Results 21,241-21,260 of 45,789 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Status (18 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual. The National...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Data (18 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Seanad: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: I thank the Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Tony Holohan, for his clinical leadership. I thank the incredible Geraldine Luddy-----

Seanad: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: -----who is here with me this evening and who has been over so many days. I thank Mr. Ronan Horgan, Ms Aoife O'Brien, Ms Bronwyn Conway and Ms Noelle Waldron for all the work they have done in the Department in making sure that we were well briefed and in a position to brief Members of the Oireachtas as we went through the various legislative Stages. I thank my own team, Ms Joanne Lonergan,...

Seanad: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: -----who did incredible work on this issue over so many years. Despite their small number, these Senators succeeded more than once in putting this matter on the agenda of the Oireachtas when it was not on the agenda of the majority. It is on their shoulders that we stand tonight. At the end of such a long journey, it is astonishing to reflect on how far we have come in the past year. We...

Seanad: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: It is a momentous day. It is an historic day. It is a day that I am humbled and proud to be a part of. There are so many people I want to thank that it will not be possible to thank them all. I begin by thanking the Cathaoirleach for the way in which he has chaired this debate with fairness and impartiality throughout recent days. I thank the Members of Seanad Éireann for the...

Seanad: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: Reference was made to the criminalisation of doctors. Doctors are watching this. We need our doctors and we want them to provide this service. Many doctors are stepping up to provide this service so I just need to reiterate the wording in the legislation which refers to doctors carrying out terminations on the grounds allowed for in the legislation, forming a reasonable opinion and acting...

Seanad: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: I thank Senators for their contributions and the work they put into the drafting of these amendments. They have put a lot of work into what is a very sensitive and important area that we are all determined to get right. As Senator Bacik said at the start of her contribution, I am conscious that while we are talking about the issue of criminalisation in the final grouping of amendments -...

Seanad: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: I have nothing further to what I already said on Committee Stage.

Seanad: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: I am responding to the debate on the amendments.

Seanad: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: We have acknowledged the fact that I amended the Bill in Dáil Éireann to include student nurses and student midwives. Senator Bacik outlined for Senator Mullen where this had been done in the legislation and he has accepted this. As for medical practitioners, including student medical practitioners, the advice I have received indicates that the definition included in the Bill...

Seanad: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: No. Pharmacists are included in the context of having a conscientious objection, as outlined eloquently by my colleague Senator Reilly who is a doctor and quoted from the code of conduct for doctors.

Seanad: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: Perhaps I should speak at some point.

Seanad: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: To get back to the amendments, Nos. 28 to 32, inclusive, I do not have anything useful to add other than to refer to my comments on Committee Stage in which I clearly outlined the way conscientious objection is protected in this Bill. We are at an impasse in terms of people's viewpoints on that and I propose that Seanad Éireann rejects the amendments.

Seanad: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: That is not true.

Seanad: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: The Senator has not read the Bill.

Seanad: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: It is in section 23.

Seanad: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: What is the porter objecting to?

Seanad: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: It is not in the Constitution.

Seanad: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: We repealed it in May when 1.4 million people voted to repeal it.