Results 24,081-24,100 of 46,014 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Health: Haddington Road Agreement Implementation (20 Sep 2018)

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

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Availability (20 Sep 2018)

Simon Harris: The HSE has statutory responsibility for medicine pricing and reimbursement decisions, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. The Act specifies the criteria for decisions on the reimbursement of medicines. As Minister for Health, I do not have any statutory power or function in relation to reimbursement of medicines. Under the 2013 Act, if a...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Reimbursement (20 Sep 2018)

Simon Harris: The HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drug schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. As noted in Parliamentary Question 19115/18, the HSE received a new reimbursement application for the reimbursement of Sativex from the manufacturer in February 2018. A rapid review by...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing Staff Remuneration (20 Sep 2018)

Simon Harris: The Government values nurses and midwives in our public health service for their dedication and professionalism. They are key to the day to day operation of health services. In relation to pay, the Public Service Pay Commission (PSPC) Report was recently published. However, it was not within their remit to determine an increase in basic pay. The PSPC has recommended that the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Medical Services Scheme (20 Sep 2018)

Simon Harris: The Government is committed to engaging with the representatives of general practitioners on the development of a package of measures and reforms to modernise the 1989 GMS Contract. Our goal is to develop a contractual framework that has a population health focus, providing in particular for health promotion, disease prevention and for the structured care of chronic conditions. This will...

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Services (20 Sep 2018)

Simon Harris: General Practitioners play an important role in the primary care system. The number of GPs on the specialist register continues to increase – up from 2,270 in 2010 to 3,669 as at July 2018. The number of GPs holding GMS contracts has also risen from 2,098 in 2008 to 2,507 as at 1 September 2018. The Government is aware of workforce issues facing general practice, including the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cancer Screening Programmes (20 Sep 2018)

Simon Harris: Dr Scally's Terms of Reference for his Scoping Inquiry, which were developed with cross party input, included an examination of the other screening programmes operated by the National Screening Service particularly in relation to quality assurance and clinical audit, open disclosure and governance. Dr Scally’s report is reassuring in regard to the other screening programmes, stating...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Applications (20 Sep 2018)

Simon Harris: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Reimbursement (20 Sep 2018)

Simon Harris: Clarification was sought from the Deputies office in relation to this PQ. Once a reply has been received I will arrange for a response to issue to the Deputy.

Scoping Inquiry into the Cervical Check Screening Programme: Statements (19 Sep 2018)

Simon Harris: In relation to the audit, I appreciate what Deputy alan Kelly has said. Audit is a good thing. Dr. Scally found that. No one wants the outcome of this to be that people in the clinical community are less likely to audit. In fact, while the CervicalCheck audit was completely botched and I do not defend it in any way, had it conformed to the concept behind it, it would have been in line...

Scoping Inquiry into the Cervical Check Screening Programme: Statements (19 Sep 2018)

Simon Harris: The plan is to have the Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill passed during this session. I would like to see the HSE board take office at the start of 2019. While the Bill must go through the normal process, including before the health committee, that is why I put forward a chair designate yesterday to get the ball rolling. Regarding implementation, I assume the Deputy is getting at...

Scoping Inquiry into the Cervical Check Screening Programme: Statements (19 Sep 2018)

Simon Harris: The Deputy did not mishear. It will be 2019. A great deal of work has been going on, including liaising with other countries which have introduced this and rolled it out. It is the major priority with the continuance of laboratories in order that we can keep our screening programme going in the interim. The report asks that I come back with a full implementation plan within three months....

Scoping Inquiry into the Cervical Check Screening Programme: Statements (19 Sep 2018)

Simon Harris: I, too, would like to build capacity in Ireland, but outsourcing is not at the heart of this scandal. We cannot say that and allow it to hang there such that women would have a doubt. Dr. Scally who, frankly, knows a hell of a lot more than the Deputy or I do reviewed 12,800 documents. He and his team visited the laboratories and interviewed all of the key people. They - four doctors, a...

Scoping Inquiry into the Cervical Check Screening Programme: Statements (19 Sep 2018)

Simon Harris: Yes. Therefore, outsourcing is not at the heart of this scandal. We can have ideological debates all day long about outsourcing, but the source of the scandal is non-disclosure of personal information - women's information - that was withheld from them. Lt us be clear that that is the scandal. On open disclosure, yes, we need legal changes. Deputy Róisín Shortall is entirely...

Scoping Inquiry into the Cervical Check Screening Programme: Statements (19 Sep 2018)

Simon Harris: I have heard the Deputy make this point a number of times and accept that he makes it from the point of view of wanting to achieve good and stand by the people who have been impacted on. My understanding is that Dr. Scally first made the decision about how best to brief those who had been impacted on, as was appropriate, given that it was an independent process. He took the view, which I...

Scoping Inquiry into the Cervical Check Screening Programme: Statements (19 Sep 2018)

Simon Harris: My priority is the continuance of the service. Some of the comments made in this House make that harder. The laboratories we are using today are safe.

Scoping Inquiry into the Cervical Check Screening Programme: Statements (19 Sep 2018)

Simon Harris: I would appreciate it if the Deputy said that the next time she speaks. The laboratories we are using today are safe. That is what Dr. Scally found. On what happened pre-2012, he did not find that they were not safe but said he would like to do more work. Whether, contractually, they had the right to use that laboratory, he believes not. He should and will investigate that matter.

Scoping Inquiry into the Cervical Check Screening Programme: Statements (19 Sep 2018)

Simon Harris: Deputy Bríd Smith is very interested in this issue. She has read the report and seen what Dr. Scally said about the laboratories we have used in the past, yet she is trying to create a cloud of doubt for an ideological reason.

Scoping Inquiry into the Cervical Check Screening Programme: Statements (19 Sep 2018)

Simon Harris: The Deputy is correct that they are not. He did say that. I was misinformed in the past. However, there are women watching this debate. He is not suggesting those laboratories are in any way inferior from a safety or quality point of view. That is what the report states and that is what he said. If the Deputy had met him, that is what he would have said to her. As we move to HPV...

Scoping Inquiry into the Cervical Check Screening Programme: Statements (19 Sep 2018)

Simon Harris: I have never been accused of having a paternalistic attitude just because I am a man. I am the Minister for Health and have a duty to tell people who rely on me the fact that the laboratories are safe today. With regard to the leak, the Taoiseach has said he is going to investigate it and I hope he will do so. As the Deputy knows, it is often not possible to find out how these things...