Results 9,821-9,840 of 24,635 for speaker:Mary Harney

Cancer Screening Programme: Statements (29 May 2008)

Mary Harney: I am not certain that is correct. In response to Deputy Michael D. Higgins, for whom I have a lot of respect, my responsibility is to ensure that the HSE has appropriate laboratory facilities. The report commissioned by the HSE and the McGoogan report both refer to rationalisation. I do not know enough about hot labs and cold labs and all that detail because I have no expertise in the...

Cancer Screening Programme: Statements (29 May 2008)

Mary Harney: There are also volumes involved and we are only 4.3 million people. We must provide health services in a way which delivers quality assured pathology and laboratory facilities for the health system.

Cancer Screening Programme: Statements (29 May 2008)

Mary Harney: The Deputy knows a great deal more about this type of subject than I do.

Cancer Screening Programme: Statements (29 May 2008)

Mary Harney: I will not take a lecture from Deputy Ó Snodaigh. He started this morning by wanting to stop us referring co-operation on criminal matters to a committee.

Cancer Screening Programme: Statements (29 May 2008)

Mary Harney: I am not misleading the House. Of course there is disappointment with the procurement process that certain applicants who tendered were not successful. I understand this point. People have raised issues with regard to staffing. As I already stated, these staff are public servants. There is no question of forced redundancy in the public sector, contrary to the rumours often put out that...

Cancer Screening Programme: Statements (29 May 2008)

Mary Harney: Already this year we recruited 6,000 more people to the public health service. The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland would not have issued the statement it issued last night if it was not satisfied about the advancement and development of skills in laboratory facilities in Ireland.

Cancer Screening Programme: Statements (29 May 2008)

Mary Harney: I will repeat what I stated earlier. It is hard to believe this debate is about women and cervical screening. I hope all of us, particularly the women, will work together to encourage women in every part of Ireland——

Cancer Screening Programme: Statements (29 May 2008)

Mary Harney: ——when they receive their correspondence to come forward for the smear and participate in the programme, as Deputies on all sides of the House do with regard to BreastCheck.

Cancer Screening Programme: Statements (29 May 2008)

Mary Harney: Deputy O'Rourke made a valid point——

Cancer Screening Programme: Statements (29 May 2008)

Mary Harney: ——and this will happen. In every area of health we must have priorities and we cannot do everything together. The jury is out with regard to screening for prostate cancer and colorectal is next.

Cancer Screening Programme: Statements (29 May 2008)

Mary Harney: The NCSS is independent of the HSE. It is a stand-alone body and reports to the Department and the Minister for Health and Children. I have confidence in the screening service and Deputies have attested to their experiences of BreastCheck, which is acknowledged domestically and internationally to have been rolled out in a most appropriate fashion. When I asked the NCSS to roll out a...

Cancer Screening Programme: Statements (29 May 2008)

Mary Harney: I personally believe going to tender is the appropriate way forward in accordance with EU guidelines.

Cancer Screening Programme: Statements (29 May 2008)

Mary Harney: It is not filibuster. The tenders were evaluated by Dr. Linda Caughley, Quality Assurance Director for Northern Ireland and adviser in regard to accreditation in the UK, Miriam O'Reilly and others. On the public laboratories and the HSE, the HSE, as the Deputy will be aware, undertook a review of laboratory services. The review is quite controversial because it makes radical proposals on...

Cancer Screening Programme: Statements (29 May 2008)

Mary Harney: We are saying, as is the case in respect of BreastCheck, this cervical screening programme will be rolled out to best international standards.

Cancer Screening Programme: Statements (29 May 2008)

Mary Harney: In the mid-west, Deputy O'Sullivan, women have to wait more than six months for the result of their smear tests.

Cancer Screening Programme: Statements (29 May 2008)

Mary Harney: That is not a quality assured service. We cannot roll out the service on this basis. It would make absolutely no sense to do so.

Cancer Screening Programme: Statements (29 May 2008)

Mary Harney: Eighty per cent of the marks were for quality and turnaround and 20%, one fifth, were for price.

Cancer Screening Programme: Statements (29 May 2008)

Mary Harney: I am not familiar with the details of the individual bidders. It would be improper of me to interfere in a tender process. Legal issues aside, it would be highly irregular.

Cancer Screening Programme: Statements (29 May 2008)

Mary Harney: Deputy Reilly would be the first person to stand up in this House and complain if I were ever to interfere with the tender process.

Cancer Screening Programme: Statements (29 May 2008)

Mary Harney: I do not do that. The screening service will equally confirm that when they are rolling out BreastCheck I do not tell them which county is next. That is purely a matter for them. I tell them only to move on as quickly as possible.