Results 11,681-11,700 of 45,510 for speaker:Simon Harris

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (21 May 2020)

Simon Harris: I absolutely will do so. I discussed this with the chairperson of the HSE and the chief executive. I am conscious and clear about the fact that NPHET advises the Government from a public health point of view on the Covid-19 pandemic. The running of the health service falls to the HSE. I have had good discussions with the HSE on non-covid planning. I see Deputy Kelly nodding in agreement....

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (21 May 2020)

Simon Harris: I acknowledge that Deputy O'Dowd has been working on nursing home issues, if I may call them that, since long before I was a Member of this House. He has championed the rights of older people, so I take very seriously what he has to say about the matter. He is right. At the end of this pandemic, or when a new Government is formed, there will be a big job of work for this Oireachtas to do...

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (21 May 2020)

Simon Harris: I offer my sincere sympathy to the Deputy for the loss his community is feeling because of people losing their lives to suicide. The Deputy is entirely right to put on the record of this House that it is okay not to feel okay and that there are supports available. I direct people to yourmentalhealth.iefor a range of good information and supports. I am in favour of the suggestion of a...

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (21 May 2020)

Simon Harris: According to my note, it is 300 hours per quarter. The funding is being provided to fund an additional 300 hours for high-risk clients and the quarterly review will ensure that any client who commences a programme of support can have reasonable assurance of its completion. The cashflow supports are also contingent on a continuation between the HSE and Pieta House. I will confirm that in...

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (21 May 2020)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy and note his sincere and strong interest in the issue of mental health. I could outline, although I do not have the time now, what we are doing to beef up the public mental health services but I agree with the Deputy that Pieta House does a really good job. It is very well regarded by people throughout our country, as was seen in recent weeks in terms of how people...

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (21 May 2020)

Simon Harris: There are quite a few questions from the Deputy, as always, which is good. I might respond in writing to some of them. I have a list of the breakdown for inpatient discharges, day cases, diagnostics and total outpatient figures relating to the private hospitals. If I was to read it out, it would take up all of the time so I will send it to the Deputy. I have an open mind regarding how...

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (21 May 2020)

Simon Harris: I will ask nicely. I am sure the Deputy does so too. I am of the view that it should be on a legal footing. Government is working on that and I hope to have news for Deputy O'Reilly in respect of it shortly. We are also keeping our Northern Ireland colleagues informed of our plans in that regard and we had a quad group meeting recently with the Deputy First Minister, the Secretary of...

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (21 May 2020)

Simon Harris: The short answer is that, yes, it is something I consider doing as a matter of urgency but there is work under way in respect of it. The Deputy is entirely correct. Our clinical experts believe we are going to need to keep bed occupancy in our public health service at approximately 80% to 85%. That is what it should normally be but we know that this has not been the norm in Ireland. We...

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (21 May 2020)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy Butler. On the nursing homes, I have informed Nursing Homes Ireland of this expert panel and we will certainly have an opportunity for it to input. There will be many stakeholders from which the expert panel will need to hear. I do not intend to have people from representative bodies on it but it is important that there is a way for those bodies to have an input. ...

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (21 May 2020)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Browne for raising these matters. It is timely because, yesterday, I spent much of the day meeting, at the request of Deputy Shortall, the Disability Action Coalition, Disability Federation of Ireland and the National Federation of Voluntary Service Providers, which work with and represent people with intellectual disabilities and their service providers. They have done an...

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (21 May 2020)

Simon Harris: Okay. I will certainly undertake to do that and will revert to the Deputy next week.

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (21 May 2020)

Simon Harris: Can I make a point?

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (21 May 2020)

Simon Harris: Can I ask-----

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (21 May 2020)

Simon Harris: May I reply to the Deputy?

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (21 May 2020)

Simon Harris: I will be brief. I am not going to stand in this House and have any slur made against my name.

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (21 May 2020)

Simon Harris: I abide, as I expect all of us to do in our workplace, by the public health advice that is given. The public health advice given to the Business Committee, and commissioned, I believe, by the Oireachtas, pertains to how we do our business in a safe manner. Should that public health advice change or should the Oireachtas adopt a different position----

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (21 May 2020)

Simon Harris: I am more than happy to be here. I am abiding by the public health advice and I suggest Deputy Carthy do the same.

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (21 May 2020)

Simon Harris: By the way, I am here and Deputy Carthy can ask me any questions he wishes.

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (21 May 2020)

Simon Harris: I welcome this opportunity to be in this House again regarding Covid-19 and our national response to it. I am sure Deputy Carthy would like to stay and ask me some questions on the topic, although he is leaving the Chamber now. First and most important, I wish to express my sympathy to the family and friends of those that have been lost to this disease since I was last in this House. I...

Written Answers — Department of Health: State Claims Agency Data (20 May 2020)

Simon Harris: The State Claims Agency (SCA) has a statutory remit to manage personal injury claims, including claims in respect of clinical negligence, on behalf of Delegated State Authorities (DSA’s) including the Health Service Executive.  I have been informed by the SCA that it has not received any claims relating to COVID-19 to date and also that it is not possible to predict with...