Results 11,241-11,260 of 45,563 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Cards (9 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 334 and 335 together. The Irish Public Health System provides for two categories of eligibility for persons ordinarily resident in the country, i.e. full eligibility (medical cards) and limited eligibility. Full eligibility is determined primarily by reference to income limits. Determination of an individuals eligibility status is the responsibility of the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (9 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: The measures taken are underpinned by a clear public health rationale. As the number of indigenous cases here declines and Ireland eases some restrictions, the relative importance of the risk of importation of cases from overseas increases. Ultimately, the progress towards suppression of community transmission which has been achieved and which should allow for greater resumption of social and...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (9 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: The Government’s Roadmap for Reopening Society & Business, published on 1 May 2020, sets out an indicative path to the easing of COVID 19 restrictions and other actions in order to facilitate the reopening of Ireland’s society and economy in a phased manner. Phase 1 was introduced on 18 May 2020 and, as the Deputy is aware, the Government confirmed the move to Phase 2 of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (9 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: In response to the Covid-19 pandemic the HSE had to take measures to defer all non-urgent elective scheduled care activity, including outpatient clinics. This was to ensure patient safety and that all appropriate resources were made available for Covid-19 related activity and time-critical essential work. This decision was in line with the advice issued by the World Health Organisation, and...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (9 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy may be aware, in late March, the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) recommended that all non-essential health services should be paused to protect and maximise the delivery of essential time-critical care during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, on 5 May last the NPHET replaced its previous recommendation with a new recommendation that, going forward, the delivery of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Services (9 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: I wish to assure the Deputy that general practice is has continued to operate during the public health emergency and GPs are still seeing patients where necessary, albeit with infection-control measures in place. However, the exceptional circumstances faced by medical practitioners during the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a change in how GP services are delivered. At this time,...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Insurance (9 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: A major part of the Government's Action Plan in response to Covid-19 was to substantially increase the capacity of public healthcare facilities to cope with the anticipated additional demand. In order to urgently ramp up capacity for acute care facilities, an arrangement was agreed with the private hospitals to use their facilities as part of the public system on a temporary basis, to provide...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Screening Programmes (9 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Primary Care Centres (9 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (9 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: Data is collected on COVID-19 related mortality for both lab confirmed and probable cases, in line with recommendations from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control in both hospitals and the community. We committed from the outset to collect the most extensive data possible in order that the information could inform and guide the public health actions necessary to respond to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products (9 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 346 and 347 together. The Department of Health, the HSE and the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), together with the manufacturers of medicines, wholesalers and pharmacists, are continually working to review the supply of medicines to Ireland to anticipate and respond to, in so far as is possible, any potential vulnerabilities in medicines supply as...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (9 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: The Government’s Roadmap for Reopening Society & Business, published on 1 May 2020, sets out an indicative path to the easing of COVID 19 restrictions and other actions in order to facilitate the reopening of Ireland’s society and economy in a phased manner. Phase 1 was introduced on 18 May 2020 and, as the Deputy is aware, the Government confirmed the move to Phase 2 of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Screening Programmes (9 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cancer Services (9 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: The National Cancer Control Programme has a budget of €97.6m for 2020. The cost of increasing this by 5%, 7.5% and 10% is set out in the following table.: € 2020 Opening Budget €97.6m 5% increase €4.88m 7.5% increase €7.32m 10% increase €9.76m

Written Answers — Department of Health: Dental Services (9 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: I have been engaging with the dental profession in recent weeks on the concerns raised in the correspondence - details attached. Legislative amendments have been made and the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) has worked with the dental profession and in particular the Dental Council, to provide revised guidance for the profession t allow for the resumption of the safe provision...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (9 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: The Government’s Roadmap for Reopening Society & Business, published on 1 May 2020, sets out an indicative path to the easing of COVID 19 restrictions and other actions in order to facilitate the reopening of Ireland’s society and economy in a phased manner. Phase 1 was introduced on 18 May 2020 and, as the Deputy is aware, the Government confirmed the move to Phase 2 of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Bituminous Fuel Ban (9 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: Policy responsibility regarding the implementation of a nationwide smoky coal ban is a matter for the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment but this has been the subject of cross-Departmental engagement. I welcome and fully support the extension of the smoky coal ban announced by the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment in December 2019. I am...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Consultant Contracts (9 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: As this is a service delivery matter, I have referred the question to the HSE for direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Dental Services (9 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products (9 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: Generic medicines and biosimilar medicines are not comparable categories of medicine and therefore not comparable in terms of policy design or implementation. The differences between simpler chemically synthesised medicines and far more complex medicines produced from cell cultures of living organisms are such that they necessitate a difference in policy approach to these categories of...