Results 11,501-11,520 of 45,510 for speaker:Simon Harris

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (27 May 2020)

Simon Harris: Has the letter not been published?

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (27 May 2020)

Simon Harris: I will certainly publish the letter. It will probably be for the next Government to make-----

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (27 May 2020)

Simon Harris: I am happy to publish any relevant documentation but, at this stage, it will be a matter for the next Government to decide whether those tests have been met.

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (27 May 2020)

Simon Harris: I join the Deputies in wishing Dr Gerry Burke well on his retirement. He is a very dedicated public servant and clinician. In relation to the letter, I think — I say “think” because I read a lot of documents — I read it for the first time today. If the Deputy does not mind, let me explain the issue here.

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (27 May 2020)

Simon Harris: Absolutely, I will allow time for all the questions. What I wish to say in this regard is important. I would like these documents to be shared with the Covid committee. I am aware the Deputy asked for the documents concerning Nursing Homes Ireland and the Department. I would have thought it important for the Deputy to have the documents involving the Department and HIQA also. That is...

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (27 May 2020)

Simon Harris: I will try to get through these questions. First, I had a meeting with the Disability Action Coalition, the Disability Federation of Ireland and the National Federation of Voluntary Service Providers in respect of a number of the issues that the Deputy has raised regarding disability funding. There are three elements to it. First, there is the 1% efficiency cut, saving or whatever one...

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (27 May 2020)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. I pay tribute to the staff in UHL, led by chief executive, Ms Colette Cowan, and clinical director, Dr. Gerry Burke, for the excellent work they do. It is a hospital, and a hospital group, that does not have adequate capacity relative to the size of the population, which will not come as news to anybody. I do not want to use up all the...

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (27 May 2020)

Simon Harris: Yes, we need to staff the beds so we can fully-----

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (27 May 2020)

Simon Harris: Absolutely. Those beds are specifically being provided as part of our ongoing response to Covid and non-Covid care. There will be 98 potential extra beds plus the 24 in Croom, which is much-needed extra bed capacity in the mid-west.

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (27 May 2020)

Simon Harris: First, I am very pleased that Deputy Feighan is okay. One cannot keep a good man down. I am pleased he is well and that he had a good experience in our health service. I join him in paying tribute to the staff in Sligo University Hospital, and the paramedics as well. I had the pleasure of visiting Sligo University Hospital some time last year. There are exciting plans in place in terms...

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (27 May 2020)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Colm Burke for raising this issue and for keeping in touch with me on these issues, particularly those in Cork. The Deputy is correct that at a point in time we had to make sure we had access to every possible hospital bed in every possible setting for a wave or a surge which, thankfully, did not come in the way that it could have. That is thanks to the incredible efforts...

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (27 May 2020)

Simon Harris: I found myself smiling because this must be the most famous 60-bed block in the country because it is raised so often and talked about so much in the House. I visited it quite a while ago. I am delighted to see it is progressing and nearing completion.

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (27 May 2020)

Simon Harris: Exactly, and 24 in Croom. The short answer to the Deputy's question is "Yes". We will need all of the additional capacity we can get. I will give the Deputy a commitment that it is the intention of my Department to ensure those beds are fully funded and can open as quickly as possible. Of the 48, 24 are due to be ready to be opened in June and the other 24 in July. I will look into the...

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (27 May 2020)

Simon Harris: On the contract cleaners, and taking the point made by the Deputy, I join with him in sharing the view that cleaners have been on the front line and they have been keeping us all safe. I too would like to see that agreement honoured. On the Bon Secours Hospital Limerick, they are the figures I gave to Deputy O'Reilly. The updated figures I have today show 30% of inpatient beds now being...

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (27 May 2020)

Simon Harris: It is not my understanding that Covid was not discussed. In fact, that is the opposite to my understanding from my conversations with the CEO, which is that Covid was discussed.

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (27 May 2020)

Simon Harris: Absolutely. The Deputy can indeed. Interim guidance on transfer between care facilities was circulated to NHI on 10 March and there was an agreement to provide PPE on 12 March. I do not wish to use the Deputy's time going through all of this but I reject her assertion. Some 400 pages of correspondence show there was an awful lot of contact between incredible people in the HSE, the...

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (27 May 2020)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy. I extend my sympathies to her cousin on her loss and I thank the Deputy for sharing the text message. I can only imagine what a traumatic time this must be. I understand what the Deputy is saying and I do not want to show a graph or a chart or be cold in my response. These are valid questions. However, I note that the first cluster in a nursing home occurred on 16...

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (27 May 2020)

Simon Harris: I apologise to Deputy Brendan Smith that he did not get his question in but it is hard to answer the many questions from various parties in 15 minutes. I do not make the rules. I thank Deputy O'Reilly for raising those screening matters. I will come back to her directly on the cases she has raised with me. The Office of Government Procurement, OGP, has been considering how to support a...

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (27 May 2020)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Calleary for raising the issue and join him in acknowledging the passing of many of our citizens from Covid-19. I often feel somewhat uneasy when we speak about progress in statistics and figures but we are not talking about them in a vacuum. This is a virus that has caused a lot of tragedy to an awful lot of people and we think of them. I thank Deputy Calleary for raising...

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (27 May 2020)

Simon Harris: I watched much of the committee hearing yesterday. It was disappointing that officials from the Department of Health were not invited to a committee hearing on nursing homes. Their ears must have been burning but they were not in a position to speak. Nor were representatives of the HSE invited to give an opening statement setting out what it has been doing. However, be that as it may. ...