Results 3,401-3,420 of 24,635 for speaker:Mary Harney

Written Answers — Cancer Screening Programme: Cancer Screening Programme (3 Mar 2010)

Mary Harney: I take it that the Deputy is referring to a recent Draft Report by the European Parliament's Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Public Safety which is a response to the European Partnership for Action Against Cancer. Cancer is the second most common cause of death in the European Union and the Partnership was established to support Member States by providing a framework for...

Written Answers — Community Welfare Officers: Community Welfare Officers (3 Mar 2010)

Mary Harney: The management of the Health Service Executive, the Department of Social and Family Affairs and my Department remain committed to implementing the Government decision, which was originally taken in 2006, to transfer the Community Welfare Service (CWS) from the Health Service Executive to the Department of Social and Family Affairs. There have been prolonged periods of engagement with the...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (3 Mar 2010)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 96 and 108. In the light of the health risks associated with some of the products being sold in so-called head shops, the Government has agreed to the introduction of regulations under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 which will introduce controls, similar to those introduced recently in the UK, on a range of substances which are currently on sale in head shops....

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (3 Mar 2010)

Mary Harney: As the Deputy will be aware, the current legislation for health and personal social services has been in place for many years and there is a need now to have a clear set of statutory provisions that ensure equity and transparency and to bring the system up to date with developments in service delivery and technology that have occurred since the Health Act 1970. Accordingly, work is underway...

Written Answers — Cancer Screening Programme: Cancer Screening Programme (3 Mar 2010)

Mary Harney: The goals of the National Cancer Control Programme are improvements in cancer prevention, detection, treatment and survival through a national service based on evidence and best practice. Under the Programme, all cancer diagnostic, surgical and radiation oncology services are being transferred to four managed cancer control networks, each with two cancer centres. This process was completed...

Written Answers — General Medical Services Scheme: General Medical Services Scheme (3 Mar 2010)

Mary Harney: The Minister for Finance announced in the Budget in early December last that there would be savings in the price of drugs and medicines. I and my officials also discussed the matter with the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) and the IPU were fully aware of the impending price cuts. In fact, the price cuts were delayed from 1 January until 1 February to allow, at the request of the IPU, pharmacists...

Written Answers — Hospital Staff: Hospital Staff (3 Mar 2010)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 100 and 103 together. The HSE plans to recruit a General Manager with responsibility for Galway University Hospitals, Portiuncula Hospital and Roscommon County Hospital. The recruitment of a General Manager with responsibility for the three hospitals involves the expansion of the current post of General Manager at Galway University Hospitals. This is designed...

Written Answers — General Medical Services Scheme: General Medical Services Scheme (3 Mar 2010)

Mary Harney: The Government has approved my proposal to introduce a system of reference pricing combined with generic substitution under the GMS and community drugs schemes. Reference pricing involves setting a common reimbursement price for groups of substitutable drugs. This will promote price competition in the Irish market and deliver ongoing savings for both the State and for patients. A working...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (3 Mar 2010)

Mary Harney: I presume that the Deputy is referring to the Performance Related Awards Scheme (PRA) which was introduced following a decision by the Government on the implementation of Report No. 38 of the Review Body on Higher Remuneration in the Public Sector in 2000. This Scheme, in the Civil Service, applied at the level of Deputy and Assistant Secretary and related grades. On 5th February 2009, the...

Written Answers — Hospitals Building Programme: Hospitals Building Programme (3 Mar 2010)

Mary Harney: The Renewed Programme for Government re-affirms the Government's commitment to the current co-location programme. Preferred bidders have been selected for six co-located projects at Beaumont, Cork University, Limerick Regional, St. James's, Sligo and Waterford Regional Hospitals. Project agreements have been signed for the Beaumont, Cork, Limerick and St James's projects. Planning permission...

Written Answers — Cancer Screening Programme: Cancer Screening Programme (3 Mar 2010)

Mary Harney: I requested the HSE to initiate a tendering process for the procurement of a HPV vaccine with a view to commencing a HPV vaccination programme for all girls in first year in secondary school and this process has now been completed. The programme will be delivered, commencing this year, from the extra resources committed in this year's budget to the overall Cancer Programme.

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (3 Mar 2010)

Mary Harney: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. I wish to advise the Deputy that, due to an intensification of industrial action in the public service by members of IMPACT, the HSE may not be in a position to provide a response to this Parliamentary Question within the normal timeframe.

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (3 Mar 2010)

Mary Harney: I wish to advise the Deputy that, due to public service industrial action involving members of IMPACT, the Department has not been in a position to obtain current information from the HSE in relation to delayed discharge numbers in the acute hospital system. The HSE has taken a series of steps across the health system to shift the balance of care from acute hospitals to community based...

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (3 Mar 2010)

Mary Harney: As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply. I wish to advise the Deputy that, due to an intensification of industrial action in the public service by members of IMPACT, the HSE may not be in a position to provide a response to this Parliamentary Question within the normal timeframe.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (3 Mar 2010)

Mary Harney: Staffing levels for my Department over the coming years are currently the subject of discussion with the Department of Finance. The agreed levels will be set out in an Employment Control Framework covering the period 2010-2012 and will include targeted staffing levels for each year in question.

Written Answers — Organ Transplants: Organ Transplants (3 Mar 2010)

Mary Harney: As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. I wish to advise the Deputy that, due to an intensification of industrial action in the public service by members of IMPACT, the HSE may not be in a position to provide a response to this Parliamentary Question within the normal timeframe.

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (3 Mar 2010)

Mary Harney: The latest information from the Health Service Executive (5 February 2010) indicates that there are Medical Assessment Units at the following locations: Dublin North Hospitals Group Beaumont Hospital Dublin North East Our Lady's Hospital, Navan Cavan General Hospital West/North West University Hospital, Galway Mayo General Hospital, Castlebar Letterkenny General Hospital Roscommon County...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (3 Mar 2010)

Mary Harney: Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) is embedded in the Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) curriculum in primary schools and in junior cycle. In senior cycle, schools are required to deliver an RSE programme. The content of the SPHE programme, including RSE, is agreed by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment. The Department of Education and Science and the...

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (3 Mar 2010)

Mary Harney: I wrote to all Oireachtas members on 19th January 2010 regarding the Health Service Executive's decision to centralise the processing of all medical card applications and reviews and I outlined a range of measures being employed by the Executive to address issues arising from this initiative and I also referred to the various enhancements that this process will facilitate upon completion. As...

Written Answers — Public Sector Reform: Public Sector Reform (3 Mar 2010)

Mary Harney: At the request of the Department of Health & Children, a review of the Department was carried out last year under the Organisational Review Programme (ORP). The report of this review was received about four weeks ago and the Department is now preparing an Action Plan which will set out its response to the ORP conclusions. The report and action plan will be published in due course along with...