Results 33,681-33,700 of 46,522 for speaker:Simon Harris

Covid-19 (Health) - Statements (14 May 2020)

Simon Harris: I will start with Deputy Nolan's questions. She is absolutely right to highlight the issue in regard to meat factories, as was Deputy Mattie McGrath. I have outlined on the record of this House the protocols in place and the national outbreak team that is overseeing this issue. The regulation and management of meat factories resides with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine,...

Covid-19 (Health) - Statements (14 May 2020)

Simon Harris: As Deputy Pringle said, and this is not a problem, sometimes we only hear the bad as politicians. That is a good thing that we get to bring the challenges and things not going well to the floor of this House. I respect that fully. I can tell Deputy Pringle that we are publishing testing figures every week concerning how many tests are completed. The Deputy is not just hearing that from...

Covid-19 (Health) - Statements (14 May 2020)

Simon Harris: -----to free up the time of a public health doctor to talk to someone who gets a positive result. I am confident things are moving in the right direction but I am in no way complacent or cocky about it. This is going to be an area that will require the scrutiny of this House, the Covid-19 committee and the likes. That will be a very constructive role. Deputy Pringle has also raised a very...

Covid-19 (Health) - Statements (14 May 2020)

Simon Harris: I will do my very best. First, I congratulate the Deputy on his election as chair of the Special Committee on Covid-19 Response-----

Covid-19 (Health) - Statements (14 May 2020)

Simon Harris: -----and look forward to any co-operation my Department can provide him with in discharging his duties. It will be an important role. I gave figures earlier regarding the enhanced nurse contract. When I was last asked about this in this House last month, just over 3,000 staff nurses had been appointed to the new scale. That was up from 700 in February. I believe the number is...

Written Answers — Department of Health: State Claims Agency Data (20 May 2020)

Simon Harris: The State Claims Agency (SCA) has a statutory remit to manage personal injury claims, including claims in respect of clinical negligence, on behalf of Delegated State Authorities (DSA’s) including the Health Service Executive.  I have been informed by the SCA that it has not received any claims relating to COVID-19 to date and also that it is not possible to predict with...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Direct Provision System (20 May 2020)

Simon Harris: Both my Department and the HSE are committed to protecting the identity and medical confidentiality of direct provision residents, as required by law, and therefore do not give specific information about individuals or locations.  Information on cases or outbreaks of any illness (COVID-19 or otherwise) is provided only if there is a public health reason to do so.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cannabis for Medicinal Use (20 May 2020)

Simon Harris: It is an offence to cultivate, import, export, produce, supply and possess cannabis except in accordance with a Ministerial licence. The Misuse of Drugs (Designation) Order 2017, limits the purposes for which such licences for cannabis can be issued, for example for forensic analysis or research - including research involving the cultivation of cannabis for use in approved clinical...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (20 May 2020)

Simon Harris: As this is an operational matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Agency Staff (20 May 2020)

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

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Public Health Emergency Team (20 May 2020)

Simon Harris: The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) for COVID-19 was established on 27 January 2020. It is chaired by the Chief Medical Officer. The NPHET oversees and provides national direction, guidance, support and expert advice on the development and implementation of a strategy to contain COVID-19 in Ireland.  It is not a permanent structure, but rather is established in response to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (20 May 2020)

Simon Harris: As the HSE has responsibility for procurement issues, I have asked the agency to respond directly to the Deputy. 

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Children's Hospital (20 May 2020)

Simon Harris: The National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB) has statutory responsibility for planning, designing, building and equipping the new children's hospital.  I have referred your question to the NPHDB for direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cross-Border Health Initiatives (20 May 2020)

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

Written Answers — Department of Health: Dental Services (20 May 2020)

Simon Harris: A national approach to the supply of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for the Public Dental Service of the HSE has been initiated.  Dentists contracted by the HSE under the Dental Treatment Services Scheme can apply to the HSE for PPE. Additional PPE, above the normal PPE used in dentistry, may currently be required in certain instances depending on the occupational risk assessment of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Status (20 May 2020)

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 (20 May 2020)

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: Health Services Staff (20 May 2020)

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

Written Answers — Department of Health: Dental Services (20 May 2020)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 672, 684, 691, 699, 700, 737 and 753 together. The necessary legislative amendments have now been made and the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) has worked with the dental profession and in particular the Dental Council, to provide revised guidance for the profession to allow for the resumption of the safe provision of routine care, including...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (20 May 2020)

Simon Harris: The Government’s Roadmap for Reopening Society & Business, published on 1 May 2020, sets out an indicative path to the easing of COVID-19 restrictions and other actions in order to facilitate the reopening Ireland’s society and economy in a phased manner. In relation to Cultural and Social Measures, including the opening of cinemas where social distancing can be...