Results 16,561-16,580 of 24,635 for speaker:Mary Harney

Written Answers — Ambulance Service: Ambulance Service (1 Nov 2006)

Mary Harney: The Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC) is responsible for the development of professional and performance standards for the ambulance services and for the accreditation of institutions providing training for ambulance personnel. The Health Service Executive has advised that when private ambulance services are contracted to carry out A&E duties, on the Executive's behalf, it ensures...

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (1 Nov 2006)

Mary Harney: The Government is committed to making the full range of cancer services available and accessible to cancer patients throughout Ireland. Government policy is to achieve best outcomes for patients based on all aspects of cancer care, surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy delivered by multi-disciplinary teams based around major centres. My Department is working closely with the Health Service...

Written Answers — Hospital Staff: Hospital Staff (1 Nov 2006)

Mary Harney: EU Commission Infringement 2004/5152 deals with the calculation of salary on the staff nurse pay scale, in particular the appropriate incremental point when experience gained in other EU countries is taken into account. The ruling, which is called a Reasoned Opinion, was addressed to Ireland by the Commission under Article 226 of the Treaty on 19 December 2005. All EU citizens are currently...

Written Answers — Medical Profession Regulation: Medical Profession Regulation (1 Nov 2006)

Mary Harney: Complaints about medical practitioners are obviously of concern to me. I understand that a total of 189 complaints were made to the Medical Council in the first six months of this year, compared with 174 in the first six months of 2005. I am currently preparing a new Medical Practitioners Bill. The proposed legislation is intended to be both proactive and reactive. The main objective of...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (1 Nov 2006)

Mary Harney: Despite the substantial decline in the prevalence and severity of dental cavities in Ireland since 1964, this largely preventable disease is still common. Fluoridation of community drinking water is a major factor responsible for the decline in dental caries. 71% of the Irish population live in areas with fluoridated water supplies. In Ireland, according to the preliminary National Children's...

Written Answers — Hospital Accommodation: Hospital Accommodation (1 Nov 2006)

Mary Harney: In 2001, the year of the publication of Health Strategy, the average number of in-patient beds and day places available for treatment of patients in the 53 public acute hospitals was 12,145. At the end of 2005, this figure had increased by 1,204 to a total of 13,349 (an additional 724 in-patient beds and 480 day places). In July 2005, I announced an initiative to have private hospitals built...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (1 Nov 2006)

Mary Harney: I have noted the recommendations contained in the recent report of the ESRI in relation to the Health Sector under the NDP 2007-2013. These recommendations will be considered in the context of the Government's deliberations in finalising the new National Development Plan which is due to be announced in January next.

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (1 Nov 2006)

Mary Harney: As I stated in the debate on the co-location initiative last week, arrangements will be put in place whereby consultants will be able to work at these co located private hospitals. The policy direction states that the development of the new private hospitals will be subject to better work practices being put in place in each of the public hospitals involved in the initiative. Many consultants...

Written Answers — National Cancer Strategy: National Cancer Strategy (1 Nov 2006)

Mary Harney: The National Cancer Control Strategy encompasses all aspects of cancer, including prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, supportive and palliative care. My objective is to develop an integrated cancer control programme based on: evidence of what works to prevent and treat cancer; standards that assure quality in all aspects of cancer control; and fairness, so that all patients,...

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 — 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 — Parliamentary Questions: Parliamentary Questions (1 Nov 2006)

Mary Harney: In the first 6 months of this year, Deputies asked 2,222 Parliamentary Questions which were appropriate for direct reply, either in part or in full, by the HSE having regard to its statutory remit. These questions covered a broad scope of issues, ranging from the provision of services to individuals to national operational or infrastructural matters. The Executive has informed my Department...

Written Answers — Water Fluoridation: Water Fluoridation (1 Nov 2006)

Mary Harney: The Forum on Fluoridation was established by the Minister for Health and Children to review the fluoridation of public piped water supplies in Ireland. The main conclusion of the Forum Report was that the fluoridation of public piped water supplies should continue as a public health measure. The Forum, while recommending that fluoridation of water supplies continue, recommended a reduction...

Written Answers — Hospital Accommodation: Hospital Accommodation (1 Nov 2006)

Mary Harney: Private health insurance companies do not pay public hospitals €1billion in respect of private beds in public hospitals. The €1billion paid out by private health insurance companies is an estimate of the total payments by the companies in respect of consultant fees, claims from private hospitals claims from public hospitals and claims in respect of out-patient services. Our initial...

Written Answers — Infectious Diseases: Infectious Diseases (1 Nov 2006)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 187 and 188 together. The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) collects data on MRSA bacteraemia (also known as bloodstream infection or "blood poisoning") as part of the European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System (EARSS). EARSS collects data on the first episode of blood stream infection per patient per quarter. The Irish data for EARSS,...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (1 Nov 2006)

Mary Harney: The Deputy will appreciate that passage of a Bill through the Oireachtas is dependent on the availability of Oireachtas time. As set out in the Government's Legislation Programme, the proposed legislation within my remit is as follows: 1. Published Bills: The Health (Nursing Homes) Amendment Bill 2006 is before the Dáil. The Child Care (Amendment) Bill has been published and is now before...

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (1 Nov 2006)

Mary Harney: I have not made any commitments to the person concerned regarding Monaghan Hospital and I am not aware of any such commitments given on my behalf. The HSE has recently established a Steering Group and a North East Project Group to oversee a programme designed to improve safety and standards across the acute hospital network in the North East Region. The decision was taken having regard to the...

Written Answers — National Treatment Purchase Fund: National Treatment Purchase Fund (1 Nov 2006)

Mary Harney: The National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) was established to expedite the provision of treatment for patients on public hospital waiting lists who have been waiting longest for surgery. In this context diagnostic services, such as MRIs, are provided to public patients as part of their treatment under the scheme. I have no plans to expand the remit of the NTPF or introduce a national...

Written Answers — Hospital Accommodation: Hospital Accommodation (1 Nov 2006)

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. Accordingly, my Department has...

Written Answers — Birth Control Products: Birth Control Products (1 Nov 2006)

Mary Harney: The morning after pill is currently confined to prescription control in accordance with the Medicinal Products (Prescription and Control of Supply) Regulations 2003, as amended. In order for this product to be available without a prescription, the licence holder would have to initiate the process by making an application to the Irish Medicines Board and would also need to make a simultaneous...