Results 22,161-22,180 of 45,789 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff Remuneration (15 Nov 2018)

Simon Harris: I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospitals Building Programme (15 Nov 2018)

Simon Harris: As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of capital projects in the health services, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to you.

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Services Provision (15 Nov 2018)

Simon Harris: As this question relates to a service matter, I have arranged for it to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing Staff Remuneration (15 Nov 2018)

Simon Harris: I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Consultant Remuneration (15 Nov 2018)

Simon Harris: It is estimated that it would cost approximately €45m to bring the pay of new entrant consultants into line with their colleagues. The Public Service Pay Commission in its Report published on 4 September found that the differential in pay between pre-existing and new entrant consultants is greater than for other categories of public servants. The Commission proposed that the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Status (15 Nov 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: HSE Staff Recruitment (15 Nov 2018)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 136 and 140 together. The process to select a new CEO for the HSE has not yet concluded successfully. It remains my objective to identify and appoint a CEO with all of the required skills as soon as possible and a revised process to do so is currently being finalised. The CEO will operate under the direction of an independent Board, as provided for in the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (15 Nov 2018)

Simon Harris: As the Health Service Executive has overall responsibility for the management of health care property, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to you in relation to this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (15 Nov 2018)

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

Written Answers — Department of Health: Energy Efficiency (15 Nov 2018)

Simon Harris: In 2009 the Government set a national target for Ireland to improve energy efficiency by 20% by 2020. At the same time, a more challenging efficiency target of 33% was set for the public sector to demonstrate leadership on energy efficiency. The 20% improvement in energy efficiency by the public sector towards its target of 33% by 2020, has been achieved based largely on low-cost behavioural...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Industrial Relations (15 Nov 2018)

Simon Harris: Officials from my Department and the HSE met with the three nursing unions - the INMO, SIPTU and the PNA - on Friday 9 November on this matter. There was a further meeting with the INMO on 14 November. Following on from that meeting, it is clear that there are different views concerning the interpretation of certain elements in the Public Service Stability Agreement. Consequently, management...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff Remuneration (15 Nov 2018)

Simon Harris: The Public Service Pay Commission noted that nurses and midwives are seriously aggrieved at what they regard as anomalies in the current pay structures relative to other professions working in the public health service. The Commission went on to say that the Parties to the Public Service Stability Agreement should consider putting arrangements in place, at an appropriate time, and without...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Public Service Pay Commission Reports (15 Nov 2018)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 144 and 145 together. The Public Service Pay Commission made particular comments around the need for centralised systems to record, monitor and analyse all employee data. Work ongoing within the HSE on the National Integrated Staff Records and Payroll Programme will assist in this regard over time. Work is also underway on the implementation of the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Applications (15 Nov 2018)

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

Written Answers — Department of Health: Higher Education Courses Provision (15 Nov 2018)

Simon Harris: Responsibility for this matter resides with the Department of Education and Skills and I note that the Deputy has already submitted the question to my colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Ambulance Service Provision (15 Nov 2018)

Simon Harris: I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (14 Nov 2018)

Simon Harris: I apologise for being late. I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, for deputising. I thought it was time to throw him in at the deep end.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (14 Nov 2018)

Simon Harris: I thank the Chairman for understanding my unavoidable delay. On the Cork hospital issue, this is a local and regional issue but is also a national issue because it is a key part of the infrastructure which we need to get right. The population of Cork, as Senator Colm Burke outlined, has grown significantly but the health service has not grown in the region to meet its needs, most...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (14 Nov 2018)

Simon Harris: I fully accept that the recruitment environment in the health service is challenging, and that we operate within a global labour market for many of these consultancy positions but also for nursing positions. Highly educated consultants, nurses and midwives from Ireland are sought after in other countries and we operate very much in a global environment. I do not accept the comments without...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (14 Nov 2018)

Simon Harris: On the final question, my understanding from INMO press statements and commentary on the matter is that nurses are balloting for industrial action because they would like to lodge a pay claim. Regardless of the validity of that pay claim, and it is not for me to assess people's motives, the public service stability agreement is clear on pay claims during its duration. Nurses believe they...