Results 11,541-11,560 of 45,563 for speaker:Simon Harris
- Covid-19 (Health): Statements (27 May 2020)
Simon Harris: The commentary about my colleagues is the Deputy's view. The substantive issue about the 67 inspectors is important. The Deputy is right that 67 is not an adequate number with the volume of work that we need the HSA to do. I am pleased to let the Deputy know that my Department will provide approximately 200 environmental health officers to supplement the HSA's work. We will make sure that...
- Covid-19 (Health): Statements (27 May 2020)
Simon Harris: The 200 environmental health officers, or inspectors, will all carry out on-the-ground inspection activities. They will do so as part of their usual programmed inspections. Environmental health officers already do that and we are basically saying that they already have a remit for a significant number of businesses, with 45,000 food businesses in the country, and telling them to inspect...
- Covid-19 (Health): Statements (27 May 2020)
Simon Harris: When one is Minister for Health one is criticised probably ten times before breakfast, and often correctly, so I am not afraid of criticism in this regard. It has not been brought to the Government. It has been brought to a Cabinet committee but it has not been approved by the Government. Frankly, I find it hard to mount an argument to what the Deputy said. I will give a commitment to...
- Covid-19 (Health): Statements (27 May 2020)
Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy. Regarding correspondence from HIQA, I will have to check what was received in February, because my note says 13 March. I will revert to the Deputy on that and I am not doubting what Mr. Quinn said.
- Covid-19 (Health): Statements (27 May 2020)
Simon Harris: On 13 March, there were 19 sites identified by HIQA to the Department as having multi-occupancy rooms and creating infection prevention challenges. I do not mean it in any sort of smart way when I suggest that it will not come as a surprise to anybody in the Department or the HSE that multi-occupancy rooms have extra infection prevention challenges. On the same day, 13 March, that...
- Covid-19 (Health): Statements (27 May 2020)
Simon Harris: Let us debate that in due course. I would point out that on 31 March, NPHET itself put in place a range of specific public health actions for long-term residential care facilities and home supports. There were two special meetings of NPHET specifically dedicated to-----
- Covid-19 (Health): Statements (27 May 2020)
Simon Harris: There were quite a lot more than 19 in question. However, I have answered that point. As I said, Dr. Henry wrote back to the Department. I am making the point, because it was not made yesterday, that it was NPHET which requested HIQA to carry out that risk assessment. I think that is an important piece of information.
- Covid-19 (Health): Statements (27 May 2020)
Simon Harris: It is accurate.
- Covid-19 (Health): Statements (27 May 2020)
Simon Harris: I wish to be really clear because the Deputy and I may be at cross purposes and we may both be right. On 31 March-----
- Covid-19 (Health): Statements (27 May 2020)
Simon Harris: ----the NPHET minutes show - these are all published - that HIQA was asked by NPHET to risk assess all nursing homes.
- Covid-19 (Health): Statements (27 May 2020)
Simon Harris: The Deputy is correct. It is a long-known fact - indeed, the Sláintecare plan speaks very much to this - that there is a lack of integration between our nursing homes, be they public or private, and the HSE in general. I am not sure GPs and others would fully accept the view that there is no clinical involvement or governance, but I do think it is a shortcoming in relation to the...
- Covid-19 (Health): Statements (27 May 2020)
Simon Harris: -----and the Department. I asked only today for that correlation to be considered. We thought in the same way in that regard. The question the Deputy put to me as to whether there are any other concerns makes me believe he has an answer which I am not aware of. He will need to be clearer on this question to me because I do not quite understand it. I would welcome clarity in that regard....
- Covid-19 (Health): Statements (27 May 2020)
Simon Harris: I am open to the idea of having a conversation with regard to private hospitals that are available to provide capacity. My current priority, however, is providing for the needs of the HSE with regard to capacity. We should be clear that we will need that capacity beyond the end of June. That is my very strong view. With regard to cancer screening, I met representatives of the national...
- 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...