Results 19,001-19,020 of 24,635 for speaker:Mary Harney

Order of Business. (9 Mar 2006)

Mary Harney: As Members are aware, it has been a long tradition——

Order of Business. (9 Mar 2006)

Mary Harney: ——including when Deputy Kenny was a Minister, for members of the Government to join Irish groups and associations in various parts of the world——

Order of Business. (9 Mar 2006)

Mary Harney: ——around our national feast day to help to promote this country's business and tourism.

Order of Business. (9 Mar 2006)

Mary Harney: It has been highly successful for many years.

Order of Business. (9 Mar 2006)

Mary Harney: I said to Deputy Kenny yesterday the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform will be bringing forward legislation in the next two weeks or so in regard to the issues he raised.

Order of Business. (9 Mar 2006)

Mary Harney: I was asked by Deputy Kenny about legislation to establish the Health Information and Quality Authority. On Tuesday, the Government approved the heads of that Bill and it is being published for an eight week period of consultation, which will lead to better debate in this House. It is hoped we will have the full Bill by the summer recess. Accident and emergency is a priority. Proportionately...

Order of Business. (9 Mar 2006)

Mary Harney: It is not only a matter of capacity but also of how we make use of it. That is why the HSE is working——

Order of Business. (9 Mar 2006)

Mary Harney: I am not blaming anybody.

Order of Business. (9 Mar 2006)

Mary Harney: I am more than happy to take responsibility and ensure that problems are addressed. We have trebled the number of accident and emergency consultants, employed 7,500 more nurses in hospitals, opened 1,100 additional beds in four years——

Order of Business. (9 Mar 2006)

Mary Harney: ——and have 2,200 more dental and other medical staff.

Order of Business. (9 Mar 2006)

Mary Harney: The situation is changing. At present, more than 100 beds are closed in our acute system because of the vomiting bug. That represents a considerable loss of capacity.

Order of Business. (9 Mar 2006)

Mary Harney: More than 100 beds across the country are closed. If we want to hear from an expert, let us listen to Dr. Lane, an accident and emergency consultant in Letterkenny hospital, who agreed there are pressures but believes there is light at the end of the tunnel and that change is taking place.

Order of Business. (9 Mar 2006)

Mary Harney: However, change will only take place when we deal with issues in each hospital. Tallaght Hospital, which I know well as does Deputy Rabbitte, had a 1.9% increase for the accident and emergency department, and some weeks ago it had a 300% increase in the numbers of people on trolleys. When representatives from the National Hospitals Office went into that hospital and worked with people there,...

Order of Business. (9 Mar 2006)

Mary Harney: That is the reality. I hope I have the support——

Order of Business. (9 Mar 2006)

Mary Harney: Not everybody is saying we need more beds in the system.

Order of Business. (9 Mar 2006)

Mary Harney: We have provided 1,100 more beds. The issue is also about how the beds are used.

Order of Business. (9 Mar 2006)

Mary Harney: With regard to the legal ombudsman, we will have the legislation this session, and the heads of the Bill were approved by Government some time ago. With regard to undocumented Irish at the rally in Washington DC yesterday, I understand Niall O'Dowd acknowledged the work of the Irish Government in this regard. The Taoiseach and all the Ministers going to America will continue to lobby as...

Order of Business. (9 Mar 2006)

Mary Harney: We have an asylum process which is fair and reasonable. The law must clearly take its course on the matter.

Order of Business. (9 Mar 2006)

Mary Harney: The Deputy has the list of promised legislation and referred to many Bills. There has been much legislation relating to the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

Order of Business. (9 Mar 2006)

Mary Harney: There will be substantial legislation over the remaining life of this Government, including the issue mentioned earlier regarding the legal ombudsman and the firearms legislation, which we will have in two weeks. There will be more matters like this. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has a large volume of legislation, as the Deputy knows.