Results 12,541-12,560 of 24,635 for speaker:Mary Harney

Community Pharmacy Services. (21 Nov 2007)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 43 and 46 together. I previously outlined in detail to the Oireachtas the legal provisions under competition law which prevent the Health Service Executive, HSE, from negotiating with the Irish Pharmaceutical Union, IPU, on fees, prices and margins for its members. When it became clear that the HSE could not negotiate with pharmacists or wholesalers on fees...

Community Pharmacy Services. (21 Nov 2007)

Mary Harney: I welcome what the Deputy said on behalf of his party and I share his view. As the Deputy is aware, this legal advice came to hand as a result of the negotiations that had begun with the wholesalers. The intention, always, was to negotiate and we respect bodies that organise around trade unions and have always dealt with organisations on that basis. Clearly, we cannot breach Irish...

Community Pharmacy Services. (21 Nov 2007)

Mary Harney: To answer the first of the Deputy's three questions, I do not know how one might define "eminent" in this context, but the idea of a neutral, independent, acceptable person is a mechanism for consideration within the legal advice that has been given to me to date.

Community Pharmacy Services. (21 Nov 2007)

Mary Harney: I want to clarify on the record that the Attorney General is not involved in the advice procedure because of a conflict of interest. He has made arrangements for counsel to advise us. Whether the person is eminent or well known, it is the objectivity and acceptability of the incumbent that matters and it may well turn out to be a process for more than one person. Clearly, the same process...

Community Pharmacy Services. (21 Nov 2007)

Mary Harney: This is not a question of representation but of price fixing and setting prices and margins, and European law is very clear on this issue. It has wide implications for staff other than health service personnel, including self-employed veterinarians and, perhaps, some members of the legal profession. That is why so much advice is required. This matter was brought to the attention of the HSE,...

Community Pharmacy Services. (21 Nov 2007)

Mary Harney: I do not believe large numbers of professional pharmacists will not supply medical card patients and others with their necessary medication. I salute the efforts made by the Irish Pharmaceutical Union when methadone was withdrawn by a number of pharmacists.

Community Pharmacy Services. (21 Nov 2007)

Mary Harney: It was extraordinarily professional and courageous. I will not state what personalities would be acceptable because it would not be advisable to do so. The contract is between the pharmacists and the HSE, not between me and the pharmacists. Clearly, I have an important role to play in this regard and the meeting last night was very positive, but I do not want to say anything in the House...

National Cancer Strategy. (21 Nov 2007)

Mary Harney: Professor Tom Keane took up his position as interim director of the national cancer control programme last Monday. Implementation of the programme is a major priority for me and the Government. The delivery of cancer services on a programmatic basis will serve to ensure equity of access to services and equality of patient outcome, irrespective of geography. The recent decisions of the HSE...

National Cancer Strategy. (21 Nov 2007)

Mary Harney: On the question of women awaiting test results from the Midland Regional Hospital in Portlaoise, all 3,037 mammograms have been reviewed and nine women have been diagnosed with cancer, all of whom are now receiving treatment or counselling.

National Cancer Strategy. (21 Nov 2007)

Mary Harney: There was one new case.

National Cancer Strategy. (21 Nov 2007)

Mary Harney: The original number was seven; the figure is now nine. The media were referring to eight women but, as far as Dr. O'Doherty is concerned, she diagnosed nine women as having cancer among the 3,037 tested. When we were debating this matter two weeks ago, we were relying on a figure of seven.

National Cancer Strategy. (21 Nov 2007)

Mary Harney: Two more were diagnosed, resulting in a total of nine, all of whom are receiving treatment and counselling. I reiterate my apology of some weeks ago to the women concerned for the delay in diagnosing their cancers. We are trying to minimise the possibility of this happening again. An additional €1 billion has been invested in cancer care in the past ten years. This is a considerable...

Hospital Services. (21 Nov 2007)

Mary Harney: The Department of Health and Children acted on my behalf in this matter and I am totally satisfied in every respect that the Department acted in a thorough, timely and appropriate manner on foot of the information received. It is entirely without foundation for the Deputy to claim the letter "lay languishing" in the Department. The facts are as follows. On 5 July 2005, a consultant at the...

Hospital Services. (21 Nov 2007)

Mary Harney: In response to the last question, I understand that Dr. Ann O'Doherty was a member of the interview panel. It was a Public Appointments Service interview process that appointed the radiologist who is currently on administrative leave. I believe we answered a parliamentary question here recently. We get about 6,000 letters, excluding telephone calls, e-mails, representations from...

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (20 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 GP 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 from visiting their...

Written Answers — Health Service Executive: Health Service Executive (20 Nov 2007)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 190 and 262 together. The Revised Estimates Volume 2007 provides €13,431 million for day-to-day spending by the Health Service Executive which is an increase of 10.6% over the underlying 2006 provision. This substantial increase in funding means that the HSE is being well resourced. It comes in the wake of substantial year-on-year increases for some time...

Written Answers — Pharmacy Sector: Pharmacy Sector (20 Nov 2007)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 192 to 194, inclusive, 212 to 214, inclusive, and 264 together. My Department has received correspondence from the Irish Pharmaceutical Union and other interested parties concerning the new reimbursement pricing arrangements for drugs and medicines under the GMS and community drugs schemes. Officials from my Department have met with the HSE on a number of...

Written Answers — Public Health: Public Health (20 Nov 2007)

Mary Harney: The Deputy's question relates to pest control, which is the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has asked the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Nursing Homes Repayment Scheme: Nursing Homes Repayment Scheme (20 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 — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (20 Nov 2007)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 197 to 200, inclusive, together. 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 questions raised by the...