Results 34,561-34,580 of 46,522 for speaker:Simon Harris

Emergency Bed Capacity: Statements (24 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for her questions. In regard to Bantry General Hospital, I am pleased to give her a commitment that I have no intention for the hospital to be in any way downgraded. I had the pleasure of visiting it a year and a half or two years ago and it is a superb facility. In fact, I would like it to be busier. It needs to be busier. I do not say that as a criticism of the...

Emergency Bed Capacity: Statements (24 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: "Yes" is the short answer. We have already seen some services move from public hospitals to private hospitals because of capacity issues. We need to retain that facility and I also see an opportunity to secure some capacity in private hospitals for elective work, recognising the Deputy's point that there are significant waiting lists and access issues which have been exacerbated further by...

Emergency Bed Capacity: Statements (24 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: As I said, it will be a matter for the new Government to decide the timeline in that regard. A huge amount of preparatory work is being carried out in the Department of Health, including a massive public consultation in which many thousands of people gave their views. I do not want to tie the hands of a new Government but I would like to see that prioritised by this House. It would be...

Emergency Bed Capacity: Statements (24 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: I think the Deputy certainly will. It is a great hospital and has a very bright future.

Emergency Bed Capacity: Statements (24 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: I think it was "Spin Féin". We have all learned it.

Emergency Bed Capacity: Statements (24 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: I am feeling uncomfortable.

Emergency Bed Capacity: Statements (24 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: I have a little bit of time to respond. Unfortunately the word "spin" does not fit as well into the name of the Deputy's party but he gave it a fairly good go there. I genuinely get a little bit upset when somebody suggests that anyone is being hypocritical praising healthcare staff. No political grouping owns them. They are all our families, friends, members of our communities and...

Emergency Bed Capacity: Statements (24 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: I have been in touch with Dr. O'Connor who I have a lot of time for. As I said on a number of occasions, the plan for the doctors and other healthcare professionals who came home - and the category who did not come home but were planning on leaving and could not because of Covid - is to try to offer as many of them posts in the Irish health service as possible. That does not mean - I cannot...

Emergency Bed Capacity: Statements (24 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: We cannot hire them on the floor of the Chamber.

Emergency Bed Capacity: Statements (24 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: I cannot pre-empt what Cabinet will decide tomorrow but I think that there is a very strong case for looking at how we can further promote the wearing of face coverings in particular settings. One often does that by changing a law or regulation and that in itself creates such an environment. I take the Deputy's point about not wishing to put drivers in difficult positions and I will...

Emergency Bed Capacity: Statements (24 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Shanahan. I know he has raised the matter of cardiac care in the south east, as did the Acting Chair, Deputy Butler, earlier today. I know this is an important issue in the south east. I accept that we are not yet where we want to be, but I also acknowledge that there has been significant focus on trying to improve the outcome. We have had a mobile unit for a significant...

Emergency Bed Capacity: Statements (24 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: My apologies. I know several hospitals are now beginning to do temperature testing. I do not believe that it is yet mandatory, but I will contact the HSPC, get some clinical guidance and then write to the Deputy.

Emergency Bed Capacity: Statements (24 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: That is no problem at all.

Emergency Bed Capacity: Statements (24 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: I will reply in the short time available to me. Whatever role I am in next week, if I am in any, I hope that Deputy Mattie McGrath and I can find another forum in which we can continue to exchange our views. We have had lots of ding-dongs during the time I have been Minister for Health. I respect the job that the Deputy has to do.

Emergency Bed Capacity: Statements (24 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: Let me shock the Deputy by agreeing with him on something because I think he is entirely right about the issue of churches. I take religious freedom very seriously. I also take the health and safety of people very seriously. The pandemic is real and has taken more than 2,000 lives on this island so far. Let us try to strike a note of harmony. The pandemic is real but people's faith is...

Emergency Bed Capacity: Statements (24 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: I will get the public health advice and the Government will make a decision tomorrow. I will fulfil my statutory duties in line with any laws in terms of any report I have to publish. I will come back to the Deputy about St. Brigid's District Hospital. Anyone who has a concern should not wait for a screening service but should go to see his or her GP today. The dates for the resumption...

Emergency Bed Capacity: Statements (24 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: I do not think there was any spin there.

Emergency Bed Capacity: Statements (24 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: I think the figure is 18 hospitals. If that is not the number, I will write to the Deputy, but that is my memory. My understanding is that service level agreements are still being finalised.

Emergency Bed Capacity: Statements (24 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: That is right.

Emergency Bed Capacity: Statements (24 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: There were 19 hospitals involved.