Results 3,681-3,700 of 24,635 for speaker:Mary Harney

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (11 Feb 2010)

Mary Harney: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (11 Feb 2010)

Mary Harney: I can confirm that the HSE recently requested my Department's approval to lift the suspension as it applied to the ISER, and to allow it to proceed to process to finalisation applications received prior to the closing date of 23 October, 2009. Following consideration of the proposal by my Department in consultation with the Department of Finance the HSE has now agreed that the suspension may...

Health Staff Work to Rule. (11 Feb 2010)

Mary Harney: I accept the Deputy's positive comments in his response to that matter. While the Deputy may say pay is not the issue, at the heart of the dispute is the reduction in public sector pay. I would hope that we can return to the reform agenda with the public sector unions. We have had very responsible engagement with them in the past and I have no doubt that the people who work in the health...

Health Staff Work to Rule. (11 Feb 2010)

Mary Harney: In fairness with regard to a plan, it is not possible to have a big strategy and decide this is how we will do it. We need to deal with the individuals at a local level in the main.

Health Staff Work to Rule. (11 Feb 2010)

Mary Harney: We are doing that. There is a plan. It is reviewed every day. The Department of Finance is the co-ordinating Department. In the health area not a day goes by without the official in my Department who is dedicated to the matter being involved with the HSE at a central and local level regarding the different issues that arise.

Hospital Staff. (11 Feb 2010)

Mary Harney: I met representatives of the support group, Dignity 4 Patients, on 29 October 2009 to inform them of my decision, in consultation with the Cabinet and the Attorney General, to establish an independent review chaired by the retired High Court judge, Mr. Justice T.C. Smyth, to examine whether a further investigation into the case of Mr. Shine would be of public benefit. Mr. Justice Smyth...

Hospital Staff. (11 Feb 2010)

Mary Harney: With regard to the last point made by the Deputy, it is a serious process, and I believe that is accepted. I do not believe somebody of the stature of Mr. Justice Smyth would engage in a process that was not serious. I will give consideration to the deadline of 3 March. I do not know whether we set it or Mr. Justice Smyth did, but I shall have that examined. Dignity 4 Patients has asked...

Hospital Staff. (11 Feb 2010)

Mary Harney: I do not disagree with that. When the hospital was acquired by the State in the mid-1990s for €5.5 million, I believe, a sum of €2 million was set aside for possible claims, including in this area. That is being administered on behalf of the Medical Missionaries of May by Arthur Cox, solicitors. To date no claim has been made on that €2 million, so I am conscious that this resource...

Hospital Staff. (11 Feb 2010)

Mary Harney: It is expected the review will be completed in the summer and to a large extent it will be a precursor to what the Deputy terms a public inquiry. There will be enormous reluctance to engage in a public inquiry or indeed even an inquiry under the Commissions of Investigation Act, unless this is warranted. That is precisely what the Mr. Justice Smyth has been asked to do - and in that regard...

Cancer Screening Programme. (11 Feb 2010)

Mary Harney: I have always accepted the consensus view of the relevant expert bodies that the introduction of a universal high uptake vaccination programme in young girls, in conjunction with population based cervical screening, could significantly reduce overall cervical cancer incidence. The issue was not, therefore, whether the case for a cervical cancer vaccination programme was accepted by myself...

Cancer Screening Programme. (11 Feb 2010)

Mary Harney: I am sure it would be highly inappropriate for Deputy Reilly to use question time to advance any personal interests.

Cancer Screening Programme. (11 Feb 2010)

Mary Harney: It was never intended to do a catch-up and one must begin a new programme somewhere. That has been the case in most countries, especially those that have had a country-wide programme. I accept that is not the case everywhere but it has been the case in most places. One must begin somewhere. At the time we accepted the HIQA report and made a decision to proceed with the vaccine we had...

Cancer Screening Programme. (11 Feb 2010)

Mary Harney: I thank Deputies for their generous comments. We will be proactive in the first instance with parents because we are vaccinating minors and parents must give their permission. This programme is currently being worked on by the HSE and will be announced shortly. We wish to start the vaccination programme before the summer because individuals must receive three doses during this calendar...

Health Service Staff. (11 Feb 2010)

Mary Harney: Garda vetting is a pre-employment check carried out if a prospective employee, volunteer or student on placement will have unsupervised access to children or vulnerable adults. Garda vetting provides for the disclosure by the Garda central vetting unit to the prospective employer of details of prosecutions and convictions of the candidate. It is a matter for the employer to assess the...

Health Service Staff. (11 Feb 2010)

Mary Harney: I cannot provide a date for the legislation because it is subject to the all-party committee. The heads have not yet come before the Government but I understand it is imminent. I will revert to the Deputy on this matter because I am uncertain. In the first instance, the vetting relates to all new employees including students on placement, volunteers working in the area and people who are...

Health Service Staff. (11 Feb 2010)

Mary Harney: I am sure the Minister of State, Deputy John Moloney, can answer that when replying to the next question.

Health Service Staff. (11 Feb 2010)

Mary Harney: I agree with Deputy Reilly that appropriate vetting is important, irrespective of whether one's employer is in the public or private sector. One issue that arises in the health area is the great number of staff who have come from overseas to work in Ireland. The Garda must work in conjunction with Interpol to vet them and this can often take some time. I am satisfied there has been vetting...

Health Service Staff. (11 Feb 2010)

Mary Harney: I will be happy to do that although I know the Minister of State, Deputy Barry Andrews, is really committed in this area. He is very anxious to have the matter dealt with as quickly as possible. We all know those who are likely to abuse children have a habit of infiltrating places where children congregate, including swimming clubs and sports clubs. There were some very high-profile...

Health Service Staff. (11 Feb 2010)

Mary Harney: In case there is any misunderstanding, I must state that is of course the case. The vast majority, 99%, of those involved in sports organisations, including swimming organisations, are involved for the right reason. The vast majority of incidents of abuse occur in the home. We need stronger legislation to allow for the exchange of soft information without fear of prosecution.

Health Service Staff. (11 Feb 2010)

Mary Harney: No, but the process takes longer. The Garda, through Interpol, contacts its counterparts in other countries on the issue.