Results 38,141-38,160 of 46,260 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (15 Nov 2016)

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: Hospital Waiting Lists (15 Nov 2016)

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: Hospital Services (15 Nov 2016)

Simon Harris: Increased funding will be made available to the University of Limerick Hospitals Group in 2017, to facilitate the opening of the new Emergency Department at University Hospital Limerick. The HSE National Service Plan 2017, which will be finalised shortly, will set out the detail of the additional funding.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Administration (15 Nov 2016)

Simon Harris: Under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration and operation of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Delays (15 Nov 2016)

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 scheduling...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Pharmacy Services (15 Nov 2016)

Simon Harris: Under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration and operation of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Documents (15 Nov 2016)

Simon Harris: On 27 October it came my attention that a memo of legal advice had been issued within the HSE, regarding the removal of patients who no longer require acute hospital beds. This memo was provided by the HSE’s legal advisors to the National Director for Acute Hospitals. Immediately on becoming aware of the existence of this memo, the Department contacted the HSE who confirmed that it...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Pharmaceutical Sector (15 Nov 2016)

Simon Harris: The only payments received by my Department from the pharmaceutical industry over the past five years are licence fees under the Misuse of Drugs Acts as set out below: Year - € 2011 -101,483.01 2012 - 79,219.20 2013 - 106,512.75 2014 - 66,181.05 2015 - 127,974.05 I have requested the HSE and the other agencies under the auspices of my Department to reply directly to the Deputy with...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Pharmaceutical Sector (15 Nov 2016)

Simon Harris: I am aware of recent media reports on this issue and have asked my Department to consider whether any additional guidance or measures may be merited, in order to ensure that the public interest is safeguarded in all respects. I have also asked the Director General of the HSE to remind all senior health service staff of their legal obligations, particularly under the Ethics in Public Office...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update On Health Issues: Discussion (10 Nov 2016)

Simon Harris: I am very pleased to have the opportunity to appear before the committee again. I am joined today by my ministerial colleagues, the Minister of State with special responsibility for disabilities, Deputy Finian McGrath, the Minister with responsibility for mental health and older people, Deputy Helen McEntee, and the Minister with responsibility for communities and the national drugs strategy,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update On Health Issues: Discussion (10 Nov 2016)

Simon Harris: Deputy O'Reilly asked about policy. Policy is set by me, not by lawyers or anybody else. Let me be very clear that it is not the policy of the Irish health service - in any way, shape or form - to interact with patients in the manner suggested by the memo. Not only is that not the case, it is also not the case that front-line staff would or should ever find themselves in that position. I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update On Health Issues: Discussion (10 Nov 2016)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy O'Reilly for those questions. First, the INMO has decided to ballot but I do not think the ballot has yet commenced. I am due to meet the INMO towards the end of next week. I would ask the INMO to do what it, in fairness, has always done during my six months in office, that is, to constructively engage. It has reaffirmed its commitment to the Lansdowne Road agreement and to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update On Health Issues: Discussion (10 Nov 2016)

Simon Harris: If one settles any pay dispute, one will have to find it from the existing budget. There is no spare money.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update On Health Issues: Discussion (10 Nov 2016)

Simon Harris: The Government made it very clear this week that the resources to fund that Labour Court decision, which was not a Government deal but a decision by an independent part of our industrial relations mechanism, which I presume the Deputy's party supports as well as the Government, will have to be found within the existing budgets. The INMO is a member of ICTU. ICTU is in a process of engaging...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update On Health Issues: Discussion (10 Nov 2016)

Simon Harris: No, it is not, but let us be clear about a couple of things. While An Bord Pleanála did not look at a planning application for the Coombe, and I am not suggesting it did, it did look at the capacity of the St. James's site. The capacity is there. I will say this for the first time today - I have not said it before - I would like to see us now moving ahead with the planning permission...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update On Health Issues: Discussion (10 Nov 2016)

Simon Harris: Which question is that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update On Health Issues: Discussion (10 Nov 2016)

Simon Harris: I agree and will try to get some answers to those questions. The questions are largely about operational management of the HSE, in respect of agency staff numbers, filling maternity posts and the question Senator Burke asked, and the gynaecological waiting lists in Cork. We will try to give an assurance that Senator Burke’s question will be answered with the information that was not...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update On Health Issues: Discussion (10 Nov 2016)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy O'Connell. She raised many issues I am very pleased that she raised the issue of the HPV vaccine because it is really important that - based on all of the medical advice available to me, the Department and the chief medical officer - I get to put on the public record my support for this very important vaccination programme . The Deputy is aware that the immunisation...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update On Health Issues: Discussion (10 Nov 2016)

Simon Harris: I forgot to answer one of Deputy O'Connel's questions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update On Health Issues: Discussion (10 Nov 2016)

Simon Harris: Yes, the Chairman also remembered it. My colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Catherine Byrne, has responsibility for our national drugs strategy. Issues that concern drugs on the whole will be dealt with in that strategy and I will ask the Minister of State to comment further on it. However, in terms of my area of responsibility within the Department, it is important to provide an...