Results 14,821-14,840 of 46,575 for speaker:Simon Harris

Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Bill 2019: Report and Final Stages (6 Nov 2019)

Simon Harris: I caution the House against that. I do not in any way dispute what Deputy O'Reilly is trying to do. The strong advice available to me is that the definition of "poor professional performance" is provided for in four of the five health professional regulatory Acts already in place. It is not covered in the legislation relating to dentists. That has now been defined by the Supreme Court....

Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Bill 2019: Report and Final Stages (6 Nov 2019)

Simon Harris: I will discuss it with the Deputy.

Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Bill 2019: Report and Final Stages (6 Nov 2019)

Simon Harris: I accept the Deputy's long history and involvement in representing employees in the health service, as well as her knowledge and bona fides in this area. I am happy to engage further on this issue between now and the Seanad's consideration of this Bill. I will make two points on this amendment. I accept that there are situations where it may not be in the public interest to publish...

Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Bill 2019: Report and Final Stages (6 Nov 2019)

Simon Harris: Publication suggests that something is published in a newspaper, as opposed to notification. A person's employer has a right to be notified, but people also deserve second chances. It is about striking that balance. By and large, our regulators understand how to do that and get it right. I am happy to engage further between now and the Bill's passage through the Seanad.

Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Bill 2019: Report and Final Stages (6 Nov 2019)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 3: In page 30, line 22, after “post” to insert “or electronically”. I can be brief because this is a largely technical series of amendments. The Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, introduced a series of amendments on Committee Stage that would give regulators the option to send notifications about registration by email or other...

Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Bill 2019: Report and Final Stages (6 Nov 2019)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 4: In page 32, between lines 10 and 11, to insert the following: “Amendment of section 27 of Act of 2005 26. Section 27 of the Act of 2005 is amended, in subsection (3), by the deletion of paragraph (e).”. This is another technical amendment flagged on Committee Stage. The Minister of State brought forward an amendment on that Stage to further...

Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Bill 2019: Report and Final Stages (6 Nov 2019)

Simon Harris: I will comment on Deputy O'Reilly's amendments together. I note her wish to appropriately reflect the Corbally judgment in the regulatory Acts, specifically by the addition of the words "serious error" to the definition of "poor professional performance". This was the subject of a good and intense debate on Committee Stage. The issue has been considered by my officials since then, and,...

Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Bill 2019: Order for Report Stage (6 Nov 2019)

Simon Harris: I move: "That Report Stage be taken now."

Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Bill 2019: Report and Final Stages (6 Nov 2019)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 1: In page 25, between lines 3 and 4, to insert the following: “Amendment of section 44 of Act of 1985 17. Section 44 of the Act of 1985 is amended by the insertion of the following subsection after subsection (3): “(4) (a) Paragraph (b) applies where— (i) a registered dentist becomes the subject of an order under subsection (3), and (ii) the...

Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Bill 2019: Report and Final Stages (6 Nov 2019)

Simon Harris: The Bill amends all five Acts to require regulators to notify both the HSE and the employer when a sanction is imposed on a registrant. Provision has also been made to allow the regulator to notify the HSE and the employer where a sanction is applied by a regulator outside the State and the regulator is satisfied that it is in the public interest to do so. This provides a very important...

Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Bill 2019: Report and Final Stages (6 Nov 2019)

Simon Harris: I understand the Deputy's intention and I am conscious that the Bill will go through to the Seanad, where will be another chance to have a look at this. From a technical point of view, this would be an accidental consequence of the amendment. It would also remove the express power to notify an employer when such a sanction is imposed and this approach would run contrary to the purpose of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Community Pharmacy Services (6 Nov 2019)

Simon Harris: Under section 9(13) of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2009, the Minister for Health was obliged to carry out an annual review of the operation, effectiveness and impact of the amounts and rates set by regulation under the Act. I wish to advise the Deputy that the 2016 review recommended that rates set in the regulations should be left unchanged at that point....

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Regulation (6 Nov 2019)

Simon Harris: Between 2016 and 2018, the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), with the co-operation of Revenue’s Customs Service and An Garda Síochána, has detained over 1.8 million dosage units (tablets, capsules, vials, etc.) of medicines bought over the internet. These can be broken down as follows: Year No. of Units Detained 2016 ...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Physiotherapy Provision (6 Nov 2019)

Simon Harris: As this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Speech and Language Therapy Data (6 Nov 2019)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 118 and 119 together. As these questions relate to service matters, I have arranged for them to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Occupational Therapy Waiting Lists (6 Nov 2019)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 120 to 129, inclusive, together. As these questions relate to service matters, I have arranged for them to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Staff Recruitment (6 Nov 2019)

Simon Harris: I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Governance (6 Nov 2019)

Simon Harris: A clear governance and accountability framework was identified as a key building block of Sláintecare by the Committee on the Future of Healthcare. As part of its recommendations in this area, the Committee called for the HSE to become a more strategic and patient-focused ‘national centre’ carrying out national level functions, and the establishment of regional bodies with...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cross-Border Health Initiatives (6 Nov 2019)

Simon Harris: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to reply to the Deputy directly.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Facilities (6 Nov 2019)

Simon Harris: As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.