Results 9,901-9,920 of 24,635 for speaker:Mary Harney

Written Answers — General Medical Services Scheme: General Medical Services Scheme (28 May 2008)

Mary Harney: Following a previous question on this matter from the Deputy on the 8th April, 2008, my Department requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Health Service Executive (HSE) to arrange to address the operational aspects of this particular case and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy. My Department has made inquiries of the HSE regarding the status of its reply and I...

Written Answers — Health Care Associated Infections: Health Care Associated Infections (28 May 2008)

Mary Harney: I would like to assure the Deputy that tackling Healthcare Associated Infections (HCAIs), including Clostridium difficile (C. difficile), continues to be a priority for the Government and for the Health Service Executive (HSE). I assume the recommendations that the Deputy is referring to are the Guidelines for the Surveillance, Management and Control of C. difficile-associated disease which...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (28 May 2008)

Mary Harney: One of the key challenges facing the health service is the need to ensure that services are planned and provided in line with the clinical need of the patient. A number of experimental initiatives have been put in place by the Health Service Executive with a view to providing care in community based rather than hospital based settings where clinically appropriate. The Hospital in the Home...

Written Answers — Accident and Emergency Services: Accident and Emergency Services (28 May 2008)

Mary Harney: The "100 +" Scheme was introduced by the Health Service Executive to reward hospitals where the Emergency Department met performance targets. Phase 1 of the Scheme was announced last year and involved the approval of 60 consultant posts across 24 hospitals. The additional consultants were approved across a range of specialties including emergency medicine, radiology, general medicine,...

Written Answers — Hospital Staff: Hospital Staff (28 May 2008)

Mary Harney: On 6 May 2008 the Irish Hospital Consultants Association voted to accept the terms of the new contract for medical consultants. I am advised that the Irish Medical Organisation has also balloted its members and that the result will be known in early June. The Deputy will be aware that it has taken almost five years to complete these negotiations and it is therefore vitally important that the...

Written Answers — Hospital Procedures: Hospital Procedures (28 May 2008)

Mary Harney: Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services is a matter for the Health Service Executive and funding for all health services has been provided as part of its overall Vote. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular issue raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division...

Seanad: Health Services: Motion (28 May 2008)

Mary Harney: It is always a pleasure to come to the Seanad notwithstanding the fact that some of its Members think I have no accountability here. It is unusual that I do not as I am here so often. I always enjoy attending debates in this House. If we do not get the basic facts right, we will not have an informed debate. I want to tell Senator Fitzgerald that the HSE is not four and a half years in...

Seanad: Health Services: Motion (28 May 2008)

Mary Harney: I believe the Senator stated "by administration".

Seanad: Health Services: Motion (28 May 2008)

Mary Harney: Irish doctors are the best paid in the world by a long margin, as are all health care professionals. As I stated previously, pharmacists are paid, on average, €100,000 more here than in Northern Ireland, yet we cannot get support for the reforms we are introducing. Under the new regime, we will ensure that as a result of the high public salaries, there is greater concentration on access...

Written Answers — Cancer Screening Programme: Cancer Screening Programme (27 May 2008)

Mary Harney: The National Cancer Screening Service (NCSS) will shortly implement a quality assured national population based screening programme, so that unnecessary deaths from cervical cancer among women can be avoided. The (NCSS) have announced a preferred bidder for the provision of laboratory testing services for the National Cervical Screening Programme. This is an important milestone which will...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (27 May 2008)

Mary Harney: The Health Service Executive administers the pension scheme in question and therefore is the appropriate organisation to address the Deputy's query. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Mental Health Services: Mental Health Services (27 May 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. It is a matter for the Executive to manage and deploy its human resources to best meet the requirements of its Annual Service Plan for the delivery of health and personal social services to the public. The...

Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (27 May 2008)

Mary Harney: Almost 130,000 people work full-time or part-time in our public health services. It is a matter for the Health Service Executive to manage its human resources to best meet the requirements of its Annual Service Plan for the delivery of health and personal social services to the public. This includes dealing with matters relating to staff disciplinary procedures. I am aware that the HSE...

Written Answers — Domiciliary Care Allowance: Domiciliary Care Allowance (27 May 2008)

Mary Harney: The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal 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 — Health Service Expenditure: Health Service Expenditure (27 May 2008)

Mary Harney: The Revised Estimates Volume sets out a formal description of the services to be financed from each Vote and sets out the gross provision by subhead. The subheads of a Vote set out the detailed allocations of all the expenditure on programmes and services within the ambit of the Vote, and are the headings under which a Department or Office is required to account for the expenditure in its...

Written Answers — Departmental Investigations: Departmental Investigations (27 May 2008)

Mary Harney: I was very concerned to learn of the death of the lady concerned and I wish to extend my sincere sympathies to her family at this very difficult time. I have requested the Health Service Executive (HSE), as the appropriate body to consider this case in the first instance, to furnish a report, as a matter of urgency, to my Department on the issues raised. I will reply directly to the Deputy on...

Written Answers — Nursing Homes Repayment Scheme: Nursing Homes Repayment Scheme (27 May 2008)

Mary Harney: The Health Repayment Scheme Appeals Office is an independent office established to provide an appeals service to those who wish to appeal the decision of the Scheme Administrator under the Health (Repayment Scheme) Act 2006. My Department has been advised by the Health Repayment Scheme Appeals Office that up to 16 May 2008 the Health Repayment Scheme Appeals Office has issued decisions in...

Written Answers — Hospitals Building Programme: Hospitals Building Programme (27 May 2008)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 207, 257 and 258 together. The development of the National Paediatric Hospital is a priority project for the Government. The objective is to provide a world class specialist paediatric service for children in this country. The National Paediatric Hospital Development Board was established in May 2007. The Board has statutory responsibility for planning,...

Written Answers — Cancer Screening Programme: Cancer Screening Programme (27 May 2008)

Mary Harney: The specific questions raised by the Deputy in relation to equipment for cervical smear testing relate to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the HSE under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to respond directly to the Deputy in this regard.

Written Answers — Patient Safety: Patient Safety (27 May 2008)

Mary Harney: At present there is no legislation in Ireland governing laser eye treatment. However, the involvement of medical practitioners in this practice is subject to the provisions of the Medical Practitioners Act and the Medical Council's guidelines. Under the Medical Practitioners Act 1978, the Medical Council is charged with responsibility for the registration of medical practitioners and the...