Results 38,881-38,900 of 46,235 for speaker:Simon Harris

Report of the Committee on the Future of Healthcare: Motion (29 Sep 2016)

Simon Harris: When I spoke in the Dáil on 1 June last about the Government motion to set up the all-party committee, I said that I regarded this as one of the key health initiatives of the new Oireachtas. Four months on, I am even more convinced of the need for a long-term consensus on the direction of health policy. We can make, and I contend that we are making, improvements to our health system...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Health Issues: Minister for Health (29 Sep 2016)

Simon Harris: I thank the Chairman. I am very pleased to have this opportunity to address the joint committee and I look forward to developing a constructive and interactive relationship with it on a range of issues of mutual concern to all of us and to the citizens of the State. The committee has asked me to update it on a number of important initiatives undertaken by my Department and the Health...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Health Issues: Minister for Health (29 Sep 2016)

Simon Harris: We have concluded a very good drug agreement and I thank all the State agencies which worked very hard on it. We got such an agreement because of the decision taken by this Oireachtas in 2013 to put legislation in place which enabled the HSE to set the reimbursement price, were the Government of the day not satisfied that it was getting the savings that were needed. When Government was...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Health Issues: Minister for Health (29 Sep 2016)

Simon Harris: There is a lot in that. Although I will give some information now on HSE structures, I suggest that I obtain for the committee a detailed note on this because the information came from the HSE as opposed to being based on a decision taken by my Department. The HSE will be here with me on 10 November for our quarterly meeting. To give the Deputy a little information, my understanding is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Health Issues: Minister for Health (29 Sep 2016)

Simon Harris: I have not seen that. It is a fair point that the HSE should brief the committee on this. I have not seen the specific advertisements the Deputy is referring to but I would imagine that quite a significant number of the staff in question are replacement staff. There is a myth about management numbers in Ireland because those in the HSE and NHS are pretty much aligned. In the NHS, 4.8% of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Health Issues: Minister for Health (29 Sep 2016)

Simon Harris: I would imagine many of them are replacement posts. I will revert to the Deputy on that. With regard to e-health, I am really pleased to hear the Deputy say what she is saying. There has been a tendency in this country, and perhaps in others, to be dismissive of investments in technology and ICT and to ask why all the money is being spent on computers. This investment is vital. The...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Health Issues: Minister for Health (29 Sep 2016)

Simon Harris: Yes. I am saying they are not weighted.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Health Issues: Minister for Health (29 Sep 2016)

Simon Harris: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Health Issues: Minister for Health (29 Sep 2016)

Simon Harris: They meet quite regularly because they are required quite often. I have known them to meet nearly on a monthly basis at times. Meetings are as required but regular.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Health Issues: Minister for Health (29 Sep 2016)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Health Issues: Minister for Health (29 Sep 2016)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy. He has made many points and I will try to go through them as quickly as I can. With regard to the National Treatment Purchase Fund, NTPF, the Committee of Public Accounts did some work on this a while back and found there was value for money from the fund, although there is a case to do more. The activity-based funding model we are moving towards will enable us to have...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Health Issues: Minister for Health (29 Sep 2016)

Simon Harris: I thank Senator Kelleher. I bow to her expertise in this area. She knows the sector very well. I refer to the Cinderella charge. I do not want to dismiss legitimate criticism and problems the Senator outlined but in terms of what we are spending on the social care division - we may have to have a conversation about how this translates into services - the disability budget is €1.5...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Health Issues: Minister for Health (29 Sep 2016)

Simon Harris: Without getting into the specifics of the Estimates, this is a priority in the programme for Government. There is a very clear commitment that this will be delivered on. I expect that will, therefore, be reflected in the HSE service plan for 2017.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Health Issues: Minister for Health (29 Sep 2016)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy O'Connell. I might start with this subject. I do not want a misconception or a linkage between 21 posts being advertised - we should have invited Fergal Bowers to attend - and the Fergal Bowers tweet.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Health Issues: Minister for Health (29 Sep 2016)

Simon Harris: I am not suggesting that the Deputy did so.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Health Issues: Minister for Health (29 Sep 2016)

Simon Harris: There definitely is not a link. The Director General of the HSE has decided, as is his prerogative rather than mine, to restructure how people report to him within the HSE. He issued a circular to his staff outlining how people can report to him, subject to him filling the deputy director general post. That is the extent of the matter. I take very seriously the point made by Deputy...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Health Issues: Minister for Health (29 Sep 2016)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Durkan and I assure him I am very clear on how policy is made in health, and in every other area. Health policy is made by me, in consultation and with the agreement of the Oireachtas, advised by the Department. The job of the HSE is to get on with implementing and delivering it and dealing with operational matters. It has a lot to keep it going on this front in a very busy...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Health Issues: Minister for Health (29 Sep 2016)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for welcoming me to Bandon the other day. We had a good day all around Cork but I was particularly happy to tell the people of Bandon that their community hospital is not only safe but will be invested in and has a bright future. On the UN convention, I echo my comments to Senator Kelleher. This is a priority issue not only for me and the Minister of State, Deputy...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Health Issues: Minister for Health (29 Sep 2016)

Simon Harris: Where we want to get to with activity based funding is exactly as the Chairman outlined in terms of what we, namely, patients, citizens and taxpayers, are getting for the payment for that activity. This must also take outcomes into consideration, which means not only whether a procedure was carried out but how the procedure in question went. I must be honest and stated we are some distance...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Health Issues: Minister for Health (29 Sep 2016)

Simon Harris: While we will do whatever suits the Chairman, we have provided a detailed hard copy briefing to the joint committee on the state of play. In terms of the multi-annual budgeting approach we need to take to new developments, I would very much welcome the input of the committee. Members will have seen the programme for Government, which contains 136 health commitments, many of which require...