Results 8,501-8,520 of 24,635 for speaker:Mary Harney

Written Answers — Parliamentary Questions: Parliamentary Questions (5 Nov 2008)

Mary Harney: My Department has been informed by the Health Service Executive that a reply was issued yesterday to the Deputy setting out the details requested for the HSE North West region. Having regard to the Deputy's question, my Department has asked the Executive's Parliamentary Affairs Division to ensure that a further response is issued to the Deputy providing the specific information requested in...

Written Answers — Parliamentary Questions: Parliamentary Questions (5 Nov 2008)

Mary Harney: My Department has been informed by the Health Service Executive that the compilation of the information sought by the Deputy is being finalised and that it will be forwarded to him shortly.

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (5 Nov 2008)

Mary Harney: Following the recent Government decision to withdraw automatic entitlement to a medical card for persons aged 70 and over and to raise the means assessment threshold for persons in that age cohort, it is estimated that approximately 5% (20,000) of persons aged 70 and over will no longer qualify for a medical card. Persons whose income is above the threshold and whose circumstances are such...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (5 Nov 2008)

Mary Harney: There are 6 Civil Servants (5.6 WTE) assigned to the Department's Communications Unit, which incorporates a Press Office, as well as an internal communications function. The Unit is headed by an: 1 Assistant Principal Officer, and also includes 2 Higher Executive Officers and 3 Executive Officers (2.6 WTE); one Higher Executive Officer and two Executive Officers work in the Press Office. The...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (5 Nov 2008)

Mary Harney: The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (5 Nov 2008)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 226 to 229, inclusive, together. As the Deputy will be aware my Department is not one of the Departments scheduled for decentralisation under the Government's Decentralisation Programme. To date fifty-five civil servants have transferred to decentralising Departments from my Department. Further details in respect of the transfer of these officers are...

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (5 Nov 2008)

Mary Harney: Regulation (EC) 1408/71 coordinates health and social security arrangements among EU member states (it also applies in the remaining EEA member states and Switzerland). Under these provisions, people who are insured with (covered by) the healthcare system of one EU member state are entitled to receive healthcare in the public system of another member state in certain circumstances, at the...

Seanad: Medical Cards: Statements (5 Nov 2008)

Mary Harney: With regard to the debate about universality, and it has merit, tax rates of at least 60% would be required to fund the proposals suggested by the Opposition. Senator Twomey referred to the United Kingdom but pharmacists in the UK, for example, earn at least €100,000 less than their Irish counterparts and the same applies to general practitioners. In the British health care system, one...

Seanad: Medical Cards: Statements (5 Nov 2008)

Mary Harney: The estimate at the time was that it would cost €15 million. As we know, that estimate was inaccurate because the numbers on which it was based were wrong. To those who say that more than 5% of those over 70 will be disqualified, the Central Statistics Office has given the Department data on the number of people over 70. It is interesting to note that there are 10,000 fewer people over...

Seanad: Medical Cards: Statements (5 Nov 2008)

Mary Harney: In the context of the legislation, I am seeking to facilitate that. Once one does a means test at 70, that should be the end of the matter. There are very few people who can expect their means to improve after the age of 70. Perhaps one or two might win the Lotto but there should not be very prohibitive legislative requirements for the sake of one or two people. The legislation to which I...

Seanad: Medical Cards: Statements (5 Nov 2008)

Mary Harney: Everybody over 70 genuinely thought they would lose their medical card but that was never going to be the case, with 215,000 still qualifying. A further 85,000 were going to get either a full medical card or a doctor-only card. We were going to give a cash payment to those who did not qualify for a card towards the cost of their health expenses. Having reviewed that plan, in light of the...

Seanad: Medical Cards: Statements (5 Nov 2008)

Mary Harney: No, I said €60 million.

Seanad: Medical Cards: Statements (5 Nov 2008)

Mary Harney: The possibility of a pay pause because of the economic situation was mentioned. There is a pay pause in the public sector. An 11-month pay pause was agreed as part of the national partnership talks. However, as we are all aware, the economic situation has deteriorated rapidly since that agreement. Every possible option for the public finances should be on the table. The more that can be...

Seanad: Medical Cards: Statements (5 Nov 2008)

Mary Harney: I am pleased to be in the House to discuss this issue. I am sure most Members of the House have been awake all night watching the unfolding events in the world's oldest democracy, which are very exciting not only for the United States of America but for the entire democratic world and possibly beyond. It is a pleasure to be in the House again to discuss the issue of medical cards. In recent...

Seanad: Medical Cards: Statements (5 Nov 2008)

Mary Harney: I do not have a script. Notwithstanding these savings, health spending next year will increase by 4.1%. To put that in context, in 1987-88 health spending was reduced by 3.5% when the country faced similar significant economic challenges. There will be an increase next year of approximately 4.1% year on year. Notwithstanding that increase, a cut of €700 million had to be identified in...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (4 Nov 2008)

Mary Harney: The Deputy's question relates to the funding, management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (4 Nov 2008)

Mary Harney: As the Health Service Executive has the operational and funding responsibility for the medical card benefit, it is the appropriate body to consider the particular case raised by the Deputy. My Department has therefore requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to address this matter and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (4 Nov 2008)

Mary Harney: Almost 130,000 people work full-time or part-time in our public health services. In recent years, the Government's ongoing high level of investment in health has achieved and maintained significant increases in the numbers of doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals employed in the public health services. The Government has also invested heavily in the education and training of...

Written Answers — Drugs Payment Scheme: Drugs Payment Scheme (4 Nov 2008)

Mary Harney: Following the reduction in pharmaceutical reimbursement prices on 1 March 2008, claims made by patients to Health Service Executive (HSE) local health offices were paid at the new lower reimbursement rate. I understand that payment of some claims was delayed because the pharmacy had charged the patient at the higher price, not the lower reimbursement price. Following a recent High Court...

Written Answers — Vaccination Programme: Vaccination Programme (4 Nov 2008)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 202 and 263 together. The economic situation has rapidly and seriously deteriorated. Public resources, including for health, are very scarce indeed and will remain so. I have decided that the best that can be achieved in these circumstances is to prioritise funding for the development of the cervical screening programme and treatment services at the eight...