Results 4,721-4,740 of 24,635 for speaker:Mary Harney

Written Answers — Vaccination Programme: Vaccination Programme (4 Nov 2009)

Mary Harney: The incidence of influenza-like illnesses (ILI) reported on 25th October last is at a rate of 210.9 per 100,000 population. This is the highest ILI rate reported since sentinel influenza surveillance began in 2000. Vaccination is a key strategy that is being used to mitigate the effects of the pandemic. Every person in the country will be offered the vaccine. However, initially the vaccine...

Written Answers — Mental Health Services: Mental Health Services (4 Nov 2009)

Mary Harney: All persons ordinarily resident in Ireland have full eligibility for hospital services. Although public hospitals treat private patients, the core purpose of the public system is to provide services for public patients. Government policy has been to ensure there is equitable access for public patients and, accordingly, that the proportion of private activity is appropriately controlled....

Written Answers — Health Service Expenditure: Health Service Expenditure (4 Nov 2009)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 95, 118 and 125 together. The Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes met with officials from my Department and the Health Service Executive in February 2009 and my Department also prepared and submitted to the Group an evaluation paper detailing the areas of expenditure under the Health Group of Votes. The recommendations of the...

Written Answers — Health Service Quality Standards: Health Service Quality Standards (4 Nov 2009)

Mary Harney: In January 2007, as part of the Government's commitment to ensuring patient safety and quality in our health service, I established a Commission on Patient Safety and Quality Assurance to develop clear and practical recommendations to ensure that quality and safety of care for patients is paramount within our healthcare system. The Commission's report - Building a Culture of Patient Safety -...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (4 Nov 2009)

Mary Harney: The review in question was commissioned by the Health Service Executive in order to inform plans for the organisation and delivery of adult critical care services within the acute hospital system. I understand that the report is being finalised at present. A decision on publication will be made when the report is completed.

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (4 Nov 2009)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 98 and 108 together. I am currently considering the recommendations in the report of the Vaccine Damage Steering Group and it is my intention to publish the report on my Department's website shortly.

Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (4 Nov 2009)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 102 and 151 together. The payment of the 2007 bonus to the CEO of the HSE was not in contravention of a letter sent from my Department to the HSE in May 2009 as it is manifestly a bonus in respect of two years prior. Many other bonuses were paid within the public service, including the HSE, in relation to 2007. The approval of performance-related payments to...

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (4 Nov 2009)

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

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (4 Nov 2009)

Mary Harney: As the Deputy's question relates to a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Written Answers — Hospitals Building Programme: Hospitals Building Programme (4 Nov 2009)

Mary Harney: The HSE has indicated that the capital development cost of the hospital will be approximately €750 million. It is intended that €400 million of this funding will be provided from the Exchequer. The remainder will be raised from other sources, including philanthropic contributions. A sub-committee of the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board is to be established in this regard.

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (4 Nov 2009)

Mary Harney: The Government is committed to ensuring quality health services, delivered efficiently and effectively. Ensuring patient safety is paramount, so that people can have confidence in the services and that the best possible patient outcomes are achieved. There is significant international and national evidence that acute complex healthcare, particularly for emergency medicine, complex surgical...

Written Answers — Vaccination Programme: Vaccination Programme (4 Nov 2009)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 111, 124, 136 and 152 together. The incidence of influenza-like illnesses (ILI) reported on 25th October last is at a rate of 210.9 per 100,000 population. This is the highest ILI rate reported since sentinel influenza surveillance began in 2000. Vaccination is a key strategy that is being used to mitigate the effects of the pandemic. Every person in the...

Written Answers — Cancer Screening Programme: Cancer Screening Programme (4 Nov 2009)

Mary Harney: The matter raised by the Deputy is the responsibility of the National Cancer Screening Service. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Chief Executive Officer of the Service to respond directly to the Deputy in relation to the matter raised.

Written Answers — General Practitioner Services: General Practitioner Services (4 Nov 2009)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 114, 131 and 170 together. I am aware of the potential shortage of General Practitioners (GPs) highlighted in the recent ESRI Report and the June 2009 FÁS Report. A number of measures to address this are being pursued, including: The HSE is in discussion with the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP) regarding the scope for increasing the 120 GP...

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (4 Nov 2009)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 115, 153 and 174 together. I am very conscious of the importance of providing high quality services across all three children's hospitals in Dublin - Crumlin, Temple Street and Tallaght. All three hospitals prioritise their services in accordance with clinical need. Careful planning of critical care services, including those for cardiac patients, is vital....

Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (4 Nov 2009)

Mary Harney: The Government decision on the moratorium on recruitment, promotion, or payment of an allowance for the performance of duties at a higher grade is being implemented in the health sector in such a way as to ensure that key services are maintained insofar as possible in the health services, particularly in respect of children at risk, older people and persons with a disability. The employment...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (4 Nov 2009)

Mary Harney: As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Oral Health Policy: Oral Health Policy (4 Nov 2009)

Mary Harney: The National Oral Health Policy has to be reconsidered in the light of the current position of the public finances. The draft policy will be revisited once the Estimates and Budgetary process for 2010 is complete. Question No. 124 answered with Question No. 111. Question No. 125 answered with Question No. 95.

Written Answers — Use of Sun Beds: Use of Sun Beds (4 Nov 2009)

Mary Harney: I have asked my Department to prepare proposals for consideration by the Government to restrict the use of sunbeds. My Department has completed a public consultation on the matter and has indicated that the following measures may be circulated from the outset: Restrict the use of sunbeds to those 18 years and over; Ban commercial sunbed services where such services are not supervised;...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (4 Nov 2009)

Mary Harney: Generic drugs are available in Ireland for many medicines. In 2008, 18% of prescription items under the GMS scheme and 11% of items under the Drugs Payment Scheme and Long Term Illness Scheme were dispensed generically. My Department and the HSE supports the increased use of generics where this is appropriate. All options for containing pharmaceutical expenditure pharmaceutical expenditure,...