Results 21,541-21,560 of 45,789 for speaker:Simon Harris

Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Report Stage (Resumed) (5 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: I do not intend to speak on this for long because we spoke on it at great length at the committee and on many other occasions. Members need to be careful with the use of language. I heard the reference to abortion as a women taking the easy option. That is grossly offensive, regardless of anybody's view on the issue. It is never easy. No women gets up and says, "God, I would love to have...

Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Report Stage (Resumed) (5 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: It is irrelevant.

Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Report Stage (Resumed) (5 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: I cannot control my head movements.

Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Report Stage (Resumed) (5 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: I do not question anyone's bona fides in relation to this. As Deputy Burton has said, everybody wants what is best for their children. I am sure everybody shares that view. I am sure we all share the view that everybody wants to make sure children are protected. There is a big and broad debate about the issue of consent across society. It covers a number of areas, including the sexual...

Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Report Stage (Resumed) (5 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: Indeed. Section 23 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 refers specifically to the issue of consent.

Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Report Stage (Resumed) (5 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: My apologies. We have more than the 1997 Act. We have the Children First guidelines and the HSE policy on consent. Deputy Harty outlined in the most articulate and eloquent way the reality of how consent works. This is the norm in the health service. In cases involving people under the age of 16, parents are involved unless there are exceptional circumstances. This is not a mystery for...

Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Report Stage (Resumed) (5 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: I read out-----

Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Report Stage (Resumed) (5 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: It does exist.

Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Report Stage (Resumed) (5 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: It is already there.

Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Report Stage (Resumed) (5 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: Come on.

Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Report Stage (Resumed) (5 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: No.

Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Report Stage (Resumed) (5 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: Yes.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Hospital Staff Data (5 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for the question. As the Deputy knows, Mallow General Hospital is part of the South/South West hospital group. It is a model 2 hospital providing acute general hospital services to the people of north Cork. The hospital has 54 acute beds, in excess of 220 staff and a budget of approximately €17.5 million in 2018. There are approximately 20 staff vacancies at...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Hospital Staff Data (5 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: I will ask the HSE to revert directly to the Deputy in terms of when the advertisements for those vacant posts will be placed, but my understanding is that it is pretty imminent and that they have been sanctioned for funding so it is a matter of placing the advertisements. I had an opportunity to meet the CEO of the South/South West hospital group with my colleague, the Minister of State,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Hospital Staff Data (5 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: I will follow up the matter that Deputy Buckley raised. That is not acceptable and the HSE is meant to answer those questions within a specific timeframe, so I will follow that up directly with it. I answered Deputy Michael Moynihan's second question by saying that I would get the HSE to revert to him directly on when those advertisements will be placed. It is important to point out...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Dementia Strategy (5 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: The Deputy is right to highlight the fact that more and more people are being and will continue to be diagnosed with dementia. Eleven of us will receive that diagnosis each and every day. It is estimated that there are over 55,000 people who have a form of dementia. There are about 4,000 new cases each year. After the age of 65 years, the prevalence of dementia nearly doubles every five...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Dementia Strategy (5 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: I have heard the Deputy advocate for dementia care advisers and appreciate and acknowledge the role they play at the eight locations. I also acknowledge that an independent evaluation has been conducted by UCC which very much sees the merit in and the need to expand the service. Obviously, we are having this conversation at a time when the HSE has received a budget of €17 billion....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Health Services Staff Remuneration (5 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 41, 63 and 85 together. I thank the Deputy for his question and acknowledge the fact that he has raised this matter on a number of occasions. He will be aware that in February an agreement was reached at the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, between my Department, the HSE and health sector trade unions on a process aimed at resolving the pay...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Health Services Staff Remuneration (5 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: The answer to the Deputy's last question is "Yes". They will be provided with funding to meet the cost of pay restoration to ensure it will not impact on the delivery of services. I accept that many section 39 organisations applied pay cuts. I also accept, as I think the Deputy does, that section 39 employees are not State employees. Therefore, it is different and the position varies from...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Health Services Staff Remuneration (5 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: I ran out of time during my last reply. On the issue of information and returning information for those 50 organisations, there was a deadline date of 23 November. As of 29 November, of the 50 organisations, just over half had returned their applications. A further group have asked for an extension and this has been granted until this Friday, 7 December. The Deputy logically asked what...