Results 25,401-25,420 of 46,260 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Care Infrastructure Provision (31 Jan 2019)

Simon Harris: The Health Service Executive is currently developing its Capital Plan for 2019. The HSE Capital Plan will determine the projects that can progress in 2019 having regard to the available capital funding, the number of large national capital projects currently underway and the relevant priority of each project. The requirements of primary care centres and other health capital projects,...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Applications (31 Jan 2019)

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

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Applications (31 Jan 2019)

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

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Applications (31 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.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Feb 2019)

Simon Harris: I will be here to speak about CervicalCheck tomorrow.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Medical Register Administration (5 Feb 2019)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. In March 2008, the HSE amended the qualifications specified for consultant posts to require membership of the specialist division of the register of medical practitioners. The register is maintained by the Medical Council. Notwithstanding that policy position, the HSE has been obliged in certain circumstances to appoint doctors who are...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Medical Register Administration (5 Feb 2019)

Simon Harris: Instinctively I do, but I want to allow the HSE to complete this work. Given that it is imminent - it is due to be completed next month - I want to be guided by it. The HSE is pursuing a range of initiatives to improve the recruitment process and support those who are not on the specialist register to pursue registration. As the Deputy was good enough to acknowledge in his opening...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Medical Register Administration (5 Feb 2019)

Simon Harris: I take seriously the Deputy's suggestions and I will reflect on them. However, the Medical Council is the regulator of our doctors. It is important for our citizens and patients to know that there is no suggestion - the Deputy Donnelly has not suggested it - that these doctors who are not on the specialist register are not fully qualified in medicine. This important point has been...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Cancer Screening Programmes (5 Feb 2019)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for the question and the succinct way in which she put it. I interpret this question as her specifically referring to the issue that has arisen in respect of secondary HPV testing and she can tell me if she wishes me to talk more broadly. I welcome the opportunity to clarify this matter in the House. Unfortunately, quite a bit of misinformation was put out, although...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Cancer Screening Programmes (5 Feb 2019)

Simon Harris: The Deputy is a strong advocate of the screening programme. When raising this issue, she always has been. However, a charge were made in this House by the leader of Fianna Fáil on an occasion when Members knew I was not here to respond. The charge was that I offered free repeat smear tests to women against official advice. That is false. That decision was made in conjunction with...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Cancer Screening Programmes (5 Feb 2019)

Simon Harris: First, it is not true for anyone to suggest that GPs or many medical bodies oppose this decision. For example, my Department negotiated the provision of the repeat free smear test with the Irish Medical Organisation. We agreed a fee with the organisation. We paid GPs to provide this test and the Deputy agrees with me on this. Had we not done that, we would have had a situation where women...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Abortion Services Provision (5 Feb 2019)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for the question. I am very much aware of the concerns that women in Northern Ireland have regarding access to termination of pregnancy, which are similar to those faced by women in the Republic prior to the recent change in the law here as a result of the referendum. I hope that we arrive at a situation in the not too distant future where Northern Ireland makes its own...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Abortion Services Provision (5 Feb 2019)

Simon Harris: Yes and for many others, it facilitates access. It means that people can access services on the island of Ireland without having to travel to another island and stay overnight in the United Kingdom or experience high air fares and so on. It means being able to visit a GP in the Republic at an early stage of pregnancy to access services at primary care level. However, the Deputy should not...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Abortion Services Provision (5 Feb 2019)

Simon Harris: Of course.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Abortion Services Provision (5 Feb 2019)

Simon Harris: I would like to work with the Deputy to arrive at that point also. I would also like to work with her and groups in Northern Ireland on the support the 24/7 helpline we now operate can provide for women, regardless of where they live on the island. It ensures women can talk to qualified healthcare professionals and councillors and that all of their options can be signposted in terms of how...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Cancer Screening Programmes (5 Feb 2019)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for his question and acknowledge the significant advocacy work he has done in this area. The unprecedented demand for cervical screening in 2018 owing to understandable concerns of women, as well as an increased uptake of screening, has led to long and very regrettable delays in the reporting of results. The fact that new women have opted into the programme for the first...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Cancer Screening Programmes (5 Feb 2019)

Simon Harris: While the Deputy said I was in a unique position to know certain things and while I accept that, as Minister, I have access to officials, advisers and the Chief Medical Officer, no one, including the Deputy or me, could have known the degree of public unease that would develop in this situation last year, the length of time for which it would go on or the number of women who would take up the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Cancer Screening Programmes (5 Feb 2019)

Simon Harris: The Deputy mentioned the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, RCOG, review. As he has done so, and in the interest of completeness, I want to take this opportunity to inform him and the House that I am pleased to say slides have begun to transfer to the RCOG. This was an issue causing concern and it is now under way. As the Minister for Health, I rely on clinical advice....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Dietician Service Provision (5 Feb 2019)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Calleary for the question. In line with the all-party vision set out under Sláintecare, the Government is prioritising investment in the expansion of primary care services, including dietetics. Overall funding for primary care increased by more than €50 million, or 6.1%, in the HSE's national service plan for 2019. Among other things, this will enable the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Dietician Service Provision (5 Feb 2019)

Simon Harris: Some of my statistics are not exactly in the order the Deputy has asked for, but I will get the information for him from the HSE. The number of clients waiting for treatment at the end of 2018 was down to 523 from 700 in 2017. Of these, the number waiting for more than 26 weeks was 216. I will try to get the Deputy more information. I do not have information in my briefing on those under...