Results 1,921-1,940 of 45,510 for speaker:Simon Harris

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 22 - Eligibility for Medical Cards (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Harris: Okay, it is useful to have that stated. Mr. O'Brien, as the director general of the HSE with Mr. Burke the head of the medical card section, is saying that discretion is being applied on a consistent and uniform basis, regardless of postal address. The criteria and same level of checks and balances apply whereas in the past that was not necessarily the case.

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 22 - Eligibility for Medical Cards (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Harris: Thank you. I wish to raise the issue of deceased medical card holders. I looked recently at the figures in relation to this issue and I was concerned to see a level, although lower than in the past, whereby the medical cards of the deceased were continuing to run up costs for the taxpayer. Mr. Burke supplied the figures. Of the 17,059 medical cards, 2,361 belonged to deceased people. As...

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 22 - Eligibility for Medical Cards (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Harris: That is very helpful. That figures of 2,361, if funds were paid out, they have been recouped.

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 22 - Eligibility for Medical Cards (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Harris: That makes sense. I am concerned that much of the discussion on probity - this word that has now entered the lexicon - the probity focus has been on medical cards being taken from people who currently hold them. From what I have read and heard from the HSE and the Department of Health, there must be concern about over-payments made to GPs, pharmacists and other. I have heard the Minister...

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 22 - Eligibility for Medical Cards (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Harris: I have a final question on the issue of medical cards before I raise a few other points. There seems to be a very high level of "non response" when the HSE writes to an individual seeking information. The Comptroller and Auditor General has referred to it in his report and it has been alluded to in the figures presented to us today. Am I correct in saying that a cohort of people who...

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 22 - Eligibility for Medical Cards (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Harris: That is helpful.

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 22 - Eligibility for Medical Cards (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Harris: With the indulgence of the Chairman, I would like to mention two issues in respect of which I would like the HSE to be put on notice.

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 22 - Eligibility for Medical Cards (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Harris: The first is disability funding. There is a real problem when Governments and Government Deputies make pronouncements in good faith. For example, it was announced that there would be a reduction to service providers of 1.2% in 2013. Service providers up and down the country have told us that they took a reduction of approximately 2%. The precise figure they mention tends to vary. In the...

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 22 - Eligibility for Medical Cards (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Harris: Please do

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 22 - Eligibility for Medical Cards (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Harris: That is important.

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 22 - Eligibility for Medical Cards (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Harris: The problems that arose in the case of the difference between a 1.2% cut and a 2% cut were encountered by the disability organisations and service providers in advance of the Haddington Road agreement. That brings me to my next difficulty. I will give an example of what is happening in many organisations around the country. I think I gave notice of my wish to discuss this case. A service...

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 22 - Eligibility for Medical Cards (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Harris: That brings us back to the previous discussion between the Departments of Public Expenditure and Reform and Health about what the HSE could actually achieve under the Haddington Road agreement. The extra bit was divided across a range of sectors, in the first instance, before it was decided that it should be taken centrally.

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 22 - Eligibility for Medical Cards (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Harris: I will direct my final point at Mr. O'Brien in the first instance. The HSE has carried out an extensive audit of another disability services provider in my constituency, St. Catherine's Association. This matter has appeared on the front page of a national newspaper on at least two occasions. I am concerned about a couple of aspects of the issue. The HSE seems to have carried out a very...

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 22 - Eligibility for Medical Cards (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Harris: St. Catherine's.

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 22 - Eligibility for Medical Cards (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Harris: I thank Mr. Byrne.

Order of Business (19 Nov 2013)

Simon Harris: I have two issues to raise. I welcome the Taoiseach's comments on the human tissue Bill and ask that it be fast-tracked or expedited as quickly as possible. I know a significant amount of work has already been done on it. I welcome the Cabinet's decision on the public health (standardised packaging of tobacco) Bill, the heads of which were agreed to by the Cabinet this morning. When is...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Redeployment (19 Nov 2013)

Simon Harris: 268. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the processes in place for a public servant who wishes to be re-deployed from one State agency to another; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48930/13]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Building Regulations Compliance (19 Nov 2013)

Simon Harris: 448. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the measures in place to ensure that building regulations are enforced and that persons purchasing their homes will be assured that rigorous building standards are in place and inspected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49155/13]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Recruitment (19 Nov 2013)

Simon Harris: 560. To ask the Minister for Defence if he expects recruitment for the armed forces to re-commence; the date on which this might happen; the application process involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49078/13]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy Reform (19 Nov 2013)

Simon Harris: 578. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the actions he will take in the context of the rural development plan to address the income concerns of many farmers who depend to a great extent on Pillar II payments, particularly in the vulnerable sectors and regions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49036/13]