Results 23,421-23,440 of 24,635 for speaker:Mary Harney
- Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2004: Statements. (16 Feb 2005)
Mary Harney: I am obliged to take the advice given to me. That advice was given to me not just by the Office of the Attorney General but also by outside counsel. I told the House that this issue would be tested in the Supreme Court. When the President called a meeting of the Council of State, as the Taoiseach stated this morning, it was his and my view that the sooner there was legal clarity, the better....
- Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2004: Statements. (16 Feb 2005)
Mary Harney: We acted as quickly as we could. Nonetheless, I am not satisfied that this practice continued for 28 or 29 years because it shows systemic maladministration. That is why in December I asked John Travers to carry out an inquiry to report to me by 1 March as to why, with so many Administrations and Ministers, we could have acted illegally since 1976. I await his report.
- Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2004: Statements. (16 Feb 2005)
Mary Harney: It is not 2001, but rather 1976.
- Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2004: Statements. (16 Feb 2005)
Mary Harney: I ask Deputies to await Mr.Travers's report before rushing to judgment.
- Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2004: Statements. (16 Feb 2005)
Mary Harney: In the next couple of weeks.
- Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2004: Statements. (16 Feb 2005)
Mary Harney: I also stated that legal advice was to be sought as a result of that meeting and I do not know why it was not sought. These are among the reasons I have asked a person to carry out the inquiry because I want to know who knew what and when.
- Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2004: Statements. (16 Feb 2005)
Mary Harney: We are all entitled to know because the taxpayers will be paying back at least â¬500 million. If we could have had this issue dealt with five years ago, the amount would have been much less because we could have legally raised the charges. For every week we cannot raise these charges, it costs the health service â¬2.5 million. We have serious issues in regard to long-term care. Every year,...
- Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2004: Statements. (16 Feb 2005)
Mary Harney: I have to take advice about the best way to do it. I do not know whether the State Claims Agency or the HSE is the appropriate body but I will put in place as quickly as I can a mechanism to ensure we identify the individuals, their personal representatives or families and make these payments. I will do this as conscientiously and as quickly as I can.
- Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2004: Statements. (16 Feb 2005)
Mary Harney: Today, the Supreme Court has brought clarity and finality to a matter that has been left fester for 29 years, the legal basis for the policy of 11 Governments and as many as 40 health boards that people in long-term care should make a contribution towards their living costs. Today, we have clarity about the law, certainty about payments and confidence about the way we can now proceed. The...
- Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2004: Statements. (16 Feb 2005)
Mary Harney: Yes, I believe it is on the way. That it took so long is deeply regrettable. That we have a definitive resolution now is highly welcome. Deputies will be in a position now to study the Supreme Court ruling in detail but I would like to summarise key elements of its decision. They are as follows. The provisions of the Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2004 that provide for prospective charging...
- Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2004: Statements. (16 Feb 2005)
Mary Harney: I will only make the point that they and the Governments they served implemented the policy. It is only fair for all political parties in the House who participated in those Governments to accept that fact.
- Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2004: Statements. (16 Feb 2005)
Mary Harney: If people would listen, it might be helpful. I wish to make it clear that I am not saying that any or all of these Ministers acted in the knowledge that the charges were not on a sound legal footing. I am confident that Mr. Travers's forthcoming report will give the definitive position, since he is carrying out a thorough and comprehensive analysis of the files in the Department and is...
- Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2004: Statements. (16 Feb 2005)
Mary Harney: Distributing copies is not a matter for me.
- Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2004: Statements. (16 Feb 2005)
Mary Harney: The Deputy's advice was wrong.
- Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2004: Statements. (16 Feb 2005)
Mary Harney: The Supreme Court found that it was not wrong. The Deputy is wrong and I will respond to her.
- Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2004: Statements. (16 Feb 2005)
Mary Harney: I will explain in one minute.
- Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2004: Statements. (16 Feb 2005)
Mary Harney: The Deputy attacks me at least once a week. He even did it on day one.
- Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (15 Feb 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 neurology services. Accordingly, my Department has requested the chief officer for the...
- Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (15 Feb 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 issues raised by the Deputy. Accordingly, my Department has requested the chief officer for the...
- Written Answers — Cancer Screening Programme: Cancer Screening Programme (15 Feb 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 issues raised by the Deputy. Accordingly, my Department has requested the chief officer of the north...