Results 19,221-19,240 of 24,635 for speaker:Mary Harney

Vaccination Programme. (2 Mar 2006)

Mary Harney: We might give consideration to the measure, especially if we could deliver it at a cost of €19 million. However, I suspect that were we to take such an approach, it would cost much more to include the group in question. Clearly, our aim is to have a 70% uptake among the at-risk group by 2010, which has great benefits. Members are all aware, from their experiences with elderly people, that...

Vaccination Programme. (2 Mar 2006)

Mary Harney: If it is in order, I will return to the Deputy on this matter.

Health and Safety Regulations. (2 Mar 2006)

Mary Harney: All employers, including the Health Service Executive and hospitals, are obliged to adhere to the requirements set out in health and safety legislation and to ensure the safety, health and welfare of their staff. Hospitals must also ensure that patients and visitors are not exposed to risks to their safety, health and welfare. Under existing legislation any hazards must be risk assessed and...

Health and Safety Regulations. (2 Mar 2006)

Mary Harney: First, by way of clarification, there is no outbreak of tuberculosis. The report mentioned in newspapers today is three years old and the figures mentioned are for a five-year period. I recently communicated with Professor Drumm on MRSA in hospitals and on informing patients and putting strategies in place. It is the intention of the HSE — it is currently doing this in some cases — to...

Health and Safety Regulations. (2 Mar 2006)

Mary Harney: I am not familiar with Dr.McConkey's observations. First, to refer to Deputy Ó Caoláin's comments, of course I am not suggesting there would not be any visiting but it is unreasonable to have virtually open door visiting from maybe 10 a.m., and sometimes earlier, until 10 p.m. That is difficult for staff but particularly for patients. Certainly in places where patients are sharing rooms, it...

Health and Safety Regulations. (2 Mar 2006)

Mary Harney: I have got over it. I have forgiven them.

Health and Safety Regulations. (2 Mar 2006)

Mary Harney: Policies change. The new paediatric facilities must provide for parents to stay with the children. Policies change in this area all the time. Certainly I am told by many people at hospital level, and I know from patients, that there can be difficulties if there is open access. Confining visiting times to particular hours, if that is possible, is in everybody's interests. Clearly we must do...

Order of Business. (2 Mar 2006)

Mary Harney: Approximately 5,000 people in Ireland die each year from sudden cardiac death and about 60 of them are under the age of 40. One of the recommendations is the need to consider whether we need good Samaritan legislation to protect people who——

Order of Business. (2 Mar 2006)

Mary Harney: ——come to the assistance of others and help them to use a defibrillator. This has not yet been considered and I do not know what issues are involved. However, I gave a commitment that the recommendations in the report would be implemented by the Government over the next number of years on a priority basis. The Deputy attended the launch so he has heard me say this already. We must examine...

Order of Business. (2 Mar 2006)

Mary Harney: I gave no such directive to any hospital.

Order of Business. (2 Mar 2006)

Mary Harney: The group that was established to consider a location for a tertiary paediatric facility must report by the end of March, as the Deputy stated. That group is composed of representatives of the Department of Health and Children, the OPW and the Health Service Executive and it will report on time. I do not envisage that legislation will be necessary. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law...

Order of Business. (2 Mar 2006)

Mary Harney: I am very happy to answer if I am allowed to answer.

Order of Business. (2 Mar 2006)

Mary Harney: When the Health Service Executive legislation was passed in this House, we made one fundamental change with regard to how health services are delivered. We made the chief executive officer the Accounting Officer. He is responsible——

Order of Business. (2 Mar 2006)

Mary Harney: He is the accountable person for operational matters.

Order of Business. (2 Mar 2006)

Mary Harney: A parliamentary division has been established in that organisation, which has not been in place for much longer than a year or 14 months. One must be fair and reasonable. The executive is currently beefing up its parliamentary affairs division. I answer a couple of hundred of questions in the House every week on policy issues. The idea that three Ministers would be asked why two children were...

Order of Business. (2 Mar 2006)

Mary Harney: To have three Ministers asked why two children were absent from school is a farce.

Order of Business. (2 Mar 2006)

Mary Harney: I understand the Bill will be later this year.

Order of Business. (2 Mar 2006)

Mary Harney: I am sure the Minister is working to produce the Bill as quickly as possible.

Order of Business. (2 Mar 2006)

Mary Harney: I understand we will have the building societies legislation later this year. I am anxious that the Leas Cross report be published as quickly as possible, as is the HSE. I will discuss the matter with the HSE.

Order of Business. (2 Mar 2006)

Mary Harney: It will be 2007.