Results 31,461-31,480 of 46,456 for speaker:Simon Harris

National Children's Hospital: Statements (24 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: I would like to answer the Deputy's serious and important questions. I will revert directly to the Deputy about Rowlagh primary care centre as I do not have information to hand. On the Deputy's substantive point, no projects will be delayed as a result of this because of the decision we took in the summer economic statement to allocate a reserve for the funding for both the national...

National Children's Hospital: Statements (24 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Cullinane for his questions and the succinct manner in which he has put them. Deputy Cullinane asked about the south east. I thank the Deputy for his acknowledgement earlier of how we work well on these issues. We will meet again to progress issues like the catheterization laboratory shortly. It is fair to say there was a period of uncertainty for the HSE as it waited...

National Children's Hospital: Statements (24 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: I will give Deputy O'Sullivan full answers, as I know them to be the case. I have not had a conversation with Mr. Quinn. I cannot speak for the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. Obviously, he meets his officials on a regular basis. I have no knowledge of any conversations.

National Children's Hospital: Statements (24 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: Deputy O'Sullivan might be able to ask by way of a parliamentary question. I have no knowledge of a conversation. I have not had a conversation. I will make this point again. It is a straightforward point. Several members of the board have stepped down. This will allow for a regeneration of the board in line with the skill set that the Children's Health Act 2018 envisaged. We only...

National Children's Hospital: Statements (24 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: I am sorry about that.

National Children's Hospital: Statements (24 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: It is entirely reasonable but just because the Deputy does not like the answer I give does not mean that it is not transparent; it just means that it does not align with his conspiracy theory.

National Children's Hospital: Statements (24 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: On the question of the rationale, I will repeat it one more time. The Children's Health Act 2018 sets out a new way for the board of the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board to appoint members. It identifies a skill set that should be used and it says that no longer will appointments be made in the old way. They will now be made through the Public Appointments Service. Deputy...

National Children's Hospital: Statements (24 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: He made it very clear why he stepped down-----

National Children's Hospital: Statements (24 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: He stepped down because he had done six years. He and a number of other members decided it was time to allow an opportunity for new people to serve on the board. He sent me a note thanking me, wishing the project success and saying that he was delighted to have been involved in progressing such an important project. He has done the State some service, as have all of the other people...

National Children's Hospital: Statements (24 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: The reporting mechanism for any Minister and a board appointed by a Minister is through the chairman. I had no direct engagement with Mr. Quinn or any conversations with him. Obviously, I know Mr. Quinn having been a Minister of State in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in a past life. In terms of this project, any engagement I would have would be through the chairman to me...

National Children's Hospital: Statements (24 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: In my note, I will have to include the answer to that as well. The Deputy wants to know about the use of the rooms as well as the use of the laboratory and diagnostic facilities. I will get her a detailed note on that.

National Children's Hospital: Statements (24 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Harty for his questions. In the House the other day, Deputies were asking about an oversight mechanism for this project which allows Members to keep a close eye on it and to hold people accountable. That mechanism is the Joint Committee on Health, chaired by Deputy Harty. It does a very good job and provides an opportunity to be more expansive. The committee can also invite...

National Children's Hospital: Statements (24 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: My apologies.

National Children's Hospital: Statements (24 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: I will endeavour to expand on each of the items about which the Deputy asked. There are no identified costs there, as the agreed cost for this project is still the €1.7 billion the Government approved. No newer additional costs have been presented to either me or the Government. Mr. Barry must continue to monitor these matters, robustly defend claims where it is appropriate to do...

National Children's Hospital: Statements (24 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: I have endeavoured to interact with Deputies' questions. The Oireachtas health committee can continue engaging with the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board, my Department officials and the HSE in order to monitor this project and get the latest up-to-date information. I encourage it to do so. I also encourage people to visit the hospital site. A number of Deputies in the Dublin...

National Children's Hospital: Statements (24 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: Deputy Shortall said that everyone accepts the rationale for this hospital, but that is not true. Many people in this House argued that we should have paused the project or moved the site. Some people still argue that to this day. The PwC report does not support that argument; it just says to get on with it. Everywhere I go across the country, parents tell me to get on with it and build...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Vaccination Programme (24 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy would be aware, the BCG vaccine is given to protect babies against tuberculosis (TB).  It is important to note that the number of cases of TB in Ireland is low.  Most European countries do not give the BCG vaccine routinely to all babies. Due to a lack of vaccine from the sole EU supplier, the BCG vaccine has not been available in Ireland since April 2015. ...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Facilities (24 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: HSE Staff Data (24 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: I wish to advise the Deputy that the first point on the salary scale for a senior pharmacist is €61,641. When 12% PRSI is added to this figure, the cost per new senior pharmacist in Year 1 would come to €69,037.92. The cost of recruiting three additional full-time senior pharmacists for the NCPE would amount to approximately €207,113 in Year 1.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Facilities (24 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the public healthcare facilities and infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to you in relation to this matter.