Results 20,061-20,080 of 45,789 for speaker:Simon Harris
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion
Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (6 Feb 2019) Simon Harris: Correct.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion
Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (6 Feb 2019) Simon Harris: No, we were not-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion
Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (6 Feb 2019) Simon Harris: There are two parts to that question. First, as I said in my opening statement, there was an awareness across Government, including in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, that the GMP process was ongoing. The fact that there was an ongoing process to finalise the costs for phase B for the national children's hospital was not a secret that I or my Department was retaining. All...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion
Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (6 Feb 2019) Simon Harris: I did not discuss that.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion
Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (6 Feb 2019) Simon Harris: The Taoiseach was not alone in being in disbelief. I think we are all in disbelief. The Taoiseach and I found out about the figure on the same day - 9 November. We found out about the figure at a meeting we attended in the Department of Health on 9 November, so I can assure the Deputy that the disbelief was shared more widely. I believe the job of a Minister is to obtain factual and...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion
Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (6 Feb 2019) Simon Harris: I will ask my Secretary General to give the Deputy some of those figures in a moment. First, could I address three of the assertions made by the Deputy? They concern comments she put into my mouth that I did not make. No word such as "fantastic" was used. The Deputy can be sure that I share the concerns of this committee and the people of Ireland on the scale of the overrun. I am not...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion
Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (6 Feb 2019) Simon Harris: But of course it was not our decision. The Deputy is asking us these questions on who had legal responsibility for awarding the contract and for the procurement process, which is appropriate. It was not the Secretary General or myself. We would be answering very different questions if I were picking what company is to receive a very significant contract.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion
Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (6 Feb 2019) Simon Harris: I oversaw the process but I did not select the company.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion
Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (6 Feb 2019) Simon Harris: It is a very different proposition. The idea that Ministers would be in any way involved in procurement or the awarding of contracts would be a very worrying throwback to-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion
Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (6 Feb 2019) Simon Harris: I was involved in the setting up of the structure, the appointment of the experts and the approval of the Government for the funding.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion
Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (6 Feb 2019) Simon Harris: They were appointed by the then Minister, Senator Reilly, along with one of the members of the board based on their own professional expertise rather than being nominated by a Department to sit on that board. That is the distinction.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion
Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (6 Feb 2019) Simon Harris: I do not believe that is the case.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion
Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (6 Feb 2019) Simon Harris: That is right. Of course the head of the Office of Government Procurement will have procurement skills. There is no doubt about that. These appointments were made by Government in 2013 on the recommendation of the Minister for Health at the time. My understanding is that four people were appointed. The Deputy will know the structure of the board.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion
Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (6 Feb 2019) Simon Harris: Different people were appointed in different ways. Four were appointed in the public interest based on their professional expertise and one was the individual referenced by the Deputy.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion
Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (6 Feb 2019) Simon Harris: Certainly not that I am aware of. Obviously that is a matter outside the remit of my Department but no.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion
Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (6 Feb 2019) Simon Harris: Sure.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion
Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (6 Feb 2019) Simon Harris: My view, of course, is that I would, but I would in line with the person discharging their functions for the board. My understanding of the much discussed circular in recent days, is that there is a circular in existence that says if one is appointed, and I do not have it in front of me, but the Deputy will know about the circular-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion
Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (6 Feb 2019) Simon Harris: If one is a civil servant and is appointed to a non-commercial semi-State board, and one has concerns about issues in relation to that board or what one is overseeing, one has a duty to tell one's Minister.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion
Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (6 Feb 2019) Simon Harris: I am paraphrasing.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion
Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (6 Feb 2019) Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy. Again, I do not have the circular in front of me but my understanding is that it also says that if one is not satisfied that-----