Results 26,401-26,420 of 46,081 for speaker:Simon Harris

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (9 May 2018)

Simon Harris: Only if it is made a problem.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (9 May 2018)

Simon Harris: No I would not. I welcome the back and forth but perhaps the Senator will allow me to answer the question. The Chief Medical Officer is the medical adviser to the Minister for Health. I do not believe there is any confusion or lack of transparency about that. The Chief Medical Officer's name is Dr. Tony Holohan and he is very well known to Members of these Houses. Dr. Holohan gave a view...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (9 May 2018)

Simon Harris: There will be a list of definitions in the Act, and it is a really important job for this House to do that. I have already said very clearly that as a result of Vicky Phelan's case, screening will be clearly identified in the definitions of serious. There will be a list of definitions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (9 May 2018)

Simon Harris: I followed the advice. It was justice legislation, the Civil Liability (Amendment) Act. The Government's intention for the legislation was, as I have outlined, to have open disclosure for everything; involuntary for some and mandatory for serious incidents. Deputy Daly produced an amendment on that issue that was out of kilter with this approach. The Joint Committee on Health considered...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (9 May 2018)

Simon Harris: The Taoiseach gave a commitment in the Dáil last week that there will be redress by the Government. The Government has had some initial conversations on the matter but has yet to make a decision on what the scheme might look like. The Taoiseach outlined in the Dáil yesterday that he believed it was sensible to establish all the facts first. I have heard some of the women impacted...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (9 May 2018)

Simon Harris: I will answer with the caveat that I am not a lawyer and I am not the Attorney General. The idea that the State should not be in conflict with the women who it wishes to help absolutely makes sense. What is the best mechanism to do that? What if the liability rests with the laboratory? I know we might have privilege at this committee but I have no wish to say anything that poses any...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (9 May 2018)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Donnelly for his questions. I will try to rattle through them and take them in the order in which they were put. Deputy Donnelly has made an important point about high-risk women and how we can ensure that we specifically target groups of women most at risk. I will certainly pass that on to CervicalCheck and to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (9 May 2018)

Simon Harris: I do not believe there is any difficulty there at all.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (9 May 2018)

Simon Harris: I think Deputy Donnelly made a fair point on the issue of laboratory accuracy. It is difficult for those of us who are not clinical experts to interpret the data that is being produced. I take assurance from the chief medical officer's statement that "none of the evidence that we have available to us at this point gives us any reason to have any concern about the quality assurance of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (9 May 2018)

Simon Harris: I took a note on that question, but then I could not read my writing. I do not have any difficulty with working out a mechanism for that to happen. Maybe the Taoiseach and I could get the report at the same time. As Minister for Health, I have duties to discharge. The concern, health and well-being of women in Ireland is one of my main priorities. It is my main priority as a result of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (9 May 2018)

Simon Harris: I will start. I noted seven questions. If I missed any, I ask Deputy O'Reilly to let me know. I will ask the HSE to start with most of them. The Deputy raised the issue of posters. I thank her for her comments. The Deputy and I obviously have the same view on this issue - heaven forbid we might have the same view on any other. Largely speaking and regardless of one's view on the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (9 May 2018)

Simon Harris: At the moment, there is a legislative conflict. A tribunal is very public and no one really wants a tribunal. A commission of investigation is generally not public but it is quicker. I am happy to engage on whether there is a way to align the two.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (9 May 2018)

Simon Harris: I get the impression that the Deputy is happy for us to come back on the other matters so I will get a note for the committee on e-health spending. We will ask the HSE to respond directly on the paediatric services in respect of electives and beds. In respect of the cervical screening issue, I will seek an urgent update from HIQA as to how soon the HTA for HPV for boys will be done. I have...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (9 May 2018)

Simon Harris: You are correct. Mr. O'Brien alluded to that today. We need to know how that was known, who knew it and why they did not do something. I have asked the Secretary General, and in fairness, he acknowledged it this morning, to examine whether there is any evidence in the Department that the Department knew going back a number of years. I will ask him to comment on that. The Deputy asked an...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (9 May 2018)

Simon Harris: All of the cases, even the cases of women who do not have a screening history, will now go to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists for full clinical review. I will ask Mr. Breslin to talk about the Department and the work he will do.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (9 May 2018)

Simon Harris: I will start with that question. It is a stretch in terms of the remit of this committee but I am happy to answer it. I love debating this issue. It is an important issue and it is vital that we get the facts and the information out. There is no need - when I am in the middle of dealing with a cervical cancer scandal and trying to reassure women - for people to turn up with an empty...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (9 May 2018)

Simon Harris: -----whether people are for or against, I have no doubt that GPs will, as they and all in our health service have always done, abide by the law of the land. There will be conscientious objection. That is in the law and we will have plenty of time to engage with general practice and with the institute should the issue arise if there is a "Yes" vote.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (9 May 2018)

Simon Harris: On the section 38 and section 39 organisations, the opening point made by Senator Dolan about the relationship between the State and the voluntary sector is very important. He will recall that I established the Dr. Catherine Day group, which is doing very good work. Dr. Day is very eminent in her understanding of governance structures and the like, and she is ably assisted by Professor Jane...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (9 May 2018)

Simon Harris: Yes, before the summer.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (9 May 2018)

Simon Harris: I will start and Mr. O'Sullivan might take questions that relate to the HSE. On the State Claims Agency issue, the point the Senator makes is exactly the sort of point we need to be teasing through. The Taoiseach has asked the Attorney General to do a body of work on this. It is a question of how we can get ourselves to a position whereby liability rests in the correct place legally and...