Results 1,001-1,020 of 45,495 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Health: Programme for Government (9 Oct 2012)

Simon Harris: To ask the Minister for Health if he will outline in tabular form the commitments in the Programme for Government pertaining to his ministerial portfolio; the current status of these commitments in terms of implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42881/12]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Staff Grades (9 Oct 2012)

Simon Harris: To ask the Minister for Health if there is a disability appeals officer in place within his Department under the terms of the Disability Act 2005; if a permanent post for this position is in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42985/12]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Ministerial Responsibilities (9 Oct 2012)

Simon Harris: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will outline in tabular form the commitments in the Programme for Government pertaining to his ministerial portfolio; the current status of these commitments in terms of implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42887/12]

Public Accounts Committee: Vote Management and Budgetary Situation in 2012: Discussion with Department of Health and HSE (9 Oct 2012)

Simon Harris: I ask for clarification as to why the HSE and the Department of Health only received the report yesterday. Are we in agreement that the report only went to them yesterday? It would be helpful because the issue has come up quite a few times.

Public Accounts Committee: Vote Management and Budgetary Situation in 2012: Discussion with Department of Health and HSE (9 Oct 2012)

Simon Harris: I have established that is the reason and I thank the Chairman. I congratulate, if that is the right term, Mr. O'Brien and Dr. McLoughlin on their appointments and wish them well in their roles. Of all the Committee of Public Accounts meetings, the meetings we have had with representatives of the HSE have been most engaging. We have previously engaged with Mr. Crowley, Mr. Woods and Ms...

Public Accounts Committee: Vote Management and Budgetary Situation in 2012: Discussion with Department of Health and HSE (9 Oct 2012)

Simon Harris: I apologise to Dr. McLoughlin. I want to be respectful and will not engage in the shouting and screaming of others. Can one of the witnesses give me the most up-to-date position on the HSE budget overrun?

Public Accounts Committee: Vote Management and Budgetary Situation in 2012: Discussion with Department of Health and HSE (9 Oct 2012)

Simon Harris: Has Mr. Woods a projection for the end of year overspend for the HSE?

Public Accounts Committee: Vote Management and Budgetary Situation in 2012: Discussion with Department of Health and HSE (9 Oct 2012)

Simon Harris: Mr. Woods referred to the fact that the HSE is trying to achieve a balanced budget. What active measures is the executive taking on a day-to-day basis? I refer to the phrase that sends a chill down people's spines. They do not believe it when we talk about "non-front line savings". I have read that the HSE intends to achieve €72.5 million non-front line savings. What is the...

Public Accounts Committee: Vote Management and Budgetary Situation in 2012: Discussion with Department of Health and HSE (9 Oct 2012)

Simon Harris: The national media also reported Mr. Woods alluding to €125 million for collection in moneys owed by insurers, which would go some way towards assisting the HSE with its deficit. What is the updated position on the collection of this money?

Public Accounts Committee: Vote Management and Budgetary Situation in 2012: Discussion with Department of Health and HSE (9 Oct 2012)

Simon Harris: I have just looked through the figures in the HSE's July performance report. I could be wrong but I cannot find a hospital in budget. Is that correct? I have looked through them all. Louth County Hospital had used its entire budget by the end of July. That was the highest with 67% spent by the end of June. No hospital is in budget. These are the questions I want to get a feel for: why...

Public Accounts Committee: Vote Management and Budgetary Situation in 2012: Discussion with Department of Health and HSE (9 Oct 2012)

Simon Harris: Will Mr. O'Brien explain that?

Public Accounts Committee: Vote Management and Budgetary Situation in 2012: Discussion with Department of Health and HSE (9 Oct 2012)

Simon Harris: I take that point but my question still stands. This is a budget management as opposed to a policy question. Is the problem that budgets are mismanaged and the HSE does not have the calibre of people to manage budgets within hospitals? Why is no hospital within budget?

Public Accounts Committee: Vote Management and Budgetary Situation in 2012: Discussion with Department of Health and HSE (9 Oct 2012)

Simon Harris: That is a fair point and we often presume that during what Mr. O'Brien referred to as the good old times everything ran smoothly in the HSE from a budgetary point of view and that was clearly not the case. I would like to return to the issue of agency staff. With regard to the committee's relationship with the HSE, Mr. O'Brien's predecessor told us, as Deputy McCarthy said, that the...

Public Accounts Committee: Vote Management and Budgetary Situation in 2012: Discussion with Department of Health and HSE (9 Oct 2012)

Simon Harris: At the last committee meeting Mr. Magee attended, I asked a question on the number of people working in the HSE in receipt of salaries in excess of €70,000, the number of those individuals in line to receive an increment this year and the cost of those increments. At the time, Mr. Magee did not have the information available, which was understandable, and I was told the information...

Public Accounts Committee: Vote Management and Budgetary Situation in 2012: Discussion with Department of Health and HSE (9 Oct 2012)

Simon Harris: It arose from the meeting on 28 June and I do not expect Mr. O'Brien to be familiar with it.

Public Accounts Committee: Vote Management and Budgetary Situation in 2012: Discussion with Department of Health and HSE (9 Oct 2012)

Simon Harris: In challenging times, the more information we have available, the better.

Public Accounts Committee: Vote Management and Budgetary Situation in 2012: Discussion with Department of Health and HSE (9 Oct 2012)

Simon Harris: I do not mean to be pedantic but the HSE knew there were increments totalling €377,000 being paid to those earning over €100,000 in that year.

Public Accounts Committee: Vote Management and Budgetary Situation in 2012: Discussion with Department of Health and HSE (9 Oct 2012)

Simon Harris: I would appreciate that. Since Mr. O'Brien has assumed his position, is there a skill set that must be further enhanced within the HSE in respect of financial management? I do not mean this as a policy question. When we are told about these legacy systems and the overrunning budgets, is the embargo on recruitment having a negative impact on the ability of the HSE to manage its budgets?...

Fiscal Responsibility Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Oct 2012)

Simon Harris: I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Fiscal Responsibility Bill 2012. The Bill addresses Articles 3 and 4 of the stability treaty and in doing so it is another piece of the complex jigsaw the Government, the previous Government and all citizens have had to compile and piece together in a difficult and painstaking way in order to get the country back on the road to fiscal sustainability...

Leaders' Questions (16 Oct 2012)

Simon Harris: The Deputy said enough to identify them.