Results 22,661-22,680 of 46,014 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cannabis for Medicinal Use (7 Nov 2018)

Simon Harris: Under existing arrangements consultants in public hospitals are covered by the Clinical Indemnity Scheme (CIS) in respect of the prescription of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) based products for a patient under their care provided that the consultant is permitted to do so under a licence granted by the Minister for Health under the Misuse of Drugs Acts and where he/she has exhausted all other...

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Properties (7 Nov 2018)

Simon Harris: As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of its property, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Insurance Data (7 Nov 2018)

Simon Harris: Membership of the private health insurance market as of 1 July 2018 by age group: Age Group Number of insured persons Aged 17 and under 488,387 Aged 18 to age 29 227,672 Aged 30 to age 39 286,593 Aged 40 to age 49 332,670 Aged 50 to age 54 148,849 Aged 55 to age 59 138,809 Aged 60 to age 64 126,855 Aged 65 to age 69 110,696 Aged 70 to age 74 91,782 Aged 75 to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Status (7 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: Professional Ethics (7 Nov 2018)

Simon Harris: When the HSE was asked this question in 2017 it replied that it did not centrally hold such information. However, it cited the requirements under its Code of Standards and Behaviour, the Consultant Contract and the Ethics Acts as the bases under which individuals must refrain from any activity which causes a conflict of interest. The requirements in the Code of Practice for Governance...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Ambulance Service (7 Nov 2018)

Simon Harris: As this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.

Select Committee on Health: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2018)

Simon Harris: Shall I speak to this amendment or on all of the amendments in the group?

Select Committee on Health: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2018)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputies O'Reilly, Joan Collins and others for tabling the amendment. I understand what they are trying to do. I also voted for access. We all voted for access to a service that is not currently available to women who have to travel as a result. I include in that regard the nine women who will travel and the three women who will access the abortion pill today. Those of us who...

Select Committee on Health: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2018)

Simon Harris: To be helpful, I will respond in respect of the other amendments in the group. I will reflect on the point Deputy Joan Collins has made. My only concern relates to not wanting to put wording in the legislation which, from her perspective and mine, would be an accurate reflection of what the people voted for but which would not tally with or match that contained in the Constitution. I need...

Select Committee on Health: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2018)

Simon Harris: The legal advice available to me is that the safest wording in relation to this legislation is aligning the wording with that in the Constitution, which obviously also contains the word "regulation" and, without being terribly pedantic, the alternative wording does not. Once again, without wanting to be pedantic, but I suppose it is a pedantic area, the wording also refers to access to...

Select Committee on Health: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2018)

Simon Harris: Sorry, I was not sure if the Chairman wanted me to respond as people asked questions. I am more than happy to arrange for a briefing for all members of the committee between Committee Stage and Report Stage. I have many conversations with people in terms of advice but I am happy for the members to also have conversations with them. I am certainly not hiding the reality of this Bill....

Select Committee on Health: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2018)

Simon Harris: The people only voted on the referendum but they did so in the knowledge of what the general scheme would be; that would be an honest way to describe it.

Select Committee on Health: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2018)

Simon Harris: The grouping was decided by the Bills Office, but I have no difficulty with discussing the amendments in whatever way the committee wants. My note on the grouping sees it, as Deputy Coppinger does, as the amendments having three themes. The definition of a medical practitioner is dealt with in amendments Nos. 4 and 5. The bulk of the amendments in the grouping deal with the definition of a...

Select Committee on Health: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2018)

Simon Harris: If I may stay, I will share my themes with the committee.

Select Committee on Health: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2018)

Simon Harris: I do not propose to accept the amendments at this stage, although I understand from where the Deputy is coming. The amendments are aimed at permitting medical personnel beyond doctors to be involved in a termination of pregnancy, as Deputy O'Reilly outlined. While I appreciate that the intention of the amendments may be to facilitate access to the procedure for women or ensure greater...

Select Committee on Health: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2018)

Simon Harris: I have one.

Select Committee on Health: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2018)

Simon Harris: We are all in this together. I hope that by the time we pass the legislation, it will include a review clause. Including such a clause is prudent. We will have different views on the timeline for a review, but we are starting a service that has not been provided in this country before. We all know the legacy. From a patient safety perspective, it is essential that in establishing a new...

Select Committee on Health: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2018)

Simon Harris: Deputy O'Connell has encapsulated my views on the issue as well as her own. In bringing forward the legislation, I am very conscious that we are doing exactly what we said we would do. Deputy Tóibín is correct that from a legal point of view people voted to repeal the eighth amendment and insert the new wording in the Constitution. I have heard him say it many times. However,...

Select Committee on Health: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2018)

Simon Harris: We are not as far apart on this as some members think. Nurses and midwives will have a role in caring for women in our health service accessing these services, as they do today,. There is no question in that regard. The 24-7 helpline, which I imagine will be the first point of call for many women in crisis, will be operated by nurses and midwives. I do not wish my comments to be...

Select Committee on Health: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2018)

Simon Harris: They would achieve the same thing.