Results 12,121-12,140 of 45,510 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing Staff Remuneration (13 May 2020)

Simon Harris: I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Offices (13 May 2020)

Simon Harris: I understand that the HSE advertise vacancies that arise on their website at this link As such, your constituent may wish to review the website, where he can use the job search option to ascertain whether there are any posts available within the category of employment that he is interested in.

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (7 May 2020)

Simon Harris: Yes, I would like to. The Deputy is right that the Houses passed legislation on 26 March giving me the ability to set regulations. He also knows that same legislation refers to what I need to take into consideration when setting regulations, which is obviously the public health advice I am given, which came after that. In fairness, on that issue, the Deputy will see we moved quite swiftly...

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (7 May 2020)

Simon Harris: That may be but-----

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (7 May 2020)

Simon Harris: That is fine but I just want to point out there was no delay on that. With regard to airport restrictions, we are going to regulate in this area, but I also believe it will require the input of a number of Departments. The Departments of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Justice and Equality, Transport, Tourism and Sport, and Health have met on this matter with the Attorney General. The Deputy is...

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (7 May 2020)

Simon Harris: It is because the Government has decided, based on public health advice, that we would introduce it on a phased basis. Any time anybody goes into somebody else's house there is a risk of transmitting the virus. We are trying to minimise that spread. We are starting with front-line healthcare workers, but as the Deputy will see in the plan, we intend to expand childcare schemes further as...

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (7 May 2020)

Simon Harris: Deputy Connolly and I are going to disagree on the nursing home issue, as is her right. I would make the point that we are recording, testing and getting an understanding that I do not believe many other countries have. When we get into the Covid committee, but also when we get past the pandemic, no doubt there will be lessons to be learned in regard to this pandemic. No country is...

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (7 May 2020)

Simon Harris: Certainly, in the Government plan, the criteria that I now report against talk about how we "protect" and "shield". The short answer is that I am going to be conscious not to use it, as the Deputy requests. In regard to direct provision, guidance was drawn up by the HPSC and a group was set up specifically on vulnerable users, including those in direct provision. The advice is very clear.

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (7 May 2020)

Simon Harris: I cannot say what the Deputy does or does not read, and I do not mean that in a rude way. I know a significant body of work was done by the HPSC in drawing up and publishing guidance and we know there has been a lot of work by the Department of Justice and Equality in that regard. My Department gives out the guidance. On private hospitals, I will send the table I have with me to the...

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (7 May 2020)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputies O'Donoghue and Michael Collins for their questions. As rightly stated by the Deputies, I will meet the Irish Dental Association tomorrow. As the Deputies will know, the roadmap announced by the Government on Friday, 1 May, referred at a high level to wanting to increase the delivery of non-Covid care and services alongside Covid-19 care to meet demand. There are a range of...

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (7 May 2020)

Simon Harris: Certainly, when this pandemic ends there will need to be a review so that lessons can be learned right across Ireland's response because we would be stupid not to do that. We need to make sure that we know what we did well and what we could have done better. When one is operating in the middle of a pandemic, one is making decisions in real time and often decisions have to be made on the...

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (7 May 2020)

Simon Harris: I can use my time as I wish - Croatia, Hungary, Greece and Bulgaria. This is a country which, despite the myth put out, is testing an awful lot because we believe we need to test, test, test. Setting up testing systems was bloody challenging, and does the Deputy know what the HSE did? It did not give up like other health services did. It decided not to give up on testing in the community...

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (7 May 2020)

Simon Harris: There is a letter. If it has not gone out, it will be with the Deputy tomorrow. I apologise to him about that. Following negotiations between the HSE, supported by my Department and the private hospitals, an overarching agreement with the 18 private acute hospitals was agreed at the end of March. The details of the arrangement are contained in the heads of terms, which I laid before the...

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (7 May 2020)

Simon Harris: I think the Deputy is correct that there will need to be a very robust regulatory framework in place. It is in the absolute interest of our national effort and, beyond public health, even in the interest of our economy to make sure we protect people's health and do not allow anywhere to become a cluster for the spread of infection. I know work is going on between unions and employers,...

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (7 May 2020)

Simon Harris: I assure Deputy Smith that I am never glib when it comes to this pandemic. I was making a particular point because there has been a great deal of commentary - sometimes it is made in this House and sometimes it is made elsewhere - on whether the nursing home sector was left behind. I hear it and I want to respond to it because that is what we can do in here. I am not sure whether the...

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (7 May 2020)

Simon Harris: I agree that we need to avoid a bad flu season at the same time as Covid. The Deputy will have seen my comments that I am engaging with Departments for a much more expansive immunisation programme around flu, removing barriers and so on. It has also been though the HSE board. I will return to her with an update shortly. I met Mental Health Reform today at the Deputy's request and...

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (7 May 2020)

Simon Harris: The objective, which I believe outlined in my opening statement, is 100,000 tests a week for at least six months, and that is also the aim of the Chief Medical Officer.

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (7 May 2020)

Simon Harris: There are many questions. I have two minutes and seven seconds in which to respond so I will do my best. On Dealgan nursing home, I will certainly keep all the Deputies from the constituency of Louth informed. We will work through it on a cross-party basis. Yes, I want full transparency. I have no difficulty with the letters being published. To be very clear, however, I must...

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (7 May 2020)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for his contributions. I am always in awe of the Green Party knowledge of all things to do with the app. Every week it is very impressive. I hope that it augurs well if the party comes into government in respect of the progressing of these matters. This app will be a big help. To make a point the Chief Medical Officer would make if he were here, this app will be...

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (7 May 2020)

Simon Harris: I am scheduled to meet with the Irish Dental Association tomorrow afternoon. As Deputy Feighan has said, guidance has been provided. Obviously we must follow public health advice but we want to have a conversation with the association, as we do with other sectors, with regard to how dentists operate in the new normal, at the appropriate time. I will not pre-empt that meeting but my...