Results 101-120 of 3,998 for speaker:Michael Harty

Financial Resolutions 2017 - Financial Resolution No. 1: Tobacco Products Tax (11 Oct 2016)

Michael Harty: It will come as no surprise to the House that I will vote in favour of this resolution. Smoking is a huge health hazard. It is the cause of many cancers including lung and throat cancer and the cause of chronic obstructive airways disease which is a huge burden on the health service. It is one of the most destructive habits one can take up. It is a huge health problem. It amazes me how...

Financial Resolutions 2017 - Financial Resolution No. 1: Tobacco Products Tax (11 Oct 2016)

Michael Harty: Education is the way to go on dealing with the cigarette issue. The cost of cigarettes is one element in getting people off smoking, but education in primary and secondary schools is also very important. The pressure from young children who come home to their parents having learned of the dangers of smoking in school is very significant. Education is a key aspect of reducing the health...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Reimbursement (11 Oct 2016)

Michael Harty: 405. To ask the Minister for Health the reason the drug Macushield is no longer on the list of drugs and appliances under the hardship scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29455/16]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Protected Disclosures (11 Oct 2016)

Michael Harty: 406. To ask the Minister for Health if he will examine the behaviour and the failure of the HSE to properly investigate and protect a person (details supplied) in County Clare as a whistleblower as outlined in the Protected Disclosure Act 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29465/16]

Select Committee on the Future of Healthcare: International Health Care Systems: Dr. Josep Figueras (12 Oct 2016)

Michael Harty: I am a general practitioner and I take Dr. Figueras's comments on doctors in a very open and reflective way. My questions really relate to efficiency and effectiveness in the system. One of the slides seen by the committee showed a pie chart with 49% of treatments being of unknown effectiveness. That seems to be a huge failure in delivering an effective health service. Will the witness...

Topical Issue Debate: Ambulance Service (13 Oct 2016)

Michael Harty: I wish to speak about the review of the national ambulance service in the mid-west. This will include a review of our rapid response units. We in the mid-west are very concerned that these rapid response units will be withdrawn. Six or seven years ago, the services in the mid-west were reconfigured and acute casualties services were withdrawn from the hospitals in Ennis and Nenagh and...

Topical Issue Debate: Ambulance Service (13 Oct 2016)

Michael Harty: Nobody understands better population density in rural areas which is not the same as in Dublin. Therefore, ambulance response times cannot be the same as they are expected to be in Dublin, but that aspect does not concern us; what concerns us is the rapid response vehicles dispatched to the site of seriously ill patients. Many patients who require an ambulance do not require a blue light...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Protected Disclosures (13 Oct 2016)

Michael Harty: 12. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on a matter (details supplied) regarding Garda whistleblowers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30146/16]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Reimbursement (13 Oct 2016)

Michael Harty: 150. To ask the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding access to drugs and appliances including certain dressings for persons who require them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30145/16]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (13 Oct 2016)

Michael Harty: Is it agreed that COM (2016) 547, Schedule A, a proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and the Council amending Regulation (EC) No. 1920/2006 on information exchange, an early warning system and a risk assessment procedure for new psychoactive substances, does not warrant further scrutiny? Agreed. Is it agreed that COM (2016) 548, Schedule B, a proposal for a Council...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Open Disclosure: Department of Health (13 Oct 2016)

Michael Harty: I apologise for detaining the delegates. The purpose of this morning's meeting is to hear from officials from the Department of Health on the legislative provisions that will support open disclosure to patients. On behalf of the committee, I welcome the delegates from the Department: Dr. Tony Holohan, chief medical officer, Dr. Kathleen MacLellan, director of patient safety, Ms Susan Reilly...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Open Disclosure: Department of Health (13 Oct 2016)

Michael Harty: I thank Dr. Holohan for his submission. I shall open the discussion to the floor and Deputy Kelleher.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Open Disclosure: Department of Health (13 Oct 2016)

Michael Harty: I thank Dr. MacLellan. In relation to this proposal on open disclosure, is it a voluntary proposal? Is there a mandatory element to this document?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Open Disclosure: Department of Health (13 Oct 2016)

Michael Harty: If the health professional makes an open disclosure through the criteria laid down in this document, there is some legal protection in that one is stating that something went wrong but is not admitting any liability in respect of that statement. It is informing the patient that something went wrong or could have gone wrong but did not go wrong or there was an error that did not result in any...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Open Disclosure: Department of Health (13 Oct 2016)

Michael Harty: So people are making observations rather than a complaint regarding their treatment. They are not necessarily looking to make an official complaint.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Open Disclosure: Department of Health (13 Oct 2016)

Michael Harty: Is legislation in place to protect those who are disclosing information and to give them security that there is a legal framework underpinning how they do it?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Open Disclosure: Department of Health (13 Oct 2016)

Michael Harty: What happens after that depends on how the situation develops. Staff are given legal protection in respect of disclosing facts about something that happened and not necessarily implying that there was negligence or that any person was directly responsible.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Open Disclosure: Department of Health (13 Oct 2016)

Michael Harty: The civil liability Bill comes under the remit of the Department of Justice and Equality. What is the status of the Bill?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Open Disclosure: Department of Health (13 Oct 2016)

Michael Harty: It is close to completion. On behalf of the committee, I thank the officials for attending and for an informative and interactive discussion. Is it agreed the committee will decide on how it will proceed at its next meeting? Agreed.

Funding for Education: Motion [Private Members] (18 Oct 2016)

Michael Harty: Yes. We will each have two and half minutes. I would like to address the issue of primary school class sizes. In County Clare and in many peripheral parts of Ireland, there are small rural primary schools. The 2017 budget gives some element of protection to two-teacher schools but three and four-teacher primary schools are still substantially curtailed by the cuts inflicted by the then...