Results 16,541-16,560 of 24,635 for speaker:Mary Harney
- Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (1 Nov 2006)
Mary Harney: Earlier this year I published, for consultation purposes, the draft Heads and General Scheme of a Bill providing for the establishment of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA). The draft Heads have been revised following on from the consultation process and I will be seeking Government approval within the next few weeks to commence drafting the full Bill. As my Department...
- Written Answers — National Treatment Purchase Fund: National Treatment Purchase Fund (1 Nov 2006)
Mary Harney: The National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) was established as one of the key actions for dealing with public hospital waiting lists arising from the 2001 Health Strategy. The NTPF purchases procedures for public patients predominantly from private hospitals in Ireland. My Department has asked the Chief Executive of the Fund to outline for the Deputy the protocols and procedures in relation...
- Written Answers — School of Podiatry: School of Podiatry (1 Nov 2006)
Mary Harney: As outlined in my responses to the Deputy's previous questions on the matter, responsibility for the establishment of a school of podiatry, including its location, will be a matter in the final instance for the Department of Education and Science. A decision has not yet been taken on the location of the school or the criteria associated with this. As the Deputy was previously advised, the...
- Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (1 Nov 2006)
Mary Harney: The Deputy's 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 — Hospitals Building Programme: Hospitals Building Programme (1 Nov 2006)
Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 146 and 193 together. The Health Services Executive is currently undertaking a procurement process to select a consortia to build and operate private hospitals on the sites of 10 public hospitals. The new private hospitals will be procured by utilising the competitive dialogue tendering process. It involves a three stage process namely: 1. pre-qualification;...
- Written Answers — Organ Retention: Organ Retention (1 Nov 2006)
Mary Harney: I do not believe there is anything to be gained from the establishment of a Statutory Inquiry into the issue of organ retention. The report of an Inquiry into post mortem practice and organ retention chaired by Ms Anne Dunne SC was presented to me in March 2005. Unfortunately it could not be published for legal reasons. Dr. Deirdre Madden, a distinguished expert on medical law, was...
- Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (1 Nov 2006)
Mary Harney: Quality standards for the provision of radiation oncology services for public patients have been prepared by an expert group established on foot of a Government decision in January 2004. The Health Service Executive (HSE) has advised my Department that it is applying these standards to radiation oncology services that it provides or arranges to have provided. There has been recent...
- Written Answers — Infectious Diseases: Infectious Diseases (1 Nov 2006)
Mary Harney: My Department is aware of these UK reports and the findings in relation to Clostridium difficile. Clostridium difficile is not a notifiable disease and as a result it is difficult to quantify the extent of infection in the heath care system. However, Clostridium difficile infection was examined in The Third Prevalence Survey of Health Care Associated Infections (HCAIs) in acute hospitals in...
- Written Answers — Pharmacy Regulations: Pharmacy Regulations (1 Nov 2006)
Mary Harney: On foot of the recommendations of the Pharmacy Review Group, my Department has commenced drafting new pharmacy legislation in two pharmacy bills. The second bill will address the regulation of pharmacy and pharmacy services, including the definition of pharmacy services and of a community pharmacy, enhanced provisions for the inspection of pharmacies, and the provision for regulation of...
- Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (1 Nov 2006)
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 Services: Health Services (1 Nov 2006)
Mary Harney: The Deputy's 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 — Cancer Screening Programme: Cancer Screening Programme (1 Nov 2006)
Mary Harney: I have met with representatives of BreastCheck and they are fully aware of my wish to have a quality assured programme rolled out to the remaining regions in the country as quickly as possible. I have approved additional revenue funding of â¬2.3m to meet the additional costs of roll-out and an additional 69 posts have been approved. BreastCheck also requires considerable capital investment...
- Written Answers — Health Service Management: Health Service Management (1 Nov 2006)
Mary Harney: In accordance with the provisions of the Government decision of July, 2004 the headquarters of the Health Service Executive is located in Naas, Co. Kildare. However, for operational reasons, the HSE also maintain a sub-office in Parkgate Street, Dublin 8. My Department has been informed by the Executive that it is satisfied with the effectiveness of the current arrangements.
- Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (1 Nov 2006)
Mary Harney: The Deputy's 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 — Vaccination Programme: Vaccination Programme (1 Nov 2006)
Mary Harney: The overall cost of the influenza vaccine campaign was â¬10.837m for the 2004/2005 influenza season and â¬11.465m in the 2005/2006 season. Final costs are not yet available for the current season. The figures given include the costs of the media campaigns, the flu vaccine and GP fees. Influenza vaccine uptake statistics are available for those aged 65 years and over. Data provided by...
- Written Answers — Health Policy: Health Policy (1 Nov 2006)
Mary Harney: The National Task Force on Medical Staffing, chaired by Mr David Hanly, was set up to: devise a strategy for reducing the average working hours of non-consultant hospital doctors (NCHDs) so as to achieve the requirements of the European Working Time Directive (EWTD); address the consequent medical staffing needs of Irish hospitals; analyse the practical implications of moving to a...
- Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (1 Nov 2006)
Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 162 and 177 together. The reform of the acute hospital system, now well under way, was proposed in the Health Strategy published in 2001. The actions for change proposed for the development of the system were related to capacity, the mix between public and private patients and measures concerned with organisational and practical steps aimed at promoting...
- Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (1 Nov 2006)
Mary Harney: The issue of what is an appropriate method of funding the health services was discussed in the Health Strategy of 2001, which remains Government policy. The conclusion in the Strategy was that the present system should remain as "there is no compelling evidence that any alternative approach to the tax-based system would deliver significant improvements". If the question is referring to an...
- Written Answers — General Medical Services Scheme: General Medical Services Scheme (1 Nov 2006)
Mary Harney: The most recent information provided by the Health Service Executive (HSE) to my Department shows that 41,506 GP visit cards have been issued as at 25th October, 2006. More detailed statistical data provided by the HSE to my Department and correct as of 1st October 2006 contains county-by-county figures for the number of GP visit cards issued and this information is set out below. My...
- Written Answers — Hospital Staff: Hospital Staff (1 Nov 2006)
Mary Harney: Proposals for a new employment contract for consultants working in the public health system have been tabled by the management side in the context of the consultants' contract negotiations, which will resume shortly. The new contract will be a first step towards the introduction of a consultant-provided service and the appointment of large numbers of dedicated public hospital and community...