Results 19,401-19,420 of 46,575 for speaker:Simon Harris

Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2018 [Seanad]: Report Stage (3 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 5:In page 9, line 35, to delete "4 members" and substitute "5 members".

Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2018 [Seanad]: Report Stage (3 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 6:In page 10, between lines 13 and 14, to insert the following: "(12) For the purpose of this section, "health profession" means any of the following professions:(a) dentist; (b) a designated profession within the meaning of section 3 of the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005; (c) medical practitioner; (d) midwife; (e) nurse; (f) pharmacist.".

Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2018 [Seanad]: Report Stage (3 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: We already have guidelines on appointments to State boards that set out the confirmation process for chairperson. In fact, I think the chair designate of the HSE board offered to go before the Joint Committee on Health and the committee decided it did not need to meet with him. Persons being proposed by the Minister for appointment as chairpersons of State boards or agencies are required to...

Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2018 [Seanad]: Report Stage (3 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: I had different views on this because we strengthened this legislation compared with the Health Act 2004, which did not suggest that the CEO would have to seek board approval for any other office, employment, business or the like. However, I am persuaded by the argument put forward by Deputy O'Reilly and am happy to accept the amendment.

Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2018 [Seanad]: Report Stage (3 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: It is not a view that is new to colleagues on the Opposition benches tonight that we must ensure the Bill is legally robust. We have spoken much about cervical cancer in these Houses, as well as the Scally report and recommendations. I accepted an amendment put to me in the Seanad and redrafted it to ensure we could implement the Scally recommendations. This relates to section 16N(2)(b) of...

Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2018 [Seanad]: Report Stage (3 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: Yes, and such a financial expert. I am suggesting that we accept my amendments but at the next available opportunity I will make that change. There is an opportunity on the legislative list this year and I will work with the Opposition to further refine membership of the board if it is the view of the House that there should be an additional seat for clinical expertise and a ring-fenced...

Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2018 [Seanad]: Report Stage (3 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: It may not happen very quickly. We can assume it will happen quickly.

Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2018 [Seanad]: Report Stage (3 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: I will try to be helpful. Based on what Deputy Donnelly is endeavouring to achieve and the Leas-Cheann Comhairle has said, if the House passes an amendment at this stage, the Seanad can amend that amendment.

Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2018 [Seanad]: Report Stage (3 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: I can give my commitment to amending those amendments in Seanad Éireann to include two people with clinical expertise and a financial expert. Could we then pass my amendments tonight? The Deputies will have their parties represented in the Seanad anyway when I go back there with the Bill. We could then amend my amendment in Seanad Éireann if that is in order.

Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2018 [Seanad]: Report Stage (3 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 2:In page 9, line 12, to delete "paragraph (b)" and substitute "paragraphs (b) and (c)".

Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2018 [Seanad]: Report Stage (3 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 3:In page 9, between lines 21 and 22, to insert the following:"(c) At least one of the persons appointed under paragraph (a) shall be a person who is practicing, or has practiced, as a member of a health profession, whether in or outside the State.".

Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2018 [Seanad]: Report Stage (3 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: I am not in disagreement with what Deputies Donnelly and O'Reilly are trying to do here. However, I must tell the House, in all sincerity and in the hope that the Deputies accept my bona fides in this regard, that I have consulted the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel on this matter and its advice, which is therefore my advice to the House, is that the Bill, as currently written is -...

Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2018 [Seanad]: Order for Report Stage (3 Apr 2019)

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

Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2018 [Seanad]: Report Stage (3 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: I move:In page 9, to delete lines 10 and 11 and substitute the following:“(c) 9 ordinary members.”. These amendments arise from discussions on and an amendment accepted on Committee Stage to provide that ordinary members of the HSE board must include a patient advocate, a financial expert and two clinical experts. I acknowledge these were amendments from Deputy Donnelly. There...

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Services (3 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: General practitioners are not employees of the HSE and are not paid a salary; they are private contractors providing services under contract on behalf of the HSE. Under the General Medical Services (GMS) contract, GPs are reimbursed for a range of services they provide to medical card and GP visit card holders. GPs are remunerated for these services primarily on a capitation basis, with a...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Primary Care Centres Data (3 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 144 and 145 together. As the HSE has responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres and other Primary Care facilities, the Executive has been asked to reply directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff (3 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: The State’s general policy is to promote the sourcing of labour and skills needs from within the workforce of the State and other EEA states. Where specific skills prove difficult to source within the State and EEA, an employment permit may be sought from the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation by an employer to hire a non-EEA national. It should be noted that the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Contracts (3 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: Talks between the State and the IMO on the development of a package of measures and reforms to modernise the current GMS contract resumed in October 2018.   There has been intensive engagement in recent weeks which has resulted in good progress being made, however there are a number of issues that remain to be finalised. Agreement on the delivery of service improvements and contractual...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (3 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Aids and Appliances Provision (3 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.