Results 16,121-16,140 of 24,635 for speaker:Mary Harney

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (5 Nov 2008)

Mary Harney: Following the recent Government decision to withdraw automatic entitlement to a medical card for persons aged 70 and over and to raise the means assessment threshold for persons in that age cohort, it is estimated that approximately 5% (20,000) of persons aged 70 and over will no longer qualify for a medical card. The Government appointed Mr. Eddie Sullivan to make recommendations on a new...

Written Answers — Health Repayment Scheme: Health Repayment Scheme (5 Nov 2008)

Mary Harney: The Health Service Executive has responsibility for administering the Repayment Scheme and the information sought by the Deputy relates to matters within the area of responsibility of the Executive. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued to the Deputy

Written Answers — Hospital Waiting Lists: Hospital Waiting Lists (5 Nov 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...

Written Answers — Health Repayment Scheme: Health Repayment Scheme (5 Nov 2008)

Mary Harney: The Health Service Executive has responsibility for administering the Repayment Scheme and the information sought by the Deputy relates to matters within the area of responsibility of the Executive. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued to the Deputy

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (5 Nov 2008)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 207 to 209, inclusive, together. Entitlement to health services in Ireland is primarily based on residency and means. Any person, regardless of nationality, who is accepted by the Health Service Executive (HSE) as being ordinarily resident in Ireland is entitled to either full eligibility (Category 1, i.e. medical card holders) or limited eligibility (Category...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (5 Nov 2008)

Mary Harney: The Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 and regulations made thereunder regulate and control the import, export, production, supply and possession of a range of named narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances listed in the Schedules to the Act. Substances are scheduled under the Act in accordance with Ireland's obligations under international conventions and/or where there is evidence that the...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (5 Nov 2008)

Mary Harney: Under the Health Act 2004, the management and delivery of health and personal social services is the responsibility of the Health Service Executive. This includes operational responsibility for the establishment of Primary Care Teams and Primary Care Centres. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (5 Nov 2008)

Mary Harney: The O.E.C.D. Public Management Reviews: Ireland — Towards an Integrated Public Service (2008) in its case study "Reconfiguration of the Health Services" notes: "One statistical characteristic of Ireland is its very large number of practising nurses (15.2 per 1,000), which is twice the OECD average, just below Norway (15.4) but much higher than UK (9.1) or France (7.7). The number of nurses...

Written Answers — Drug-Related Deaths: Drug-Related Deaths (5 Nov 2008)

Mary Harney: In 2005 the Department of Health and Children and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform jointly requested the Health Research Board to establish the National Drug Related Deaths Index (NDRDI). The Index was established to comply with Action 67 of 'Building on Experience: National Drug Strategy 2001-2008': the Index is a census of drug and alcohol-related deaths and deaths among...

Written Answers — Health Repayment Scheme: Health Repayment Scheme (5 Nov 2008)

Mary Harney: The Health Service Executive has responsibility for administering the Repayment Scheme and the information sought by the Deputy relates to matters within the area of responsibility of the Executive. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued to the Deputy

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (5 Nov 2008)

Mary Harney: My Department has been advised by the Health Service Executive that it will not be possible to commence the programme of screening of newborns for cystic fibrosis as planned in 2008 and that the position will now require to be reviewed in the context of the total level of funding available to the HSE in 2009. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to...

Written Answers — Parliamentary Questions: Parliamentary Questions (5 Nov 2008)

Mary Harney: My Department has been informed by the Health Service Executive that a reply was issued yesterday to the Deputy setting out the details requested for the HSE North West region. Having regard to the Deputy's question, my Department has asked the Executive's Parliamentary Affairs Division to ensure that a further response is issued to the Deputy providing the specific information requested in...

Written Answers — Parliamentary Questions: Parliamentary Questions (5 Nov 2008)

Mary Harney: My Department has been informed by the Health Service Executive that the compilation of the information sought by the Deputy is being finalised and that it will be forwarded to him shortly.

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (5 Nov 2008)

Mary Harney: Following the recent Government decision to withdraw automatic entitlement to a medical card for persons aged 70 and over and to raise the means assessment threshold for persons in that age cohort, it is estimated that approximately 5% (20,000) of persons aged 70 and over will no longer qualify for a medical card. Persons whose income is above the threshold and whose circumstances are such...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (5 Nov 2008)

Mary Harney: There are 6 Civil Servants (5.6 WTE) assigned to the Department's Communications Unit, which incorporates a Press Office, as well as an internal communications function. The Unit is headed by an: 1 Assistant Principal Officer, and also includes 2 Higher Executive Officers and 3 Executive Officers (2.6 WTE); one Higher Executive Officer and two Executive Officers work in the Press Office. The...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (5 Nov 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 — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (5 Nov 2008)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 226 to 229, inclusive, together. As the Deputy will be aware my Department is not one of the Departments scheduled for decentralisation under the Government's Decentralisation Programme. To date fifty-five civil servants have transferred to decentralising Departments from my Department. Further details in respect of the transfer of these officers are...

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (5 Nov 2008)

Mary Harney: Regulation (EC) 1408/71 coordinates health and social security arrangements among EU member states (it also applies in the remaining EEA member states and Switzerland). Under these provisions, people who are insured with (covered by) the healthcare system of one EU member state are entitled to receive healthcare in the public system of another member state in certain circumstances, at the...

Seanad: Medical Cards: Statements (5 Nov 2008)

Mary Harney: I am pleased to be in the House to discuss this issue. I am sure most Members of the House have been awake all night watching the unfolding events in the world's oldest democracy, which are very exciting not only for the United States of America but for the entire democratic world and possibly beyond. It is a pleasure to be in the House again to discuss the issue of medical cards. In recent...

Seanad: Medical Cards: Statements (5 Nov 2008)

Mary Harney: I do not have a script. Notwithstanding these savings, health spending next year will increase by 4.1%. To put that in context, in 1987-88 health spending was reduced by 3.5% when the country faced similar significant economic challenges. There will be an increase next year of approximately 4.1% year on year. Notwithstanding that increase, a cut of €700 million had to be identified in...