Results 11,281-11,300 of 24,635 for speaker:Mary Harney
- Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (4 Mar 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 question raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs...
- Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (4 Mar 2008)
Mary Harney: Persons and their dependants who would otherwise experience undue hardship in meeting the cost of General Practitioner (GP) services qualify for a medical card, which entitles them to a range of health services free of charge. In 2005, the GP visit card was introduced as a graduated benefit so that people on moderate and lower incomes, particularly parents of young children, who did not...
- Written Answers — Energy Conservation: Energy Conservation (4 Mar 2008)
Mary Harney: Under the aegis of the Office of Public Works, my Department is participating in an energy audit which aims to reduce energy use and carbon emissions by 15% per annum over a two year period. In advance of this exercise, we have already installed a new, more energy efficient lighting system in our Hawkins House headquarters, including mechanisms for automatically turning off lights in...
- Written Answers — General Medical Services Scheme: General Medical Services Scheme (4 Mar 2008)
Mary Harney: The Health Service Executive has put contingency plans in place in the event of the withdrawal of service by community pharmacists, following the introduction of the revised pharmacy pricing arrangements under the GMS and community drugs schemes from 1st March 2008. The contingency plans include information notices in the newspapers and an information helpline, open from 8am to 8pm Monday to...
- Written Answers — Cancer Screening Programme: Cancer Screening Programme (4 Mar 2008)
Mary Harney: The Health Service Executive (HSE) has advised that the review of the mammography services in Portlaoise is complete. Nine women were identified as having a diagnosis of cancer. All nine women have been offered appropriate treatment and counselling. A clinical review of ultrasounds at Portlaoise is also complete and no cancers were detected in this review. The HSE has advised my...
- Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (4 Mar 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: Pharmaceutical Pricing: Statements (4 Mar 2008)
Mary Harney: I met the IPU just two weeks ago. I never refused to meet the IPU.
- Seanad: Pharmaceutical Pricing: Statements (4 Mar 2008)
Mary Harney: May I respond to the debate?
- Seanad: Pharmaceutical Pricing: Statements (4 Mar 2008)
Mary Harney: I am very happy to be here to respond to the debate. I wish to correct the record, I have spoken on this issue in this House on two occasions since last summer. This is not the first time I have come to address the issue relating to pharmaceutical pricing and my view has not changed in the intervening period. There is no change in the contract between pharmacists and the Health Service...
- Seanad: Pharmaceutical Pricing: Statements (4 Mar 2008)
Mary Harney: The independent body has been asked to report by the end of May. While I have not spoken to the individuals involved, I understand they intend to meet that timeframe and have already had a number of meetings. In fact, I saw an advertisement in the newspapers yesterday inviting submissions. Their intention is to talk to and engage with the various stakeholders and obviously to commission...
- Seanad: Pharmaceutical Pricing: Statements (4 Mar 2008)
Mary Harney: Businesses close from time to time. I will not stand here and say it will not happen. A point of which I am certain is that what we are seeking to do is to have a vibrant pharmacy sector and to have pharmacies accessible to patients throughout the country. We can pride ourselves that even in relatively small places we have successful pharmacies and general practitioners, which is not the...
- Seanad: Pharmaceutical Pricing: Statements (4 Mar 2008)
Mary Harney: I am very happy to be here to deal with pharmacy pricing issues. Many Members of this House have been interested in this for some time. I want to set out the context in which the HSE and the Government is examining the cost of pharmaceutical products. We cannot separate this from the wider issue of health reform. In the health reform or transformation programme we seek to achieve a number...
- Seanad: Pharmaceutical Pricing: Statements (4 Mar 2008)
Mary Harney: Pharmacists take their ethical responsibility seriously and all evidence suggests that is the case. If anyone can show me anywhere in the world where it costs â¬600 million to bring â¬1 billion worth of drugs to patients, I will be very surprised. We have put in place a regime for the reimbursement of the retail pharmacy sector which is just not sustainable. As new drugs come on the...
- Seanad: Pharmaceutical Pricing: Statements (4 Mar 2008)
Mary Harney: It related to the period before the deadline. Hardly a call has been made since 1 March.
- Written Answers — Pharmacy Regulations: Pharmacy Regulations (28 Feb 2008)
Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 77 and 97 together. Competition law policy is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment in the first instance. However it is clear that the section of the Act cited by the Deputy confers a power on the Competition Authority, not on a Minister of the Government, to make a declaration in the terms described. I understand that...
- Written Answers — Care of the Elderly: Care of the Elderly (28 Feb 2008)
Mary Harney: Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services was assigned to the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004 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 case raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the...
- Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (28 Feb 2008)
Mary Harney: Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services was assigned to the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004 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 case raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the...
- Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (28 Feb 2008)
Mary Harney: The Government is committed to the provision of high quality gynaecological services throughout the country, including the Cork region. The Health Service Executive has advised my Department that the gynaecology service in Cork University Hospital currently includes five gynaecology theatre sessions. There were approximately 1,152 elective gynaecology procedures carried out in 2007. In...
- Written Answers — Pharmacy Services: Pharmacy Services (28 Feb 2008)
Mary Harney: The Government is firm in its view that the wholesale mark-up paid on the price of drugs should be reduced to a level that is fair to both taxpayers and wholesalers. The existing mark-up in the range of 15-17.6% is neither reasonable nor sustainable. The decision to pay an 8% mark-up from 1 March, and 7% from 1 January 2009, will go ahead. However, I am concerned, in particular, to support...
- Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (28 Feb 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...