Harney told to "go home" as Irish community in NZ protests

[laidback]

Point 1 More students at medical school

I presume this refers to the graduate entry programme. 'Free' fees don't apply to this programme.

It costs at least €10,000 pa fees plus living costs etc to go on this programme so while there may now be more medical students than there were (and there weren't that many since places were capped and many of those places were sold to wealthy foreigners), the new places are only going to those who have money or who can borrow in these new times of restricted bank lending.

The Minister should have had free fees and grants for the graduate programme in return for a commitment to work in the Irish public health service for a number of years.

[laidback]

It's easy to slash waiting lists all right. All you have to do is to stop adding people to them, and wait for those on the list to die off.

Met a young woman today whose GP referred her to a Dublin public hospital for a test on her kidneys. She was told it would be a year and a half before she got the test so she went private after getting quotes.

She was asked for €400 from one private place but eventually got the test privately for €125. As Minister Harney has said (when Minister for Enterprise) it pays to 'shop around.'

Last year I waited 7 months for an an outpatient appointment St James' Hospital for something that could have been serious. Fortunately it wasn't when i was finally assessed.

And another person I met recently who has been in a wheelchair since childhood was told by his local HSE community care office that he would have to wait a year for a physiotherapy appointment. Well I suppose that's not surprising as most of the recently qualified irish physios are in NZ. Could Mary Harney bring back some of them for people like him?

[captainwillard]

Met a young woman today whose GP referred her to a Dublin public hospital for a test on her kidneys. She was told it would be a year and a half before she got the test so she went private after getting quotes.

She was asked for €400 from one private place but eventually got the test privately for €125. As Minister Harney has said (when Minister for Enterprise) it pays to 'shop around.'

Last year I waited 7 months for an an outpatient appointment St James' Hospital for something that could have been serious. Fortunately it wasn't when i was finally assessed.

And another person I met recently who has been in a wheelchair since childhood was told by his local HSE community care office that he would have to wait a year for a physiotherapy appointment. Well I suppose that's not surprising as most of the recently qualified irish physios are in NZ. Could Mary Harney bring back some of them for people like him?

Interesting if true. Even the private guys are struggling. I bet they have massive mortgages and need the cash.

[ctr]

"wonders when her flight back arrives in Dublin Airport so we can go there and give her a similar rousing reception"

[An Gilladaker]

Fair place to the Irish in NZ.

As the article mentions Harney does not care as she won't run for election again and is not a member of a party. She seems to be only accountable to Cowen and I blame him for appointing and keeping her there. I think he keeps her there so public anger is directed at her and not the rest of the cabinet.

Looks more like Harney tells Cowan and FF what to do they are unable to get rid of her