Results 12,161-12,180 of 24,635 for speaker:Mary Harney

Written Answers — Cancer Screening Programme: Cancer Screening Programme (11 Dec 2007)

Mary Harney: I received correspondence from the Group referred to by the Deputy on 22 November last. The correspondence related to the National Quality Assurance Standards for Symptomatic Breast Disease Services which I approved last June under the Health Act 2007. I am very grateful for the significant support provided by Europa Donna Ireland in terms of the implementation of the Standards and the...

Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (11 Dec 2007)

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, including the payment of travel allowances to eligible personnel, has been provided as part of its overall vote. The Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular issues...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (11 Dec 2007)

Mary Harney: At the launch of the National Oral Health Policy on the 18th October last, I announced that my Department would be filling a senior clinical dental position. In addition, I indicated that I was open to considering, in conjunction with stakeholders, the structure, role and responsibilities of this position. My Department has sought and received the views of stakeholders on this post. My...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (11 Dec 2007)

Mary Harney: The Health Service Executive has the operational and funding responsibility for Primary Care services, including arrangements relating to those clinics referred to by the Deputy. As such it is the appropriate body to consider the particular matter raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (11 Dec 2007)

Mary Harney: Recruitment procedures for the appointment of locum consultants were the subject of review between the Department and the health service bodies during the period 2000 and 2002. In June 2000 the then Minister for Health and Children, Mr Micheál Martin, T.D. announced the establishment of a Working Group to consider recruitment procedures for locum consultants arising from the case of a locum...

Written Answers — Health Insurance: Health Insurance (6 Dec 2007)

Mary Harney: With regard to the pricing of health insurance, it is a matter for the insurer to determine the appropriate premium. Community rated health insurance in Ireland is significantly cheaper than comparable cover elsewhere particularly for vulnerable groups such as older people. The Voluntary Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2007, currently before the Oireachtas, provides for the removal of the...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (6 Dec 2007)

Mary Harney: In 2001 at the request of the then Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Micheál Martin, Ms Maureen Lynott carried out a review of the circumstances surrounding the employment of a person to a particular locum psychiatrist position in the Irish Public Health Service. This review was completed in February 2002. Ms Lynott's report made a number of recommendations regarding inter-agency...

Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (6 Dec 2007)

Mary Harney: The current recruitment pause is a temporary measure initiated as part of the HSE financial break-even plan for 2007. In any instance where a critical or essential vacancy arises it may be filled through redeployment of existing staff by the line manager or re-assignment of responsibilities based on assessment of priority need. Notwithstanding this, the HSE recognises that there are some...

Written Answers — Departmental Meetings: Departmental Meetings (6 Dec 2007)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 93 and 94 together. My Department's Management Advisory Committee (MAC) generally meets every Monday morning. Its work programme is structured and provides for regular consideration of matters of particular importance. Such matters are then brought to my attention, in the first instance, by the Secretary General, and also by individual MAC members. In addition...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (6 Dec 2007)

Mary Harney: The following tables detail the number of programme managers, special advisors, policy assistants, personnel on secondment and other personnel who are not part of the existing Civil Service who make up my Department. Details are also provided in respect of the number of permanent civil servants attached to my office and the offices of the Ministers of State. Minister's Office Grade Civil...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (6 Dec 2007)

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 case raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division...

Written Answers — : (6 Dec 2007)

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, including the payment of premiums to eligible personnel, has been provided as part of its overall vote. The Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular issues raised by...

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (6 Dec 2007)

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...

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (6 Dec 2007)

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...

Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (6 Dec 2007)

Mary Harney: According to information provided by the Health Service Executive on 29 November 2007 in the context of an Adjournment Debate on occupational therapy services in the Kildare/West Wicklow area, there were 8.5 vacant posts in the occupational therapy service in this area, including two maternity leave vacancies. According to clarification provided by the HSE to my Department yesterday (5...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (6 Dec 2007)

Mary Harney: The 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 — Health Service Reform: Health Service Reform (6 Dec 2007)

Mary Harney: The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) was established in May 2007. This represents a crucial element of the Health Reform Programme and is a new departure for the Irish Health Services. A core function of the Authority is to set standards on safety and quality of health services and to monitor enforcement of these standards in an open and transparent way. The Act gives HIQA...

Financial Resolution No. 4: Income Tax (5 Dec 2007)

Mary Harney: I move: (1) That, as respects the year of assessment 2008 and subsequent years of assessment, section 122 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 (No. 39 of 1997) be amended in the definition of "the specified rate" in subsection (1)(a)— (a) by substituting "5.5 per cent" for "4.5 per cent" (inserted by the Finance Act 2007 (No. 11 of 2007)) in both places where it occurs, and (b) by...

Financial Resolution No. 4: Income Tax (5 Dec 2007)

Mary Harney: The purpose of the resolution is to keep pace with the changes in interest rates in the market over the past 12 months. If an employer gives a loan to an employee at 2% below the market rate, this represents a benefit-in-kind and is taxed accordingly. The purpose of the resolution is to take account of the increase in interest rates and therefore the increase in the benefit to employees...

Financial Resolution No. 4: Income Tax (5 Dec 2007)

Mary Harney: This is not a new provision; it is an adjustment that takes place annually. We are making an adjustment in light of the increase in interest rates. The measure does not apply to a large number of people. Individuals with the loans in question have, over the past year, enjoyed a very beneficial rate. We are simply taxing benefits-in-kind at the marginal rate. Health insurance, cars or...