Results 12,241-12,260 of 46,456 for speaker:Simon Harris

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (4 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: -----does not reflect the reality of what I have seen as Minister. I have seen the most incredibly dedicated people in the HSE, at local level, and in the Department of Health working 24-7 against a global pandemic. As I stated last week, the villain here is not someone working in the HSE or even some bureaucrat, or even a Minister; the villain is a virus - the worst we have seen in a...

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (4 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: I will revert to the Deputy in writing on the last few points.

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (4 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: I do not think we ever did that in Greystones at any stage. We will have to ask Deputy Donnelly as he is at little bit older than me. I thank Deputy O'Reilly for the questions. I had a really good meeting with the INMO and SIPTU health on Monday and I am due to meet both again next week. We have started to discuss with them the issues raised by the Deputy on how we prepare to provide...

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (4 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: I will answer as many of the Deputies' questions as I can in the time available and I will write to the Deputies on the other two queries. On Deputy James Browne's question on A Vision for Change, I have heard very clearly the calls on a cross-party basis in this House for the publication of the refreshed A Vision for Change. It is my intention to bring it to the Cabinet this week, I...

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (4 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: I might write to Deputy Butler with more detail on screening so as not to use up her colleagues' time. I know how important this issue is and how many times she has raised it. The national screening service is holding daily meetings on this. I am very satisfied with the work being done by Dr. Caroline Mason Mohan, who is the interim director of CervicalCheck and a public health doctor as...

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (4 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: I will do that. I agree with the Deputy in regard to the importance of cross-Border measures and I can send details on what we are doing. I will also write to the Deputy in regard to the statistics on Cavan and Monaghan.

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (4 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: Let me be clear that I, the Department, the HSE and the Oireachtas wish to be in a position to recommence our population screening programmes as soon as possible. It is a collective priority for us all. I am glad to inform the Deputy that the four programmes - obviously, there are four parts to our screening service - will report on their final plans for restarting in the coming days....

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (4 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: I very much welcome the opportunity to once again update Dáil Éireann on the Covid-19 pandemic and our national response to it. First and foremost, I wish to express my sympathy to the families and friends of those who have been lost to this disease since I was last in the House. My thoughts are with all of those who have been bereaved. We are in the third week of phase 1 of...

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

Simon Harris: As the HSE has responsibility for procurement issues, I have asked the agency to respond directly to the Deputy.

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

Simon Harris: The public health advice for passengers coming to Ireland from overseas is to self-isolate for 14 days on arrival into the State, with exemptions for set categories of persons including supply chain workers and some others. My Department, in close consultation with other relevant Departments, is developing proposals to strengthen the 14 days' self-isolation arrangements, and close...

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

Simon Harris: As the number of indigenous cases here declines and Ireland eases some restrictions, the relative importance of the risk of importation of cases from overseas increases. Ultimately, the progress towards suppression of community transmission which has been achieved and which should allow for greater resumption of social and economic life in Ireland could be endangered. The public health...

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

Simon Harris: Both my Department and the HSE are committed to protecting the identity and medical confidentiality of individuals that contracted COVID-19, as required by law, and therefore do not give specific information about individuals or locations.  Information on cases or outbreaks of any illness (COVID-19 or otherwise) is provided only if there is a public health reason to do so.

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

Simon Harris: The Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Act 2020 amended the Health Act 1947, making exceptional provision, in the public interest and having regard to the manifest and grave risk to human life and public health posed by the spread of Covid-19. Section 31A of the Health Act 1947 (inserted by section 10 of the 2020 Act) allows the...

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

Simon Harris: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

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

Simon Harris: The Government’s Roadmap for Reopening Society & Business, published on 1 May 2020, sets out an indicative path to the easing of COVID 19 restrictions and other actions in order to facilitate the reopening Ireland’s society and economy in a phased manner. The Roadmap specifies that decisions in relation to which actions will be taken and which public health measures...

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 Appointments Status (3 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual. The National...

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

Simon Harris: As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

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

Simon Harris: The Government’s Roadmap for Reopening Society & Business, published on 1 May 2020, sets out an indicative path to the easing of COVID 19 restrictions and other actions in order to facilitate the reopening Ireland’s society and economy in a phased manner. The Roadmap specifies that decisions in relation to which actions will be taken and which public health measures...

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

Simon Harris: In response to the Covid-19 pandemic the HSE had to take measures to defer all non-urgent elective scheduled care activity, including outpatient clinics. This was to ensure patient safety and that all appropriate resources were made available for Covid-19 related activity and time-critical essential work. This decision was in line with the advice issued by the World Health Organisation, and...