Results 12,481-12,500 of 24,635 for speaker:Mary Harney

Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (21 Nov 2007)

Mary Harney: Under Section 22 of the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive, with the approval of the Minister for Health and Children given with the consent of the Minister for Finance, determines the terms and conditions of its employees. In that regard, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the matter raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs...

Written Answers — Hospital Facilities: Hospital Facilities (21 Nov 2007)

Mary Harney: As stated in my reply to Question No. 204 of 6 November 2007, most enclosed places of work — including hospitals (other than psychiatric hospitals) — became smoke-free on 29 March 2004. The primary purpose of the measure is to protect the health of employees and the public (including patients, in the case of hospitals) from exposure to toxic environmental tobacco smoke. The legislation...

Written Answers — Nursing Home Subventions: Nursing Home Subventions (21 Nov 2007)

Mary Harney: The Health Service Executive has responsibility for administering the Repayment Scheme and the information sought by the Deputy relates to matters within the area of responsibility of the Executive. 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 — Vaccination Programme: Vaccination Programme (21 Nov 2007)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 166 and 210 together. I understand from the Health Service Executive (HSE), that owing to regulatory difficulties being experienced by the manufacturer of the BCG vaccine, there may be a shortage of the vaccine throughout the country during the coming weeks. This is a Europe-wide problem as the manufacturer in question is the only company which supplies the...

Written Answers — Hospitals Building Programme: Hospitals Building Programme (21 Nov 2007)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 168 and 188 together. I have no plans to review the decision to locate the new National Paediatric Hospital on a site to be made available at the Mater Hospital, Dublin. On 31 October last, the Health Service Executive announced the details of the High Level Framework Brief for the new hospital. The Brief was prepared by Rawlinson, Kelly and Whittlestone...

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (21 Nov 2007)

Mary Harney: Medical cards are made available to people and their dependants who would otherwise experience undue hardship in meeting the cost of General Practitioner services. 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 do not qualify for a medical card would not be deterred on cost grounds...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (21 Nov 2007)

Mary Harney: I am having inquiries made to obtain the information sought, as it relates to my Department and agencies under my Department's remit. I will forward this information to the Deputy as soon as it is available. With regard to conferences organised by the Health Service Executive, I have referred the question to the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive for its attention and direct...

Written Answers — Hospitals Building Programme: Hospitals Building Programme (21 Nov 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 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...

Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (21 Nov 2007)

Mary Harney: Subject to overall parameters set by the Government, the Health Service Executive has the responsibility for determining the composition of its staffing complement. In that regard, 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 — Conflicts of Interest: Conflicts of Interest (21 Nov 2007)

Mary Harney: For the years 2002 to 2006, inclusive, none of the Special Advisers, attached to either myself or the Ministers of State at my Department, declared a conflict of interest. The most recent information held by my Department relates to the year ended 31 December, 2006. Special Advisers are required under the Ethics in Public Office Acts 1995 and 2001 to declare any conflict of interest by end...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (21 Nov 2007)

Mary Harney: My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Health Service Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to respond directly to the Deputy. The information regarding this Department and other agencies is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Complaints Procedures: Complaints Procedures (21 Nov 2007)

Mary Harney: I assume the Deputy's question refers to complaints about the service provided by my Department. The number of written complaints received in the Customer Services Unit in my Department from members of the public in the context of the customer charter was ten in 2005; zero in 2006; and one to date in 2007.

Written Answers — Departmental Advertising: Departmental Advertising (21 Nov 2007)

Mary Harney: The information, involving many units of my Department, is not readily available. I have requested my Department to compile the relevant data and it will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (21 Nov 2007)

Mary Harney: The Secretary General of my Department chairs a High Level Value for Money Group which consists of representatives from the HSE, HIQA and the Department of Finance. The role of this group is to oversee and promote initiatives in the area of value for money/cost effectiveness in the health services. Whilst there are many ongoing internal Departmental reviews which impinge on Value for Money,...

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (21 Nov 2007)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 179 and 180 together. Details of the number of medical card and GP visit card holders are provided to my Department each month by the Health Service Executive. The figures are provided on a net basis showing the balance after new cards have been issued and other cards, as appropriate, have been deleted from the Executive's database, e.g. following a review of...

Written Answers — Hospital Waiting Lists: Hospital Waiting Lists (21 Nov 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 — Community Care: Community Care (21 Nov 2007)

Mary Harney: The Primary Care Strategy aims to increase health service capacity through the development of services in the community to give people direct access to integrated multi-disciplinary teams of general practitioners, nurses, home helps, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and others. It has been estimated that up to 95% of people's health and social services needs can be properly met...

Written Answers — Accident and Emergency Services: Accident and Emergency Services (21 Nov 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 issues raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division...

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (21 Nov 2007)

Mary Harney: The decision to transfer St. Luke's Hospital was taken by the Government in the context of its consideration of the National Plan for Radiation Oncology Services. The decision is designed to ensure that radiation oncology, one element of cancer care, is integrated with all other aspects of care, including surgery and medical oncology. This is in line with best international practice. I am...

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (21 Nov 2007)

Mary Harney: I take it that the Deputy's question refers to St Luke's Hospital Rathgar. The co-location initiative is designed to ensure that private beds in certain public hospitals are freed up for the use of public patients by having co-located private hospitals built on public hospital sites. St Luke's Hospital Rathgar is not amongst the public hospitals participating in the co-location initiative.