Results 29,901-29,920 of 46,456 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Reports (11 Jul 2019)

Simon Harris: The National Healthcare Quality Reporting System (NHQRS), published 8th July 2019, aims to give information on the quality of the health service in Ireland and it is part of this Government’s commitment to quality healthcare and patient safety. The 2019 NHQRS reported information on mortality rates for acute myocardial infarctions (AMIs). It identified that there was a 30%...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Status (11 Jul 2019)

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

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Communications (11 Jul 2019)

Simon Harris: The Department of Health does not have a compliance Unit. In fulfilling the Department's role and function Units within the Department carry out governance and performance oversight to ensure accountable and high quality services. The Department has an Internal Audit Unit that supports, develops and reviews the internal control environment and corporate governance procedures across all areas...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Climate Change Policy (11 Jul 2019)

Simon Harris: Climate change has been a meeting agenda item both in discussions I have held with the Department’s Management Board and at the Management Board itself. My Department officials are currently conducting work in relation both to climate change adaptation and to climate change mitigation. A joint Department-HSE team has been established which is developing a five-year health sector...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Orthodontic Services (11 Jul 2019)

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

Written Answers — Department of Health: Healthcare Infrastructure Provision (11 Jul 2019)

Simon Harris: 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: Hospital Appointments Status (11 Jul 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 Appointments Status (11 Jul 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 Appointments Status (11 Jul 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 Appointments Status (11 Jul 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: Commissions of Investigation (11 Jul 2019)

Simon Harris: The Commission of Investigation (Certain matters relative to a disability service in the South East and related matters) was established by the Government under the Commissions of Investigation Act 2004 (No. 23 of 2004) to investigate the role of relevant public authorities in relation to the care of "Grace" (pseudonym) and other individuals in a former foster home in the South East. The...

Seanad: CervicalCheck Tribunal Bill 2019: Second Stage (11 Jul 2019)

Simon Harris: I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach and I am delighted to be in Seanad Éireann two days in a row. I am pleased to introduce the CervicalCheck Tribunal Bill 2019 to Seanad Éireann. At the outset, I acknowledge the sincere bi-partisan effort in the other House, which I know will be in this House too, to get this done so that we can provide an alternative pathway to court for women...

Seanad: CervicalCheck Tribunal Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Jul 2019)

Simon Harris: I welcome the chance to be in the Seanad for what I hope will be an opportunity to pass the CervicalCheck Tribunal Bill 2019 so that we can provide an alternative pathway to the courts system for women who are seeking justice and answers in respect of a botched retrospective audit and all the pain, suffering and damage that caused. I am happy to take the opportunity in Seanad Éireann,...

Seanad: CervicalCheck Tribunal Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Jul 2019)

Simon Harris: I would love to be able to accept the amendment now as it would be easier to do so and would save coming back in the autumn. Being frank, the challenge in accepting it is that it would go much further than I am willing in terms of broadening the scope. Following very significant engagements on the matter, including with members of the Senator's party, I am happy to widen the scope based on...

Seanad: CervicalCheck Tribunal Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Jul 2019)

Simon Harris: We are not not interested in anyone because of their standards but as we all know from Dr. Scally's two reports, it is absolutely true that labs were used that were not properly accredited and the governance structures were questionable. He did not find safety issues, as we all acknowledge, but that does not take away from the fact that there were serious shortcomings in governance dating...

Seanad: CervicalCheck Tribunal Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Jul 2019)

Simon Harris: I do not have the figures sought by the Senators. I am sure the HSE will provide them and, I, indeed, have sought them. Senator Higgins made a fair point about procurement that is very much aligned with Dr. Scally's findings. He did not quite say this but he certainly alluded to the fact that during certain years, price became a bigger ratio than it had been previously. That is something...

Seanad: CervicalCheck Tribunal Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Jul 2019)

Simon Harris: I thought that the Senator would do so. That is now the agreed policy of the Oireachtas. We have come a long way from very different views, including within my own party, on how the delivery of healthcare should be provided through insurance models, Dutch models, etc., to an agreed platform now that is through universal healthcare. I regularly get misrepresented on this but that is...

Seanad: CervicalCheck Tribunal Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Jul 2019)

Simon Harris: I could not agree more with Senator Bacik. For people who have every reason to lose trust in parts of our health service or who, like Vicky, Lorraine, Stephen, Emma and so many others, have gone through bad experiences to still come out and promote screening is something for which I, in my role as Minister, am extremely grateful. It is also something that I know will help continue to save...

Seanad: CervicalCheck Tribunal Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Jul 2019)

Simon Harris: -----but he often believes he has better legal advice than me - perhaps he does - although I am very satisfied with the advice I receive.

Seanad: CervicalCheck Tribunal Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Jul 2019)

Simon Harris: The Senator's party has a proud tradition of attracting barristers, and many eminent ones. I sought legal advice from the Attorney General and the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel, OPC, and they confirmed to me that the current structure of the provision is very much in line with the drafting practice that takes place in these Houses and that it allows for either or both categories of...