Results 15,461-15,480 of 46,575 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Prices (15 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: The 2016 Framework Agreement on the Supply and Pricing of Medicines between the State and the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA), is expected to deliver approximately €600 million in savings from IPHA companies over the four year lifetime of the Agreement and €150 million in savings from non-IPHA companies. Between 2016 and 2018 the agreement created...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Expenditure (15 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: Funding is provided to the HSE for health services in accordance with the Letter of Determination which sets out the approved level of overall HSE expenditure for the year in question. It is the responsibility of the HSE to manage the entire budget and prepare and implement the National Service Plan which must, under legislation, set out the type and volume of health and personal social...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Delays (15 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual. The National...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Staff Recruitment (15 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Staff Recruitment (15 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Planning (15 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: The HSE is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects and has advised that the progression of this project to tender stage is being considered for inclusion in the Capital Plan for 2020. The Health Service Executive will develop a Capital Plan for 2020 having regard to the available funding, the number of large national capital projects currently underway,...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Infrastructure Provision (15 Oct 2019)

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

Written Answers — Department of Health: Dental Services Provision (15 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: The Public Dental Service (PDS) of the HSE provides dental services to special needs patients and children under 16. It provides pain-emergency treatment to all children under 16 years of age and routine dental examinations and care for school children at key stages of development. I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy's query concerning dental services in Co Laois. Smile...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Vaccination Programme (15 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: The National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) made a recommendation that the HPV vaccine should be given to boys. On foot of NIAC’s recommendation, my Department asked the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) to undertake a health technology assessment (HTA) to establish the clinical and cost-effectiveness of extending the current immunisation programme, which offers...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Eligibility (15 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: Under the provisions of the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for health services in Ireland is based primarily on residency and means. The Act provides that persons who are unable, without undue hardship, to arrange GP services for themselves and family can qualify for full eligibility (a medical card). The HSE assesses applicants and awards medical cards in accordance with the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (15 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): Hospital Services (10 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Kenny and, in fairness, I acknowledge and understand his frustration in this regard because it is an issue he has pursued on multiple occasions in this House. I accept his sincerity and bona fides in this regard. The diabetes service at Sligo University Hospital, as the Deputy knows better than I, is a well-established integrated service, operating on a multidisciplinary...

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): Hospital Services (10 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: Every time a Deputy raises the issue of the national children's hospital and suggests in some way, shape or form that it is a hospital for Dublin-----

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): Hospital Services (10 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: -----I am going to make the point, and it is not particular to Deputy Kenny, that children from Sligo will benefit from this massive investment we are making in children's healthcare, which was promised years ago and debated but about which nothing was done. We are now getting on with delivering it. In regard to the adult insulin pump services, in fairness to Deputy Kenny, he and Grainne...

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): Hospitals Building Programme (10 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: In line with best international practice, it is Government policy, as set out in the National Maternity Strategy 2016-2026, that stand-alone maternity hospitals should be co-located with acute adult hospitals. The national maternity strategy, the first ever national maternity strategy in Ireland - it baffles me that we never had one before - reaffirms the commitment to tri-location of...

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): Hospitals Building Programme (10 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: Just minutes ago, I was talking about the works on the new diabetes facility for Sligo which is starting next week, and I know that is news the Deputy will welcome. The HSE recently published its capital plan for the next three years, outlining projects to be progressed over the three-year period. The capital plan includes a new ward block development and additional bed capacity at Sligo...

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): Hospital Consultant Recruitment (10 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for his detailed questions in this regard. I do not disagree with him that there is a further body of work we need to do to make sure we increase capacity in all of these teams. I very much welcome the fact that when the Deputy spoke about this issue, he referred to a range of healthcare professionals. Sometimes, in the media and political commentary, people tend to talk...

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): Health Services Provision (10 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: I propose to answer Questions Nos. 11 and 72 together. Deputy Barry was up early this morning as well. I thank him for his timely question regarding contraception. I reiterate on the record of this House my view that we need to make contraception free for all women in our country. We have made very significant progress regarding male contraception in terms of condoms. We have very...

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): Health Services Provision (10 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: I agree with the Deputy that it would have been useful to have the report published in advance of the budget. However, I remind the House that we are framing a budget in the context of a no-deal Brexit where there is a range of priority issues we needed to address, including making sure we address home care services, mental health services and a number of other issues that have been raised...

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): Health Services Provision (10 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: My position on this is not in any way ambiguous. I signed up fully to all the recommendations of the Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution and applied rigour to trying to progress a number of them working across this House and I will continue to do so. I believe contraception should be free for men and women. We should talk about men as well. It is not just a woman's...