues around the elderly. We...
- Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages. (8 Mar 2005)
Mary Harney: Yes. Many people in hospital who are medically fit to be discharged must often wait there quite a while until their homes are adapted before they can return home. This does not make sense when it costs approximately â¬5,000 to â¬6,000 a week to be in an acute hospital bed while others are on trolleys. It is an important area. Although it is under the remit of another Minister, the Minister...
- Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages. (8 Mar 2005)
Mary Harney: All of the areas I mentioned need to be brought together in order that access is simpler for those who are most in need, particularly the elderly, but also for families where somebody becomes disabled and there is a need to adapt the home. Unfortunately, I am not in a position to accept the amendment for a number of reasons. It is not a good idea to have a statutory requirement to bring...
- Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages. (8 Mar 2005)
Mary Harney: The health spend amounts to approximately 25% of what the Government spends on a day-to-day basis. There are still huge deficiencies in our health service right across the board. Resources are not unlimited. They are finite. If the economy was not doing so well, we would not be able to spend even the kind of resources we are spending. We must make choices. Clearly, in that context, choices...
- Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages. (8 Mar 2005)
Mary Harney: Some are making the contribution; others are not. We are paying approximately â¬120 million in subvention, which is not an inconsiderable amount. However, making up the gap between the subvention and the cost can be a burden on many families. Tax relief also applies. We all accept the system is not easy to fund which is why the concept of making a contribution towards shelter and maintenance...
- Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages. (8 Mar 2005)
Mary Harney: With regard to the points made by Deputy McManus, I am not seeking to eliminate the element of discretion because the purpose in having a medical card based on hardship is to ensure there is such an element. However, my understanding is that there are huge disparities from one place to another. There are places where it seems a high proportion of the population have medical cards but this...
- Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages. (8 Mar 2005)
Mary Harney: I am not a great fan of the concept of universality.
- Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages. (8 Mar 2005)
Mary Harney: It is not affordable and countries which have it are quickly trying to withdraw from such schemes because of the difficulty in funding them. Apart from the funding issue, there is the issue of equity and fairness. If everybody has something, it means others cannot have something that they need. I accept that when a benefit has been introduced, it is a different story to withdraw it. We all...
- Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages. (8 Mar 2005)
Mary Harney: That happened but we must move on.
- Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages. (8 Mar 2005)
Mary Harney: My philosophy is that we have to make choices and have priorities. As we cannot do everything, we must decide what is the fairest and best way of using the resources available in the health care system. It is about giving benefits to those who need them most rather than giving them to those who may not need them at the expense of others who could do with them more. That is the consequence of...
- Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages. (8 Mar 2005)
Mary Harney: If one wins the lotto or inherits â¬2 million and one's medical card is withdrawn, what about softening the landing in such circumstances? Income criteria apply. We factor in the cost of mortgages, rent, travel to work and the number of children involved. We have to stick to the criteria. As I said in response to a question from Deputy McManus, we have the hardship based medical card where...
- Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages. (8 Mar 2005)
Mary Harney: They do but it also depends on factors such as the cost of the rent or mortgage.
- Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (8 Mar 2005)
Mary Harney: The Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the executive has the responsibility to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. As the person in question resides in Dublin, my Department has requested the chief officer for the executive's eastern regional area to...
- Written Answers — Nursing Home Charges: Nursing Home Charges (8 Mar 2005)
Mary Harney: My Department is currently studying the Supreme Court judgment in detail and will take on board all the consequences for policy and law arising from the judgment. The details of a repayment scheme to address the situation following the Supreme Court decision are currently being finalised and it is only following this that it would be possible to calculate the number of persons involved...
- Written Answers — Nursing Home Charges: Nursing Home Charges (8 Mar 2005)
Mary Harney: My Department is currently studying the Supreme Court judgment in detail and will take on board all the consequences for policy and law arising from the judgment. The details of a repayment scheme to address the situation following the Supreme Court decision are currently being finalised and it is only following this that it would be possible to calculate the number of persons involved...