Results 14,361-14,380 of 24,635 for speaker:Mary Harney

Seanad: Medical Practitioners Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Apr 2007)

Mary Harney: That is the case and that is why it must be given priority. However, I am of the view that a great deal of money will be saved in the medium to long term because if doctors are competent, up to speed and possess the requisite skills, patients do better. Such patients are obviously less of a burden on the health system than those who were treated inappropriately by doctors who did not...

Seanad: Medical Practitioners Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Apr 2007)

Mary Harney: I agree. That is why we did not use the phrase "as far as is practicable".

Seanad: Medical Practitioners Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Apr 2007)

Mary Harney: It will be kept in place. The inclusion of the Postgraduate Dental and Medical Board in this legislation came on foot of the recommendations of the Fotrell and Buttimer reports.

Seanad: Medical Practitioners Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Apr 2007)

Mary Harney: This is a technical amendment which corrects a minor typographical error. The word "this" is not required in this context.

Seanad: Medical Practitioners Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Apr 2007)

Mary Harney: These technical amendments correct various references to articles, paragraphs and subparagraphs in Schedule 2. They merely ensure consistency with the normal drafting style of Irish legislation, in which references are generally to paragraphs, subparagraphs and clauses of Schedules to Bills.

Seanad: Medical Practitioners Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Apr 2007)

Mary Harney: This technical amendment corrects a minor typographical error whereby the word "Minister" was incorrectly spelled.

Seanad: Medical Practitioners Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Apr 2007)

Mary Harney: I have no idea but it is clearly good practice to address these errors once they are discovered.

Seanad: Medical Practitioners Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Apr 2007)

Mary Harney: I thank Senators for an informed and insightful debate. I always derive great pleasure from attending the Seanad for debates. I am delighted the Bill has seen a speedy passage because everybody recognises it is long overdue. I thank the Leader and the staff of the House for facilitating today's debate.

Seanad: Medical Practitioners Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Apr 2007)

Mary Harney: The council is free to co-opt additional persons onto its committees. The point was made very strongly to me by the president of the Medical Council and the CEO, Mr. John Lamont, that with such a rigid structure it was difficult to get the required complement of people for the various committees, given the requirements under existing legislation. We are giving the council the authority to...

Seanad: Medical Practitioners Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Apr 2007)

Mary Harney: This is already covered in section 56(1), which states the council is required to ensure a register is published "in the prescribed manner", as defined on page 12, as follows: (a) is published on a relevant Internet website, and (b) is available for inspection, at the office of the Council and at all reasonable times, by members of the public. I believe the intent is covered.

Seanad: Medical Practitioners Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Apr 2007)

Mary Harney: These are technical amendments to correct minor typographical errors in the word "specialty", which was incorrectly spelt in certain areas. An "i" was put after the "l", where there should not be one.

Seanad: Medical Practitioners Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Apr 2007)

Mary Harney: Senator Henry is correct that this is the position.

Seanad: Medical Practitioners Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Apr 2007)

Mary Harney: I have concerns about this. Recently I had meetings with the IMO and final year medical students, half of whom had placements and the other half who were concerned as they did not. Since then, I have met with Professor Drumm and the HSE to make this a priority. With the increased number of medical graduates and the new medical school in Limerick, there will be issues around the...

Seanad: Medical Practitioners Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Apr 2007)

Mary Harney: They must have specialist qualifications. Issues surrounding cosmetic surgery cannot be dealt with in their entirety in this legislation. It will be dealt with by a licensing system. I have established a patient safety commission to examine the accreditation and the licensing of health facilities, particularly hospitals. Anyone can own and run a hospital in this State but doctors must be...

Seanad: Medical Practitioners Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Apr 2007)

Mary Harney: I am advised we cannot go beyond the directive's provisions. It must be implemented. The Senator used the example of cosmetic surgery and a person not properly qualified in another member state coming to practise in Ireland. The directive specifies that any doctor who has a basic qualification and internship can practise in Ireland on a temporary basis. It is more a European issue than an...

Seanad: Medical Practitioners Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Apr 2007)

Mary Harney: They will not be able to practise as specialists because that will be a designated title. They can practise as doctors but not as specialists. There are two issues involved. First, there is an EU-wide dimension for standards and patient information. Many people are going to doctors who are not medical practitioners such as in alternative medicine. Second, there is an issue with the...

Seanad: Medical Practitioners Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Apr 2007)

Mary Harney: The title "specialist" will be designated in this legislation. After the regulations are made, it will be a matter for the council to ensure those that are qualified can call themselves specialists. It will be an offence under the Act to call oneself a specialist when one does not have a specialist qualification. It will require vigilance on the part of the Medical Council.

Seanad: Medical Practitioners Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Apr 2007)

Mary Harney: There was a well-publicised case of a young woman who died. I am not sure what the outcome of the investigation was in that case. A doctor attended a hotel in Ireland from which he recruited patients for cosmetic surgery. There are many people going abroad for dental work and other treatments. We cannot control the output flow of patients. Sometimes the Irish health system has to pick up...

Seanad: Medical Practitioners Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Apr 2007)

Mary Harney: In this respect, we have gone for a position that is a half-way house. Much lobbying, particularly from patient groups, was engaged in for everything to be heard in public. I very much take the point made by both Senators in the case of complainants. Many people want to remain private citizens but want to do their duty by themselves as patients and by other patients by making a complaint...

Seanad: Medical Practitioners Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Apr 2007)

Mary Harney: This technical amendment is included to correct a typographical error in the Bill relating to a cross-reference to section 63. As this section was amended in the Dáil, the reference no longer exists.