Results 30,601-30,620 of 46,456 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Availability (1 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: The HSE has statutory responsibility for medicine pricing and reimbursement decisions, under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. The Act specifies criteria for decisions on the reimbursement of medicines. HSE decisions on which medicines are reimbursed by the taxpayer are made on objective, scientific and economic grounds, including on the advice of the National...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Commencement of Legislation (1 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: The 2013 Government Decision which approved a minimum pricing regime envisaged its introduction in Northern Ireland and in this jurisdiction simultaneously. It is my intention to seek a revised Government Decision to implement minimum unit pricing of alcohol here as soon as possible in order to address the very significant health harms and financial...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Staff (1 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: As this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly. 

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Reimbursement (1 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 367 and 414 together. The HSE has statutory responsibility for medicine pricing and reimbursement decisions, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. The Act specifies the criteria for decisions on the reimbursement of medicines. In line with the 2013 Act and the national framework agreed with industry, if a...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Staff Recruitment (1 Oct 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: National Treatment Purchase Fund Data (1 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: The National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) advise that in 2019 it placed a particular focus on engaging with hospital groups and individual hospitals to identify outpatient waiting list proposals. The NTPF has further advised that to date in 2019, all of the outpatient appointments it has funded are in Public Hospitals under insourcing initiatives arranged directly with the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: European Health Insurance Card (1 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: The Government, on 17 September 2019, approved the immediate drafting of the Health and Childcare Support (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2019, which will provide for benefits similar to those available under European Health Insurance Cards (EHIC) to eligible residents of Northern Ireland in the case of a no-deal Brexit.  There has been significant work undertaken since,...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (1 Oct 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: Departmental Staff Remuneration (1 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: The staff of my Department are paid on the basis of centrally negotiated Civil Service pay scales, in line with Government policy and as sanctioned by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.  Taking a net working hours requirement of 37 hours per week for a full-time employee, there are no staff in my Department who are currently earning less than €12.30 per hour. 

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Services (1 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: The Atypical Working Scheme is managed, monitored and administered by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service within the Department of Justice and Equality. The current terms applying to this scheme have been in place since 2015.  The Health Service Executive has recently become aware of challenges faced by agencies providing general practitioner services, particularly GP...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Healthcare Infrastructure Provision (1 Oct 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: Newborn Screening Cards (1 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 379 and 418 together. Currently all newborn babies (between 3 and 5 days old) are offered newborn bloodspot screening (generally known as the ‘heel prick’) through their parents/guardians for eight very rare conditions that are treatable if detected early in life. A National Screening Committee is being established and will hold its...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Vaccination Programme (1 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: Immunisation is regarded as one of the safest and most cost-effective of all health care interventions.  It is also one of the most effective ways a parent can protect the health of their child.  The childhood immunisation programme in Ireland has had a huge impact in improving the health of the Irish people.  Diseases that used to be common in this country and around the world...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (1 Oct 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: Medicinal Products (1 Oct 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: Medicinal Products Reimbursement (1 Oct 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: Hospital Waiting Lists (1 Oct 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 Discharges (1 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Conditions (1 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: The HSE make every effort to access relevant evidence based research into Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) / myalgic encephalomyelitis (or encephalopathy) (ME) as it becomes available. The HSE prioritises the development of guidelines based on clinical need and within available resources. The challenge in relation to ME is that it does not sit within one specialty, but crosses a number of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Conditions (1 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 391 and 392 together. Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) / myalgic encephalomyelitis (or encephalopathy) (ME) is a complex debilitating disorder which is characterised by severe fatigue accompanied by a range of other symptoms. There is currently no known, specific, medical diagnostic test to determine or confirm a correct diagnosis of ME and no...