Results 25,101-25,120 of 46,260 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Strategies (24 Jan 2019)

Simon Harris: In September, the Executive Director of the Sláintecare Programme Office commenced refining the Implementation Strategy into a detailed Action Plan for 2019. I can confirm that the Action Plan 2019 has been developed and, following the finalisation of the HSE's National Service Plan, Project Teams are now being established to drive delivery. The Action Plan will be presented to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Primary Care Services Provision (24 Jan 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: Primary Care Services Provision (24 Jan 2019)

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

Written Answers — Department of Health: Primary Care Centres (24 Jan 2019)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 163 and 164 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: Alcohol Pricing (24 Jan 2019)

Simon Harris: The objective of Minimum Unit Pricing is to ensure that strong alcohol can no longer be sold at low prices and, in particular, to prevent it being sold at pocket money prices in order to protect our children. The 2013 Government Decision which approved the drafting of the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill envisaged that Minimum Unit Pricing would be implemented simultaneously in...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Aids and Appliances Applications (24 Jan 2019)

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

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Status (24 Jan 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: EU Directives (24 Jan 2019)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 173, 177 and 181 together. The Safety Features Delegated Regulation (EU 2016/16) provides that from February 2019, most prescription medicines and a very small number of non-prescription medicines will have to carry ‘safety features’ on their outer packaging. These safety features take the form of an anti-tamper device (e.g. foil seal,...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists Data (24 Jan 2019)

Simon Harris: Reducing waiting times for hospital appointments and procedures is a key commitment of Government. The 2019 Scheduled Care Access Plan is currently being finalised by my Department and will set out HSE activity levels to reduce waiting lists across specialties and improve access. The Access Plan will also set out activity levels for the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) who, following...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Healthcare Infrastructure Provision (24 Jan 2019)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 175 and 176 together. 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.

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Medical Services Scheme (24 Jan 2019)

Simon Harris: 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 range of additional support payments and fees for specific items of service. GPs contracted under the GMS scheme receive a contribution towards the cost of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Administration (24 Jan 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 Waiting Lists (24 Jan 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: Nursing Staff Data (24 Jan 2019)

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

Written Answers — Department of Health: Brexit Issues (24 Jan 2019)

Simon Harris: As part of the overall Government response to Brexit, my Department is working on a comprehensive and coordinated set of actions to ensure, as far as is possible, continuity of supply of medicines in the event of a "no-deal" Brexit. Significant work has been undertaken by my Department, the HSE, and the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), together with medicines manufacturers and...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products (24 Jan 2019)

Simon Harris: My Department and the HSE are engaging in a number of initiatives which will endeavour to lead to better access to medicines for patients, value for the taxpayer and the cost- effective provision of medicines in Ireland.  A public consultation on a National Biosimilar Medicines Policy was undertaken by my Department in 2017.  The responses to that consultation and...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Expenditure (24 Jan 2019)

Simon Harris: Under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Pharmaceutical Sector (24 Jan 2019)

Simon Harris: The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) has increased its fees to all pharmaceutical companies by an average of 8% in 2019. It should be noted that the Authority's last significant fee increase was in 2010. In 2011 and 2012, the HPRA reduced fees, and there were no fee increases between 2013 and 2017. Fees were increased by approximately 2% in 2018. The impact of new EU...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Provision (24 Jan 2019)

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

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Services (24 Jan 2019)

Simon Harris: The Government is committed to the continued development of GP capacity to ensure that patients across the country continue to have access to GP services and that general practice is sustainable in all areas into the future. Several efforts to increase the number of practising GPs have been undertaken in recent years. These include increases in the number of GP training places, which have...