Results 13,021-13,040 of 45,789 for speaker:Simon Harris

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: National Maternity Hospital (21 Jun 2017)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for her question and her ongoing interest in this very important matter. I would strongly refute the suggestion that the month came and went. As the Deputy will be aware, during that month there was significant engagement between myself, the chairs of the National Maternity Hospital and St. Vincent's, and the CEOs and masters of both hospitals, as well as extensive...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: National Maternity Hospital (21 Jun 2017)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for her comments. The structure proposed in respect of the new National Maternity Hospital is envisaged as standing apart from the current St. Vincent's Healthcare Group. It retains the mastership structure. We have had a lot of public discourse and debate about this. Although I always like to be forthcoming with information, I must be conscious of what I say as we...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: National Maternity Hospital (21 Jun 2017)

Simon Harris: It is a broader question than that. I am not sure what the Deputy's view was or what the views of many Members of the House were when the State invested €266 million in the Mater hospital to provide new state-of-the-art facilities, a hospital that is not in the ownership of the State. There are approximately 17 hospitals in the State that are either voluntary or joint board...

Other Questions: Diabetes Strategy (21 Jun 2017)

Simon Harris: I look forward to the meeting next week. The Deputy is welcome to come along and engage with Oireachtas Members, the group and me on the issues we discussed when I visited Letterkenny previously. Letterkenny and Sligo university hospitals provide essential high quality hospital care for patients in the north west. I can assure the Deputy of the continued commitment to develop services...

Other Questions: Diabetes Strategy (21 Jun 2017)

Simon Harris: The Deputy makes a very fair point. The health service cannot presume that Letterkenny is just up the road from Galway. It is a significant journey to travel. We have talked previously about certain specialties, inlcuding cancer care, and the need at times for patients to travel to Galway, but, in general, as many clinics as possible should be held in Letterkenny to help patients in the...

Other Questions: Diabetes Strategy (21 Jun 2017)

Simon Harris: I will make four brief points. I can confirm to the Deputy that the process in regard to the consultant paediatrician post which is vacant will be expedited through what is known as the CAAC, the consultant applications advisory committee, and the Public Appointments Service. Saolta has confirmed that to me. Saolta has also advised that a plan is being put in place to ensure that all...

Other Questions: Hospital Accommodation Provision (21 Jun 2017)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 49, 102, 107 and 120 together. Work is ongoing to address the capacity challenges at South Tipperary General Hospital. While the HSE is exploring what additional supports could be by provided by Our Lady's Hospital, Cashel, it has identified that the most immediate and effective means to alleviate pressure on the emergency department is the fit out of...

Other Questions: Hospital Accommodation Provision (21 Jun 2017)

Simon Harris: That is not fair. I do not want to get involved in Tipperary politics. The Deputy's colleague, Deputy Lowry, and indeed all Tipperary Deputies are regularly in contact with me-----

Other Questions: Hospital Accommodation Provision (21 Jun 2017)

Simon Harris: -----as is Deputy McGrath, on the very important issues regarding both South Tipperary General Hospital and Our Lady's Hospital in Cashel. We are seeing progress on South Tipperary General Hospital. The 11 bays will open. They will provide badly needed additional surge capacity for the winter. We need to have a master plan for the development. Successive Governments have failed to invest...

Other Questions: Hospital Accommodation Provision (21 Jun 2017)

Simon Harris: I do not think I could confuse Deputy McGrath if I tried because he is very clear in his thinking on this and never afraid to articulate that. He is right that when I visited Cashel, I was taken aback by the underutilisation of what is a fine resource within the ownership of the HSE. However, before I became Minister for Health, there was diddly-squat planned to do anything with it.

Other Questions: Hospital Accommodation Provision (21 Jun 2017)

Simon Harris: As a result of my visit to Cashel with the Deputy and his Oireachtas colleagues representing Tipperary across the political spectrum, I directed the HSE to put in place a plan to utilise Cashel so that it can help alleviate pressure in Clonmel - in addition to the 11 bays in Clonmel, the consideration of the modular accommodation and the master plan - so we can have a real capital...

Other Questions: Health Care Policy (21 Jun 2017)

Simon Harris: There was a similar question about this earlier and we will have a substantive debate, I hope, in the House tomorrow evening on the matter, but I welcome the question. I have already spoken on this question today in response to a question from Deputy Harty, but it is important to use this opportunity again to thank and commend the committee on its work over the past year and acknowledge...

Other Questions: Health Care Policy (21 Jun 2017)

Simon Harris: Yes, I can, and my new departmental colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Daly, will have responsibility for the area of home care in so far as it relates to older people. As Deputy Moynihan will remember, we had a debate in this House recently during which his colleague, Deputy O'Dea, raised this very issue by way of a Bill. We agreed at that stage that we would go forward with trying...

Other Questions: Health Care Policy (21 Jun 2017)

Simon Harris: There will be no disagreement on this side of the House with the Deputy's analysis. The population of the country is changing; it is not just increasing. There will be 20,000 more people over the age of 65 years this year compared to last year and there will be 3,500 more over the age of 80. That trend is likely to continue into the future and will place significant demands on the health...

Other Questions: National Maternity Hospital (21 Jun 2017)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 52 and 128 together. Deputy Barry must remember that when reforming a health service, one has to continue to run it on a day-to-day basis while those reforms are under way. Discussions are ongoing with the St. Vincent's Healthcare Group on the terms of the State's investment in the new hospital and, in particular, arrangements for the protection of...

Other Questions: National Maternity Hospital (21 Jun 2017)

Simon Harris: We all want to arrive at a single-tier health service, and if we were already there we would not all be working so hard to arrive at that point. That is the purpose of the Sláintecare report, which has received broad political consensus. I do not know if the Deputy has walked the corridors of Holles Street hospital lately but I have been there many times. The point I am making, which...

Other Questions: National Maternity Hospital (21 Jun 2017)

Simon Harris: Not here though.

Other Questions: National Maternity Hospital (21 Jun 2017)

Simon Harris: My party has signed up to the implementation of the Sláintecare report whereas I do not believe the Deputy has. I look forward to that debate as well. It is not a matter of boasting; it is a matter of actually acknowledging when we make progress. I am determined and proud that this Government will deliver a state-of-the-art world class national maternity hospital for women and infants...

Other Questions: National Maternity Hospital (21 Jun 2017)

Simon Harris: I want to have a universal single-tier system. I ask Deputy to take up my invitation to go across to the National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street, and ask to meet with the master of the hospital, walk the facility and see the conditions in which women have to give birth in this country. It is not acceptable.

Other Questions: National Maternity Hospital (21 Jun 2017)

Simon Harris: It was forgotten about, even in times of economic boom. We are going to do it and we are going to get it right. We have seen developments in regard to this project, with the Sisters of Charity withdrawing in recent weeks. I have made it clear that my Department, the Chief State Solicitor's office and St. Vincent's Healthcare Group are now in discussions in regard to the ownership model....