Results 2,601-2,620 of 24,635 for speaker:Mary Harney

Written Answers — General Medical Services Scheme: General Medical Services Scheme (18 May 2010)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 72 and 92 together. The Government has decided to introduce a system of reference pricing combined with generic substitution under the GMS and community drugs schemes. This will promote price competition and deliver ongoing savings for both the State and for patients. Achieving greater value for money in this area of expenditure will ensure that patients can...

Written Answers — Hospital Accommodation: Hospital Accommodation (18 May 2010)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 73 and 91 together. The most recent information on bed closures in the acute hospital system refers to the week ended 17 January 2010. At that time, 689 inpatient beds and 37 day beds were closed for reasons of cost-containment, infection control, refurbishment and seasonal closure of facilities. While public debate tends to focus on bed numbers, it is much...

Written Answers — Health Insurance Providers: Health Insurance Providers (18 May 2010)

Mary Harney: Arising from a derogation under the Non-Life Insurance Directives, VHI continues to be exempt from prudential solvency requirements. The Voluntary Health Insurance (Amendment) Act 2008 provided for the VHI to acquire sufficient funding in terms of its capital reserves to enable it to make an application to the Financial Regulator for authorisation. The date originally fixed by that Act was...

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (18 May 2010)

Mary Harney: I am conscious that the cancellation of a hospital procedure can be inconvenient and stressful for both patients and their families. Every effort is made to avoid cancellations where possible. Unfortunately cancellations are a feature of hospital systems, in Ireland and internationally because priority must be given to emergency cases and patients in urgent need. It is important to point out...

Written Answers — Misuse of Drugs: Misuse of Drugs (18 May 2010)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 80 and 118 together. In the light of the health risks associated with some of the products being sold in head shops, the Government made an Order on 11 May declaring a number of substances, commonly referred to as so-called "legal highs", to be controlled drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977, with immediate effect. The substances controlled include:...

Written Answers — Medical Compensation Scheme: Medical Compensation Scheme (18 May 2010)

Mary Harney: I and my officials held a number of meetings with senior health officials and with the Minister for Health during my recent visit to New Zealand. In the course of those meetings we discussed the role of the Accident Compensation Corporation and the general no fault compensation scheme that operates there. As the Deputy may be aware, an advisory group was established in 2001, to examine the...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (18 May 2010)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 83, 98 and 126 together. The Government's decision to limit the funding available to the Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) was made in view of the current position of the public finances and the 60% increase in expenditure in the DTSS over the past five years. The Health Service Executive (HSE) has introduced measures to contain DTSS expenditure at the...

Written Answers — Health Service Reviews: Health Service Reviews (18 May 2010)

Mary Harney: The HSE has been reviewing the situation regarding radiology reports in other hospitals, following the problems that emerged in Tallaght Hospital. It expects to complete its work in this regard within the next number of weeks.

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (18 May 2010)

Mary Harney: I wish to advise the Deputy that due to industrial action affecting the Health Service Executive it is not possible for the Executive to supply the information requested. If this matter remains of continuing concern to you, however, I would invite you to raise it with me again in due course.

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (18 May 2010)

Mary Harney: Approximately 77 million laboratory tests are undertaken annually across 44 public hospitals. At present the annual cost of this service is approximately €470 million. The workload comprises both urgent and non-urgent tests and a significant proportion of the activity originates in the primary care setting. As with all other parts of the health service, and indeed the public service...

Written Answers — Health Service Expenditure: Health Service Expenditure (18 May 2010)

Mary Harney: I approved the HSE National Service Plan 2010 on 5th February. In approving the Plan, I highlighted to the Executive the need to deliver, at a minimum, the levels of service set out in the Plan as well as operating within the limits of its Voted allocation of €14.069bn. The Government made a series of decisions that will reduce HSE costs by some €1bn, made up of savings of €630m and...

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (18 May 2010)

Mary Harney: At present, medical cards are granted primarily on the basis of means and individual circumstances. Under the Health Act, 2004, determination of eligibility for medical cards is the responsibility of the Health Service Executive. The HSE has discretion, in cases of exceptional need, to provide assistance to individuals where undue hardship would otherwise be caused. Medical cards are made...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (18 May 2010)

Mary Harney: I take it that the Deputy is referring to the recommendations on possible incentives for general practitioners and other health professionals in the development of Primary Care Centres, made by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children in its Report on Primary Medical Care in the Community published in February 2010. At present the HSE is offering to take 25 year leases at agreed...

Written Answers — Occupational Diseases: Occupational Diseases (18 May 2010)

Mary Harney: My colleagues in the Department of Social Protection and the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and I agreed to a request on behalf of former coal miners that our officials would meet with them on the 5th May 2010 to listen to their concerns. Following on from that meeting my officials will report back to me and I will consider the issues raised.

Written Answers — Vaccination Programme: Vaccination Programme (18 May 2010)

Mary Harney: The public pandemic vaccination campaign came to an end on 31st of March, 2010. Following a full assessment of the current situation, the risks of a second wave, the availability of vaccine and other factors, the National Public Health Emergency Team decided, following advice received from the National Immunisation Advisory Committee, that those in the "at risk" group will continue to be...

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (18 May 2010)

Mary Harney: Details of the number of medical card holders and GP visit card holders are provided to my Department each month by the Health Service Executive (HSE). The most recent figures provided by the HSE to my Department reflect the position as at 31st March 2010 and show 1,518,973 medical card holders and 103,111 GP visit card holders on that date.

Written Answers — Health Care Professionals: Health Care Professionals (18 May 2010)

Mary Harney: I regret that due to industrial action I am not in a position to provide a substantive response to your Parliamentary Question. If this matter remains of continuing concern to you, however, I would invite you to raise it with me again in due course.

Written Answers — Mental Health Services: Mental Health Services (18 May 2010)

Mary Harney: I wish to advise the Deputy that due to industrial action affecting the Health Service Executive it is not possible for the Executive to supply the information requested. If this matter remains of continuing concern to you, however, I would invite you to raise it with me again in due course.

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (18 May 2010)

Mary Harney: I intend to seek Government approval in the near future to draft Heads of a Bill to control the use of sunbeds. The proposed measures include - a prohibition on the use of sunbeds to those under 18 years of age; restrictions on the sale or hiring of sunbeds; a ban on unsupervised sunbed use in commercial settings; warning signs on premises where sunbed services are offered to the public...

Written Answers — Community Welfare Service: Community Welfare Service (18 May 2010)

Mary Harney: I wish to advise the Deputy that due to industrial action affecting the Health Service Executive it is not possible for the Executive to supply the information requested. If this matter remains of continuing concern to you, however, I would invite you to raise it with me again in due course.