Results 24,421-24,440 of 46,232 for speaker:Simon Harris

Seanad: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: Senator Ó Domhnaill spoke about it at length.

Seanad: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: In the interests of clarity, I should point out that I was responding, as I thought it helpful, to a point raised by the co-sponsor of the amendment about the importance of counselling. I was endeavouring to be courteous.

Seanad: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: Yes.

Seanad: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: No thank you.

Seanad: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: The amendment would place a legal requirement on the medical practitioner to carry out an ultrasound. It is an offer as to whether the woman wishes to view it or not but it is a requirement that the doctor must do it. The difference between this and the other examples that Senator Mullen referenced in which a woman may go for an ultrasound during pregnancy is there is choice. What he is...

Seanad: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: I assure people on the record of the House in the context of this legislation that great progress has been made in recent days to ensure there will be access to ultrasound where it is clinically appropriate. Let us be clear. There will be many occasions where a doctor will believe it appropriate for a woman to have an ultrasound and those resources and services will be in place. The...

Seanad: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: Senator Mullen is doing so.

Seanad: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: No, it is not.

Seanad: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: I have done so.

Seanad: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: I thank the Senators for their contributions. A total of six amendments to this section are grouped. I too am a defender of conscientious objection. I believe in it. People have the right to conscientiously object. It is a long-standing principle in medicine and has long been enshrined in the way we run our health service. Senator Bacik and, to some degree, Senator Gallagher both hit the...

Seanad: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: As is envisaged in this legislation, the GP will also dispense the medication, thereby lessening another journey or trip a woman may need to make. With regard to nurse practitioners, the law as currently drafted does not allow for that but the operation of the Act will be reviewed in three years.

Seanad: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: That is an untruth.

Seanad: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: Even at this late hour I have to say the phrase "who was not let live" is gravely offensive to the parents of children with fatal foetal abnormalities, women whose lives have been at risk which, of course, is one of the grounds for abortion the Senator opposes and women who are facing a serious risk of harm to their health. The circumstances to which the Senator has referred include these...

Seanad: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: No. I am fine.

Seanad: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: I certainly do not want to delay the House at this late hour. I appreciate the way in which Senators are withdrawing these amendments with a view to discussing them on Report Stage but considering people will want to discuss them on Report Stage and will want to get this right and give it due consideration between now and then, I will very briefly put a few things on the record of the House...

Seanad: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: It certainly is. The Bill provides that it shall be an offence for a person by any means whatsoever to intentionally end the life of a foetus, otherwise than in accordance with the provisions of the Bill. Officials from my Department and the Office of the Attorney General have considered a number of different ways of phrasing this offence. The wording put forward in the Bill is the...

Seanad: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: I am happy to clarify that. I want to reiterate that, from an operational perspective, this legislation is trans-inclusive. We will take on board the findings of the Government's review of the Gender Recognition Act. We have also ensured that the explanatory memorandum is clear on this, as too will be the clinical guidelines.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Parliamentary Questions Data (12 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: The statistical information requested by the Deputy is presented in the following table. The four staff of the Secretary General's Office staff allocate PQs and return replies to the Oireachtas. All departmental staff are involved in the preparation of PQ replies.  Ministerial Advisors in the Department are involved in reviewing prepared replies.  There is no role for...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Correspondence (12 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: Correspondence has recently been received in relation to the issue to which the Deputy refers and this is currently being examined by my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Commencement of Legislation (12 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 158 and 176 together. The commencement of Parts 2 and 3 of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 is not reliant of the enactment of the Assisted Human Reproduction (AHR) legislation.  The Children and Family Relationships (Amendment) Bill 2018 was enacted on 24 July 2018. This Act was introduced to correct typographical and technical...