Results 26,421-26,440 of 46,081 for speaker:Simon Harris
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (9 May 2018)
Simon Harris: Sure.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (9 May 2018)
Simon Harris: We have a GP, a Minister and a legal adviser.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (9 May 2018)
Simon Harris: I appreciate the Chair saying that on the record of this committee, because I think it is really important. I wish to reassure him that from the State's perspective, the GP contract negotiations will be what I have described as Sláintecare-friendly, and aimed at recognising that we need GPs to work in what will be a radically different health service.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (9 May 2018)
Simon Harris: On the topic of Portiuncula, from my reading of the report I would firstly sympathise with the families who have been tragically impacted by this, many of whom I have heard comment in the media, and all of whom I know were offered briefings in relation to this piece of work, to look into what went wrong in Portiuncula. I think it is important to say, however, for women who may be using our...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (9 May 2018)
Simon Harris: Regarding the issue of medical negligence and so on, I will be very brief but I just wish to make the point that we have taken a number of steps as an Oireachtas and a Government in recent years, the Mediation Act being one such example, whereby there are now tools at the disposal of the State that do not involve bringing a woman, or indeed any other person, who has been through an issue of...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (9 May 2018)
Simon Harris: To be very clear, the reason I laughed was that I recalled the image last week, in the middle of a cervical cancer scandal, when we were trying to reassure women about their own health, a responsibility with which I, as Minister for Health, was charged, of a photo shoot outside Leinster House with a podium with my name on it asking where I was. I think it was very evident to pretty much...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (9 May 2018)
Simon Harris: There has not been any-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (9 May 2018)
Simon Harris: The other issue is that the Senator said I am heading up the Government campaign. To be very clear - and I do not mean to be pedantic - obviously, there is no Government campaign because that would be illegal. There is a proposition-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (9 May 2018)
Simon Harris: There is no-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (9 May 2018)
Simon Harris: This is the way the debate is going to go.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (9 May 2018)
Simon Harris: It will not inform anybody if every time I say a few words-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (9 May 2018)
Simon Harris: I did not interrupt the Senator. I am a proponent of the changes. I passionately believe we need to repeal the eighth amendment but so, too, does the leader and the health spokesperson of Sinn Féin, the leader and the health spokesperson of Fianna Fáil, the leader and the health spokesperson of Labour, Deputy Coppinger, my colleagues here, Deputy O'Connell and Deputy Durkan, and,...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (9 May 2018)
Simon Harris: The phraseology "killing of children" really is-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (9 May 2018)
Simon Harris: No.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (9 May 2018)
Simon Harris: There is nobody-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (9 May 2018)
Simon Harris: On the issue of debates, we are not scheduling one here and now. This is the Oireachtas health committee, but I look forward to debating and participating fully in the campaign. I completely disassociate myself from the Senator's language regarding killing babies. This is about accepting a reality that Irish women face. Nine women will leave our country today to have a termination. At...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (9 May 2018)
Simon Harris: That is what I believe as well. I will campaign vigorously with colleagues on a cross-party basis and with civil society to bring that about. I hope those who disagree with my position will also campaign and put their views forward but will not put pictures of miscarried babies with my image around my office and near my house with a view to intimidating and upsetting my family, my friends...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (9 May 2018)
Simon Harris: Regarding mandatory open disclosure, my understanding is that it is a commitment in the programme for Government. I have always been in support of mandatory disclosure since becoming Minister for Health and taking up this responsibility. I would have publicly communicated that to Deputy Clare Daly last November, but the suite of measures was always to give a legal underpinning to voluntary...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (9 May 2018)
Simon Harris: It is fair criticism of the political system as a whole that this has not been in place before now. I will work with the Senator and everybody else to try to get this law passed as quickly as possible.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (9 May 2018)
Simon Harris: I am sure the Deputy did not mean it like this but the only reason the two female members of our delegation have not spoken is because none of the questions has been directed to community services or acute hospitals. Were they, they would be the people best placed and most able to answer the questions here. I just wanted to acknowledge that. On the issue of scoliosis, can I send the...