Results 10,621-10,640 of 45,789 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (2 Mar 2017)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 247 and 248 together. I wish to thank the Deputy for the matter raised. Given that this is an operational matter, it is appropriate that it should be dealt with by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI). I have referred the Deputy's question to the NMBI for attention and direct reply within 10 working days.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Vaccination Programme (2 Mar 2017)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 250 to 252, inclusive, 254 to 256, inclusive, and 259 to 261, inclusive, together. The immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). NIAC is a committee of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland comprising of experts in a number of specialties including infectious diseases, paediatrics and...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Vaccination Programme (2 Mar 2017)

Simon Harris: My Department has contacted the HSE who have confirmed that as the Gardasil vaccine has been approved for use in the European Union by the European Medicines Agency there is no requirement for indemnity.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Vaccination Programme (2 Mar 2017)

Simon Harris: This question refers to a paper published in an academic journal. All relevant information is taken into account by my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Vaccination Programme (2 Mar 2017)

Simon Harris: In Ireland, the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) is the statutory regulatory authority for medicines in Ireland. The HPRA and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in Europe continually monitor adverse events to vaccination. Gardasil is the HPV vaccine used in the HSE schools immunisation programme its safety profile has been continuously monitored since it was first authorised....

Written Answers — Department of Health: Vaccination Programme (2 Mar 2017)

Simon Harris: I am not familiar with the website referenced or its content.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Vaccination Programme (2 Mar 2017)

Simon Harris: I understand the question refers to a report released by the United States Forest Service which is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture. Other than the Deputy's question, it has not been drawn to my attention, but my Department will now consider whether any further examination of this matter is required.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Legislative Process RIA (2 Mar 2017)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 264 and 265 together. Bills published between 2011 and 2016 are shown in the following table. Bills published between 2011 and 2016 Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2011 Medical Practitioners (Amendment) Bill 2011 Health (Provision of General Practitioner Services) Bill 2011 Health Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011 Clotting Factor...

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 38 - Health (Revised) (2 Mar 2017)

Simon Harris: I am conscious that many issues pertaining to today's Revised Estimates, including how various health-related matters are to be funded and addressed in 2017, were discussed when I had a lengthy engagement with the joint committee last week. The script I have circulated can be taken as read. I will make a few brief points at the outset. I hope the 2017 Revised Estimates can be seen as a...

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 38 - Health (Revised) (2 Mar 2017)

Simon Harris: The Deputy makes a fair point. In considering the health Vote, we must accept the elephant in the room, which is that the health Vote is not configured along programme lines. The Department of Health is working towards the development of programme budgeting and changing the structure of the health Vote to reflect this. It will take some time though because the financial systems in the HSE...

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 38 - Health (Revised) (2 Mar 2017)

Simon Harris: It is still a substantial body of work and we are a number of years away in terms of it. The HSE needs to be cognisant of the fact that we are going to presumably undertake more structural reform when the Committee on the Future of Health Care reports in April, which may enable us to have more fruitful conversations on structures across the health service. I looked through the various...

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 38 - Health (Revised) (2 Mar 2017)

Simon Harris: The Deputy makes an important point. Last week at this committee we had a detailed discussion on the increased numbers of people working for the health service. A number of Deputies and Senators raised the issue of the growth in administration and management. The national director of HR has committed to giving a report to the committee showing a more detailed breakdown. From my initial...

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 38 - Health (Revised) (2 Mar 2017)

Simon Harris: It is a very fair point. I reiterate that if we have to find additional resources for pay measures above and beyond the Lansdowne Road measures that were agreed by and expected by Government in advance of the preparation of budget 2017, there is no new pot of money to use. I am conscious of that and I am sure the INMO is conscious of that as well. The IMO - the doctors - is being dealt...

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 38 - Health (Revised) (2 Mar 2017)

Simon Harris: This is an area that is extraordinarily important and one in which significant progress has been made over the past ten years or so from a very low base in this country in terms of access to palliative care and in terms of the provision of hospice services in general. If one looks at a map of Ireland now, as I did recently with the palliative care people in the HSE, there is significant...

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 38 - Health (Revised) (2 Mar 2017)

Simon Harris: The Vote that I am here to account for today does allow for increased investment in the provision of palliative care in 2017 to address the deficits the Chairman has highlighted. This is an area in which we are coming from a historically low base. I am not suggesting in any way that enough is done, but I do genuinely believe in the increased investment this year. When we look behind the...

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 38 - Health (Revised) (2 Mar 2017)

Simon Harris: I will start with the nursing home matter that Deputy Kelleher raises. The Deputy is correct. On the issue of the 'flu this winter, for example, once the HSE started engaging proactively with the nursing homes when we put the additional measures in place in January, we saw that there is a willingness on behalf of nursing homes and their representative bodies to work with the health service...

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 38 - Health (Revised) (2 Mar 2017)

Simon Harris: Donegal can feel quite isolated geographically at times. It is such a large, sprawling county that to have an outreach nurse will make a big difference. I also had an excellent conversation with Deputy Louise O'Reilly's colleague and my counterpart, Ms Michelle O'Neill, MLA, the Minister for Health in Northern Ireland, about what we can do on a North-South basis in terms of paediatric...

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 38 - Health (Revised) (2 Mar 2017)

Simon Harris: I know Deputy Durkan is a traditionalist in regard to looking back at these figures. I mean that in a positive sense. While this is the way the document is laid out, as I said at the start, it is sometimes not terribly reflective of the way the programmes are delivered and that is the bridge we need to try and cross. I expect all four regions, without fear or favour, to come in on budget...

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 38 - Health (Revised) (2 Mar 2017)

Simon Harris: This year it is no longer acceptable to say that the HSE is not adequately funded. I say that because the Director General of the HSE, when he launched the service plan with me, said that the service plan was adequately funded for the delivery of the targets within it. There is recognition from the HSE that the Houses of the Oireachtas have provided adequate funding to deliver on the...

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 38 - Health (Revised) (2 Mar 2017)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony for her support for the legislation to address the provision of a medical card for those in receipt of a domiciliary care allowance. This is an issue that unifies the House. The Bill is welcome and we will get it through both Houses as quickly as possible. The Deputy is correct to highlight the review. It is very important for the almost 10,000...