Results 15,381-15,400 of 24,635 for speaker:Mary Harney

National Development Plan: Motion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2008)

Mary Harney: May I share time with the Minister for Defence, Deputy O'Dea?

National Development Plan: Motion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2008)

Mary Harney: The debate is on the economy and it is important to emphasise that the fundamentals of our economy are sound. For many years, it has been one of the most successful economies in the world. Irish people everywhere are proud of the significant success experienced in Ireland, particularly during the past decade. Some 14 years ago, 1.1 million people were working. Today, that figure is 2.1...

National Development Plan: Motion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2008)

Mary Harney: No, but Deputy Burton discussed the banks for a long time. The only bank rescued was rescued by the parties opposite. Unfortunately, no shareholding was taken to benefit taxpayers after the bank's quick recovery. As we were required to do, the Government examined public spending a few days ago. Regarding the €440 million, we set out to spend €61 billion this year governing the country...

National Development Plan: Motion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2008)

Mary Harney: The other decisions that were made in regard to health are around timing issues. Not one euro is being taken off the health capital budget. The national children's hospital is a priority and it will be progressed as rapidly as possible. The national rehabilitation hospital is a priority and that, too, is being progressed. Let me say in passing——

National Development Plan: Motion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2008)

Mary Harney: It is good to listen occasionally. In regard to co-location, the only ideologue that opposed it was the former Deputy Joe Higgins. There was not a single other opponent. He has appealed the matter to An Bord Pleanála. We know what the former Deputy Higgins's ideology is. As Deputy Reilly knows well as a medic, half of the patients being seen in some of our Dublin hospitals for elective...

National Development Plan: Motion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2008)

Mary Harney: Scheduling activity happens in hospitals every year in the summer. I am usually criticised because I am told there is 100% occupancy, which is not safe. During the summer months, during holiday periods, it makes sense for hospitals to close wards——

National Development Plan: Motion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2008)

Mary Harney: ——to move to day activity and do the kinds of things that are done in health care systems all over the world.

National Development Plan: Motion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2008)

Mary Harney: There are some hospitals that do elective work on the Continent that close for the whole of August, as the Deputy probably knows.

National Development Plan: Motion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2008)

Mary Harney: These are the kinds of things we must do to ensure we provide services to patients in the most cost effective way, bearing in mind quality assurance and so on.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (10 Jul 2008)

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 of...

Written Answers — Drug Treatment Programme: Drug Treatment Programme (10 Jul 2008)

Mary Harney: In recent times, the Health Service Executive has re-oriented its addiction services to address the needs arising from changing patterns of drug use in the population e.g. evidence shows that most cocaine users are poly drug misusers and need to be treated for poly drug misuse and not solely for cocaine use. The HSE is also involved in developing community based stand-alone stimulant...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (10 Jul 2008)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 89 and 91 together. Under the Health Act 2004, the management and delivery of health and personal social services is the responsibility of the Health Service Executive. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matters raised by the Deputy investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (10 Jul 2008)

Mary Harney: I understand that, as part of its emerging strategy for Information and Communications Technology which is expected to be completed later this year, the Health Service Executive is considering how Telemedicine and Telecare facilities can be best deployed to remotely monitor and provide services to patients, including those with chronic conditions, thus reducing the need to travel for medical...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (10 Jul 2008)

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 case raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division...

Written Answers — Hospital Waiting Lists: Hospital Waiting Lists (10 Jul 2008)

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 case raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division...

Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (10 Jul 2008)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 100 to 103, inclusive, together. The Chief Executive Officer of the Health Service Executive is eligible, under his contract of employment, for an annual bonus of up to 25% of his basic salary. In addition a number of senior administrative personnel in the HSE are eligible for an annual performance-related award under a scheme recommended by the Review Body...

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (10 Jul 2008)

Mary Harney: The Health Service Executive has informed my Department that the number of children and young people under 18 years currently covered by the medical card is 315,505.

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (10 Jul 2008)

Mary Harney: The Programme for Government commits to the following: Indexing the income thresholds for medical cards to increases in the average industrial wage; Doubling of the income limit eligibility of parents of children under 6 years of age, and trebling them for parents of children under 18 years of age with an intellectual disability. In conjunction with the development of a new legislative...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (10 Jul 2008)

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 — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (10 Jul 2008)

Mary Harney: Almost 130,000 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...