Results 7,861-7,880 of 24,635 for speaker:Mary Harney

Written Answers — Hospital Procedures: Hospital Procedures (16 Dec 2008)

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

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (16 Dec 2008)

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

Written Answers — Community Care: Community Care (16 Dec 2008)

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

Written Answers — Assisted Human Reproduction: Assisted Human Reproduction (16 Dec 2008)

Mary Harney: Assisted Human Reproductive treatment is not funded under a specific national scheme in the public health system. I am conscious though of the financial burden that such treatment can place on the couples concerned and have asked my Department to consider policy in this regard as part of the process of developing an appropriate regulatory framework for this area. Any proposals that might...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (16 Dec 2008)

Mary Harney: The Health Service Executive has informed my Department that the Executive has replied to the correspondence referred to by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Hospital Accommodation: Hospital Accommodation (16 Dec 2008)

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

Written Answers — Accident and Emergency Services: Accident and Emergency Services (16 Dec 2008)

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

Private Health Insurance. (16 Dec 2008)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 72, 77 and 80 together. In designing the package of measures announced on 19 November the Government considered several options and consulted widely. I consulted with the Health Insurance Authority, which has a statutory duty to provide me with advice on the private health insurance industry. In addition, either I or my officials met with each of the three...

Private Health Insurance. (16 Dec 2008)

Mary Harney: The intention in this proposal is not to raise revenue but, by way of a levy, to supplement the higher cost of insuring older people through an enhanced tax relief. The matter of ring-fencing any moneys would be a matter for the Minister for Finance. As anybody who has been in Government will know, this policy has never been pursued by any Minister for Finance. A proportion from the money...

Private Health Insurance. (16 Dec 2008)

Mary Harney: A number of groups that looked at the private health insurance market in Ireland, including all the companies in the market, suggested to me that there should be an incentive for people to begin their insurance when they are young in order to keep insurance affordable for older people. Relatively few people under the age of 35 use insurance. At a committee meeting recently I mentioned that...

Private Health Insurance. (16 Dec 2008)

Mary Harney: I hope it will be. Clearly, if there is a decline in our economic circumstances this may will impact on the situation. With regard to the reasons why the insurance was increased, Quinn Healthcare said that half the increase was due to the levy. I will be honest about that. The company said as much in its public statement. We have in the budget again hugely increased the cost of private...

Private Health Insurance. (16 Dec 2008)

Mary Harney: With regard to private health insurance, the VHI was established 51 years ago, when I was not around, because it was felt there were people who would make a contribution towards the cost of their own health care. It is a policy I support. Regardless of whether we had a universal system of health insurance, and no such system has been introduced since the Second World War in any European...

Private Health Insurance. (16 Dec 2008)

Mary Harney: As the Deputy is aware, I am not the Minister for Finance and I do not have any authority over the Revenue Commissioners.

Private Health Insurance. (16 Dec 2008)

Mary Harney: I have responsibility for health and, clearly, in the context of health budgets, we can give directions to the HSE. I do not have such authority with regard to the Revenue Commissioners, except to note that the intention is that the subsidy will go to enhance the tax benefit for older people. This is not introduced as a revenue raising measure but simply to make and keep health insurance...

Computerisation Programme. (16 Dec 2008)

Mary Harney: There is no proposal to spend €78 million on a computer system to replace PPARs. The Deputy may, however, be referring to a draft business plan for financial and procurement systems received by my Department in September of this year. This included proposed capital costs of just under €78 million. The draft business plan has since been discussed with the HSE and revised proposals...

Computerisation Programme. (16 Dec 2008)

Mary Harney: I laid the HSE service plan before the Oireachtas last week, as I am required to do by law. There is no question of the HSE plan being leaked. It was laid before the Oireachtas on 10 December 2008. On technology, the famous PPARs initiated in 1995 by six health boards does not meet the requirements of a unified service. One of the difficulties with it was that it was not "specked"...

Computerisation Programme. (16 Dec 2008)

Mary Harney: As I stated, PPARs was initiated by a number of health boards in 1995 following the publication of the health strategy in 1994. It was felt by a number of health boards, including some hospitals, that we needed to invest in a payroll system. That payroll system, which later became known as PPARs, and which is currently operating in a large number of places, has brought to light many...

Computerisation Programme. (16 Dec 2008)

Mary Harney: The service plan.

Computerisation Programme. (16 Dec 2008)

Mary Harney: The Deputy can get a copy of it in the Library.

Computerisation Programme. (16 Dec 2008)

Mary Harney: I am not aware of the procedure in that regard. However, I did what I am required to do. It is a matter for the HSE to publish its plan.