Results 11,841-11,860 of 45,510 for speaker:Simon Harris

Covid-19 (Health) - Statements (14 May 2020)

Simon Harris: I understand that as of now, NPHET's advice for the current phase is that those over 70 years should stay at home with the exception of exercise. The Deputy's question is whether that exercise be expanded to understand participating in some sports. I will ask that the Chief Medical Officer to comment on that as part of any decision that we will make tomorrow.

Covid-19 (Health) - Statements (14 May 2020)

Simon Harris: I know the Deputy did not say that. I was just trying to make the point that the reopening of schools, crèches and childcare will be a massive body of work which we will have to get right over the summer months.

Covid-19 (Health) - Statements (14 May 2020)

Simon Harris: I must be very careful on the floor of the House as I am conscious that we are in an agreement between the Private Hospital Association and the HSE on the use of private hospitals for, in the first instance, a three-month period, which, from memory, runs to the end of June, with the opportunity to extend for a further month and then the opportunity after that of extending on a month-by-month...

Covid-19 (Health) - Statements (14 May 2020)

Simon Harris: Deputy Shortall is right about the partnership approach. There are things we need to do as a Government, a State and a health service. There are things people are doing very well. We desperately want to get what we are doing right. The Deputy acknowledges that. People are trying to do everything humanly possible to get our testing and tracing to where it needs to be. The commitments...

Covid-19 (Health) - Statements (14 May 2020)

Simon Harris: All those in the HSE, NPHET and the Department of Health who have been working on the Covid pandemic are patriots and represent the very best of public service but they are not infallible. None of us is. There are always ways to improve processes. There is back and forth between officials to ensure we get the right outcome, but that does not give credence to a conspiracy theory about there...

Covid-19 (Health) - Statements (14 May 2020)

Simon Harris: NPHET announces what it believes needs to happen on a public health basis. It does so all the time. It announces what it believes needs to be done and asks the other organisations to do it. NPHET is not Dr. Tony Holohan's outfit. He chairs the team but there are nine members of the HSE on it. Nothing is perfect, but it works well. On nurses, my understanding is the number of nurses...

Covid-19 (Health) - Statements (14 May 2020)

Simon Harris: I can make a direction under section 10 but from my conversations with the HSE I do not think that is required. On Dealgan House, my understanding is that HIQA is due to inspect it. I will not be found wanting in taking further action if required. I am happy to discuss the matter with the Deputy. On the issue of screening, I am awaiting advice from Dr. Colm Henry on how and when it will be...

Covid-19 (Health) - Statements (14 May 2020)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Kelly for the questions. I particularly thank him for acknowledging that many of the people on NPHET - I would go so far as to say all of the people on NPHET - are very fine people. They have done an incredible job in helping us save thousands of lives. I know how hard Deputy Kelly works and I know how hard I work. I have seen how incredibly hard these people work. About...

Covid-19 (Health) - Statements (14 May 2020)

Simon Harris: I do not think the letters are explosive. The letters show people working extraordinarily hard in real time. I said on a Saturday at a press conference that there is, of course, tension. I have been Minister for Health for four years and Deputy Kelly has been in Cabinet. When has there never been back and forth between officials working their backsides off to try to save people's lives in...

Covid-19 (Health) - Statements (14 May 2020)

Simon Harris: I will try to get through each of the Deputy's questions. Regarding testing, the HSE has done an incredible job, moving heaven and earth to get to the point now where it will have the capacity to do up to 100,000 tests a week. Today, the HSE announced a plan for how, from next week, it intends to have end-to-end referral to contact tracing completion in less than three days in 90% of...

Covid-19 (Health) - Statements (14 May 2020)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for raising these matters. I had an excellent meeting with the Irish Dental Association last week. I was hoping to meet its representatives again today but the meeting had to be moved to tomorrow. They raised three issues. A lot of the dentists need funding to get their business back up and running. I discussed with them some of the supports announced by the Department...

Covid-19 (Health) - Statements (14 May 2020)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy O'Donnell for the questions and for raising the issue of capacity in University Hospital Limerick, as he has done for many a year. I note his comments about people waiting in the emergency department, ED. From my own recollection of visiting that hospital and its relatively new ED, my understanding is that sometimes the most appropriate place might be to isolate someone...

Covid-19 (Health) - Statements (14 May 2020)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for raising important mental health matters. I particularly thank him for acknowledging that when we rightly talk about mental health the impact of this pandemic on people across the age spectrum, including older people, is, indeed, a major priority. I would like the new Government to publish within its first month in office the A Vision for Changeroadmap. I would like...

Covid-19 (Health) - Statements (14 May 2020)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Ward for raising these issues. As he definitely knows, what committees are convened is definitely not a call for me or the Government, but I see no issue with his request. I think the Deputy's idea of a special sitting on the issue of mental health is a really good one. I do not want to use up the Deputy's time, but he asked me to engage with Jigsaw regarding Clondalkin. I...

Covid-19 (Health) - Statements (14 May 2020)

Simon Harris: I will engage further with Deputy Ward on that issue.

Covid-19 (Health) - Statements (14 May 2020)

Simon Harris: Pieta House does amazing work. I saw the recognition of that amazing work by the people of Ireland in their generosity last week through "The Late Late Show" fundraiser. Deputy Ward is asking, rightly, what the Government is going to do to match, or at least recognise, the incredible work Pieta House does. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that, in addition to the continuation of the...

Covid-19 (Health) - Statements (14 May 2020)

Simon Harris: I will give the Deputy the latest figures I have for nursing home staff overall and then I will break them down for the private sector. The number of staff redeployed from the health service to long-term residential care facilities is 451, comprising 394 redeployed from the community and a further 57 redeployed from private nursing homes. In respect of private nursing homes, approximately...

Covid-19 (Health) - Statements (14 May 2020)

Simon Harris: We need to prioritise those who are symptomatic, in the first instance, and get that message out. I will write to the Deputy about the issue of home help and PPE. I have had a good engagement with the sector. I have had, perhaps, a different experience from that of the Deputy, but I will write to her about it. I am happy to engage with the sector on the €35 million scheme. I...

Covid-19 (Health) - Statements (14 May 2020)

Simon Harris: I cannot do the issue of screening justice in 22 seconds, but perhaps another Deputy will give me an opportunity to expand on it. I will respond to the Deputy in writing and I take very seriously the point she makes. The decision to pause screening was made on public health grounds and the decision as to when it is safe to commence it will also be taken on the same grounds. The truth is...

Covid-19 (Health) - Statements (14 May 2020)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for suggesting the establishment of a task force on mental health which I, truthfully, agree with. I would like to meet Members of this House in whatever the appropriate forum is to work out how to advance that, or perhaps through the Business Committee. I met representatives of Mental Health Reform and Jigsaw last week and discussed the Deputy's proposal of a mental...