Results 40,541-40,560 of 46,235 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Health: Patient Safety (16 Jun 2016)

Simon Harris: The safety of service users is of paramount importance and steps need to be taken to anticipate and avoid things going wrong and to reduce the impact if they do. All employees including medical staff are required to disclose and report incidents in line with the HSE's Safety Incident Management Policy. Creating a culture of open disclosure and learning from the things that go wrong is the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Status (16 Jun 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: Medical Card Eligibility (16 Jun 2016)

Simon Harris: The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Status (16 Jun 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: Prescriptions Charges (16 Jun 2016)

Simon Harris: Under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the primary care schemes, therefore these matters have been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, he can contact my Private Office and they will follow up the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (16 Jun 2016)

Simon Harris: The Deputy's question relates to service delivery matters and accordingly I have asked the HSE to respond directly to him. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he can contact my Private Office and my officials will follow up the matter with them.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (16 Jun 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: Orthodontic Services (16 Jun 2016)

Simon Harris: As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he can contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Status (16 Jun 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: Cancer Services Provision (16 Jun 2016)

Simon Harris: The Deputy's question relates to service delivery matters and accordingly I have asked the HSE to respond directly to her. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days she can contact my Private Office and my officials will follow up the matter with them.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (16 Jun 2016)

Simon Harris: The Saolta Healthcare Group recognise that Galway University Hospitals diagnostic waiting list times are unduly lengthy and have advised me that they have recently been able to take some on-going action in this regard. 400 MRI scans have been outsourced to the Merlin Park Imaging Centre (MPIC). The majority of these were completed by April; the remaining patients are being seen currently. ...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Properties (16 Jun 2016)

Simon Harris: The only lease currently held by my Department is Block D, Irish Life Mall, Dublin 1. These premises are currently occupied by the Lottery Regulator. The Lottery Regulator has agreed with the Department to take over the time remaining on the lease. Details for other bodies under the aegis of the Department are operational matters for the bodies concerned and the Deputy should contact...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Applications (16 Jun 2016)

Simon Harris: The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: National Maternity Hospital (15 Jun 2016)

Simon Harris: I congratulate the Cathaoirleach and all Senators on their election and appointment to this House, and I look forward to working with the Members of Seanad Éireann. I thank Senator Humphreys for raising this important issue. The proposal to redevelop the National Maternity Hospital on the St. Vincent's University Hospital campus has been under consideration for many years. Within a...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: National Maternity Hospital (15 Jun 2016)

Simon Harris: I share the absolute frustration of the Senator. He is correct; about €5 million has been spent on the project already by a Government of which he was a part, because as a country we want to deliver this landmark project. Let me be very clear: this is a priority project for me. I have invested a significant amount of time in this project since becoming Minister for Health because we...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Misuse of Drugs (15 Jun 2016)

Simon Harris: I thank Senator Ruane and congratulate her on her election to this House. I take the point she made very seriously based on her experience but there are two issues involved and my contention is that they are somewhat separate in terms of what I am trying to do in this situation but also what the Government must do in terms of a national drugs strategy. I wish to start with a brief...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Misuse of Drugs (15 Jun 2016)

Simon Harris: I note the Senator's points and accept her bona fides on this issue. I hope she will accept mine as well that the Government intends to deliver on the commitment in the programme for Government to a health-based approach to addiction. I intend to prove this to the Senator and others through the second misuse of drugs Bill later this year and the new national drugs strategy. In addition,...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Defined Benefit Pension Schemes (14 Jun 2016)

Simon Harris: I had no notification from the Central Remedial Clinic (CRC) prior to it winding up its pension and death benefit plan. It is regrettable that the CRC took a decision to cease contributions to the scheme without first consulting with the HSE in relation to scheme solvency and seeking a viable alternative for the employees concerned. Following receipt of information from the CRC in...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Ambulance Service Data (14 Jun 2016)

Simon Harris: As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Status (14 Jun 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...