20/10/2010
Senator Furious At Harney 'No Show'
A Labour Senator has this morning described her fury at the failure of Health Minister Mary Harney to face Senator's questions on the health service.
Labour Senator Phil Prendergast said the Senate has wasted around €75,000 waiting for Mary Harney to "dodge questions" during a debate on the HSE that took 15 weeks to conclude.
Speaking this morning, Ms Prendergast said: "The Health Minister was due to answer senator's questions about the conduct of the HSE in a debate which began on June 16th. But following several aimless speeches from Fianna Fáil senators, the debate was halted without notice.
"Eventually the debate resumed on September 29th - 15 weeks after it began - but the Minister was a no-show, so many questions went unanswered."
Ms Prendergast said the Leader of the House twice promised Mary Harney would return before the summer recess to answer the questions put to her but that didn't happen.
The Senator's comments come just as Mary Harney revealed she expects up to €1bn will be removed from the Health Service Executive's budget next year.
However, it will not be easy for the Minister to find savings as 70% of the health budgetis spent on pay, which is protected by the Croke Park deal.
However, adding some irony this morning, Senator Prenergast observed that as the Seanad costs an estimated €200,000 a day to run, the three-hour debate without the Minister responsible cost the taxpayer €75,000, to arrive at no conclusion.
(DW)
Labour Senator Phil Prendergast said the Senate has wasted around €75,000 waiting for Mary Harney to "dodge questions" during a debate on the HSE that took 15 weeks to conclude.
Speaking this morning, Ms Prendergast said: "The Health Minister was due to answer senator's questions about the conduct of the HSE in a debate which began on June 16th. But following several aimless speeches from Fianna Fáil senators, the debate was halted without notice.
"Eventually the debate resumed on September 29th - 15 weeks after it began - but the Minister was a no-show, so many questions went unanswered."
Ms Prendergast said the Leader of the House twice promised Mary Harney would return before the summer recess to answer the questions put to her but that didn't happen.
The Senator's comments come just as Mary Harney revealed she expects up to €1bn will be removed from the Health Service Executive's budget next year.
However, it will not be easy for the Minister to find savings as 70% of the health budgetis spent on pay, which is protected by the Croke Park deal.
However, adding some irony this morning, Senator Prenergast observed that as the Seanad costs an estimated €200,000 a day to run, the three-hour debate without the Minister responsible cost the taxpayer €75,000, to arrive at no conclusion.
(DW)
Related Irish News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
24 August 2010
Callely Given 'More Time To Respond'
Senator Ivor Callely has been granted an extra two weeks to respond to complaints over allegedly fraudulent expenses claims.
Callely Given 'More Time To Respond'
Senator Ivor Callely has been granted an extra two weeks to respond to complaints over allegedly fraudulent expenses claims.
23 August 2010
Committee To Decide Over Callely Case
The Seanad Committee on Members' Interests is expected to announce their decision on how to proceed with the expense fraud accusations against Senator Ivor Callely. So far, the senator has paid back almost €3,000 to Leinster House for the mobile telephony receipts between 2002 and 2007 that were found to have been dated after the company's closure.
Committee To Decide Over Callely Case
The Seanad Committee on Members' Interests is expected to announce their decision on how to proceed with the expense fraud accusations against Senator Ivor Callely. So far, the senator has paid back almost €3,000 to Leinster House for the mobile telephony receipts between 2002 and 2007 that were found to have been dated after the company's closure.
14 July 2015
Health Minister Accused Of 'Manipulating' Hospital Waiting Times
Health Minister Leo Varadkar has been accused of trying to manipulate hospital waiting lists "to disguise the true scale of the crisis", Fianna Fáil's health spokesperson, Thomas Byrne, has said.
Health Minister Accused Of 'Manipulating' Hospital Waiting Times
Health Minister Leo Varadkar has been accused of trying to manipulate hospital waiting lists "to disguise the true scale of the crisis", Fianna Fáil's health spokesperson, Thomas Byrne, has said.
26 August 2009
Tributes To US 'Patriarch' Kennedy
Edward 'Ted' Kennedy has died from cancer aged 77. The veteran US senator (pictured) was the youngest brother of assassinated President John F Kennedy. Senator Kennedy's death comes just two weeks after his elder sister Eunice Kennedy Shriver passed away. A brief family statement said Mr Kennedy had died at home in Hyannis Port.
Tributes To US 'Patriarch' Kennedy
Edward 'Ted' Kennedy has died from cancer aged 77. The veteran US senator (pictured) was the youngest brother of assassinated President John F Kennedy. Senator Kennedy's death comes just two weeks after his elder sister Eunice Kennedy Shriver passed away. A brief family statement said Mr Kennedy had died at home in Hyannis Port.
19 November 2010
Callely's Return Slammed As Suspension 'Stands'
Fine Gael has slammed the return of controversial Senator Ivor Callely, who has retaken his seat in the Seanad following a 20 day suspension. Senator Eugene Regan said that Mr Callely's return was not in compliance with the "Ethics in Public Office Act 1995" as Mr Callely had not yet "regularised" his affairs.
Callely's Return Slammed As Suspension 'Stands'
Fine Gael has slammed the return of controversial Senator Ivor Callely, who has retaken his seat in the Seanad following a 20 day suspension. Senator Eugene Regan said that Mr Callely's return was not in compliance with the "Ethics in Public Office Act 1995" as Mr Callely had not yet "regularised" his affairs.
-
Ireland WeatherToday:A bright start in the east then a mostly cloudy day with a lot of high cloud. Cloudy with some patchy rain possible in the afternoon. Light winds. Maximum temperature 9 °C.Tonight:Cloudy through the evening with some patchy rain, chance of more prolonged rain in the southeast for a time. Then staying mostly dry but cloudy overnight. Minimum temperature 6 °C.