Results 11,521-11,540 of 45,563 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (3 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: As per the Health Protection Surveillance Centre report of 2 June 2020, a total of 20 COVID-19 outbreaks in meat processing plants are currently under investigation in HSE East, Midlands, Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, South and West. One of those outbreaks includes the plant referred to by the Deputy in Ballyjamesduff. A National Outbreak Control Team is continuing to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (3 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: Detailed response provided in the report contained in the following link.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (3 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: As this is an operational matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Procedures (3 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...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Staff (3 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: I know that CHI is aware that the current situation regarding the Paediatric Complex Pain Management Service is a cause of much anxiety and upset for parents and children.  CHI has advised my Department that it met with the Complex Pain Patient Advocacy Group on Friday 7 February and advised them that it has written to all families whose children have been attending the complex pain...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (3 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: The Government has published a Roadmap for Reopening Society & Business to ease the Covid-19 restrictions and reopen Ireland’s economy and society in a phased manner from 18 of May.  In relation to people with underlying health conditions, the Roadmap states the following:    “The continued protection of people aged over 70 and those with...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Provision (3 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: The initial focus of the Government’s response to Covid-19 was aimed at measures required to interrupt the transmission of Covid-19 and related steps.  In regard to health considerations, this included that all non-essential surgery, health procedures and other non-essential health services were postponed. The postponements accord with the National Action Plan published on 16...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospitals Data (3 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: The Department of Health is working with the HSE to increase acute capacity in hospitals throughout the country. In the context of the current COVID-19 Pandemic response, the HSE advised on 24 May 2020 that and additional 324 acute beds have opened since March, bringing the current total of acute beds in the system to 11,907 excluding critical care capacity. The HSE’s Critical Care...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Healthcare Infrastructure Provision (3 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 (3 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: The services referred to by the Deputy are not matters within the responsibility of the Minister for Health. The responsibility for providing guidance in relation to a particular sector of the economy or on a specific activity remains with the Government Department with responsibility for that sector or activity. Local authority services are a matter for the Minister for Housing,...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Advertising (3 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: The Department of Health’s spend on advertising to social media platforms from 1 January - 31 May 2020 is set out as follows. Company Description Amount Twitter Healthy Ireland Fund €3,394.80 Google Healthy Ireland Fund €5,537.00 Facebook Healthy Ireland...

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

Simon Harris: It is not.

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

Simon Harris: It was the right deal.

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

Simon Harris: The Deputy would be the first in this House to criticise me, rightly, if we did not have available bed capacity if a Covid surge came. We need to get the best arrangement. As the facts change, we need to alter that. We are, however, going to need to keep some of that private capacity to help public patients. Otherwise the public health service will not be able to function in a Covid...

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

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy. The up-to-date figures I have for the Bon Secours Hospital Galway are for an inpatient bed occupancy of 48% on the week of 11 May to 15 May. That dropped to 41% on 18 May to 22 May. The Galway Clinic figures show 15% for 11 May to 15 May, and this increased to 26%. I get the point that there are challenges and difficulties. However, I still believe it was absolutely...

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

Simon Harris: I have had no time to respond to the Deputy.

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

Simon Harris: It is a question-and-answer session so I would appreciate-----

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

Simon Harris: The people want-----

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

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter and for being honest and truthful. I share the view that there was no alternative option, when we were looking at what was happening in other countries, other than to ensure we had every possible bed, ventilator and ICU bed. That is what everybody in the House was rightly questioning at the time and, thank God, we secured that capacity...

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

Simon Harris: I will arrange for someone in the Department to liaise with the Deputies from the south east. We had quite a good arrangement during the last Dáil, when we were all allowed to meet in person, and I am eager to keep it up, whereby local representatives are brought together to provide us with the benefit of local knowledge and local connections to get this project moving. I want to see...