Results 16,141-16,160 of 24,635 for speaker:Mary Harney
- Seanad: Medical Cards: Statements (5 Nov 2008)
Mary Harney: With regard to the debate about universality, and it has merit, tax rates of at least 60% would be required to fund the proposals suggested by the Opposition. Senator Twomey referred to the United Kingdom but pharmacists in the UK, for example, earn at least â¬100,000 less than their Irish counterparts and the same applies to general practitioners. In the British health care system, one...
- Seanad: Medical Cards: Statements (5 Nov 2008)
Mary Harney: The estimate at the time was that it would cost â¬15 million. As we know, that estimate was inaccurate because the numbers on which it was based were wrong. To those who say that more than 5% of those over 70 will be disqualified, the Central Statistics Office has given the Department data on the number of people over 70. It is interesting to note that there are 10,000 fewer people over...
- Seanad: Medical Cards: Statements (5 Nov 2008)
Mary Harney: In the context of the legislation, I am seeking to facilitate that. Once one does a means test at 70, that should be the end of the matter. There are very few people who can expect their means to improve after the age of 70. Perhaps one or two might win the Lotto but there should not be very prohibitive legislative requirements for the sake of one or two people. The legislation to which I...
- Seanad: Medical Cards: Statements (5 Nov 2008)
Mary Harney: Everybody over 70 genuinely thought they would lose their medical card but that was never going to be the case, with 215,000 still qualifying. A further 85,000 were going to get either a full medical card or a doctor-only card. We were going to give a cash payment to those who did not qualify for a card towards the cost of their health expenses. Having reviewed that plan, in light of the...
- Seanad: Medical Cards: Statements (5 Nov 2008)
Mary Harney: No, I said â¬60 million.
- Seanad: Medical Cards: Statements (5 Nov 2008)
Mary Harney: The possibility of a pay pause because of the economic situation was mentioned. There is a pay pause in the public sector. An 11-month pay pause was agreed as part of the national partnership talks. However, as we are all aware, the economic situation has deteriorated rapidly since that agreement. Every possible option for the public finances should be on the table. The more that can be...
- Order of Business (6 Nov 2008)
Mary Harney: I already did.
- Cancer Vaccine: Statements (6 Nov 2008)
Mary Harney: I am happy to have an opportunity to speak about this issue. In the context of the cancer programme on which the Government has embarked, there are a number of priorities from a clinical point of view. Clearly, the first priority is to ensure that we organise our cancer services to deliver better outcomes for patients. The manner in which our cancer services have been organised do not...
- Cancer Vaccine: Statements (6 Nov 2008)
Mary Harney: They are.
- Cancer Vaccine: Statements (6 Nov 2008)
Mary Harney: It has.
- Cancer Vaccine: Statements (6 Nov 2008)
Mary Harney: I will not respond to the political charges that Deputy Reilly continually makes. I do not need a lecture from him about moral responsibilities and will not take one. However, one must make choices based on clinical advice. Ireland only began a cervical screening programme last September, which will save 80% to 90% of cervical deaths. Were we in a position also to introduce the vaccine,...
- Cancer Vaccine: Statements (6 Nov 2008)
Mary Harney: However, Deputy Kenny should be aware the screening programme must take priority. It will cost an additional â¬25 million next year. It will detect women that have cancerous cells at present. That must be the priority, together with cancer treatments.
- Cancer Vaccine: Statements (6 Nov 2008)
Mary Harney: Deputy Reilly is aware that screening will prevent 80% to 90% of cancers.
- Cancer Vaccine: Statements (6 Nov 2008)
Mary Harney: I did not say the cost would be â¬600 this morning. I was responding to what Dr. Flannelly had said in an earlier part of the interview with Cathal MacCoille in which he expressed outrage that the cost of the vaccination to parents would be â¬600. Of course I accept the HIQA costs. The Health Service Executive recently made a submission to me that the cost would be of the order of â¬16...
- Cancer Vaccine: Statements (6 Nov 2008)
Mary Harney: ââthat would cost a further â¬500,000. In response to Deputy Burton's question, the cost of vaccines here is approximately three times higher than in other countries in terms of GP charges. This vaccine would be administered by nurses and the Health Service Executive's estimate of that cost is approximately â¬5 million. I accept the figures for costs outlined in the HIQA report....
- Cancer Vaccine: Statements (6 Nov 2008)
Mary Harney: Dramatic cuts have been made to consultancies and other such areas of expenditure for next year. I would like to see the Health Service Executive service plan for 2009 debated in the House. It is clear that the public health service will be challenged financially next year to provide services in a range of areas because of the financial situation in which we find ourselves.
- Cancer Vaccine: Statements (6 Nov 2008)
Mary Harney: Deputy Kenny should not forget the cost of staff.
- Cancer Vaccine: Statements (6 Nov 2008)
Mary Harney: To clarify, we are not cutting â¬700 million. I referred to planned expenditure. If we are to do all the things we would like to do next year, we require an extra â¬700 million. In fact, health spending is increasing by 3.1%.
- Cancer Vaccine: Statements (6 Nov 2008)
Mary Harney: In that context, many tough decisions have to be made. The priority in cancer, which is very important, has to be that we improve the quality of treatments by investing in the expertise we need in the eight designated centres. That was â¬15 million. That money had to be found. It is not easy to find such sums of money. If staff costs account for up to 80% of one's costs, one has to find...
- Cancer Vaccine: Statements (6 Nov 2008)
Mary Harney: I have no doubt we can get good value. My statement in August included a reference to "subject to getting good value" because even if there are only two companiesââ