Results 12,741-12,760 of 46,456 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (20 May 2020)

Simon Harris: The National Council for the Blind Ireland (NCBI) established a National Helpline (1850 33 43 53) to provide support, advice and information to blind or vision impaired people during the Covid-19 pandemic. I understand that the NCBI is currently developing guidance for employers as to what measures might be taken to facilitate blind or vision impaired employees. My Department will continue...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Ministerial Correspondence (20 May 2020)

Simon Harris: I have appointed two special advisers under Section 11 of the Public Service Management Act 1997. It would be expected that there would be daily and ongoing interaction, including email, between myself and my advisers.  I will be more than happy to respond further to the Deputy in regard to a request for specific information.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Correspondence (20 May 2020)

Simon Harris: The role of the Department of Health is to provide strategic leadership for the health service and to ensure that government policies are translated into actions and implemented effectively.  The Department supports the Minister and Ministers of State in their implementation of government policy and in discharging their governmental, parliamentary and departmental duties.  The...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (20 May 2020)

Simon Harris: My Department is not providing detailed guidance for open water swimming instructors or open water swimming sessions. Guidance in relation to activities in specific sectors of the economy should in the first instance be sought from the Governement Department with responsibility for that sector.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (20 May 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 Government’s Action Plan in Response to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (20 May 2020)

Simon Harris: The National Action Plan on Covid-19 identified the continued delivery of cancer care as a priority, through ensuring the delivery of national specialities and maintaining urgent activity (including cancer rapid access clinics).  In line with this, cancer services have continued following consideration of the risk:benefit ratio of treatment for individual patients, the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (20 May 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...

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Reports (20 May 2020)

Simon Harris: The HSE's report on its Valproate Response Project has been considered within my Department, and I have received briefing from officials. The report describes the HSE's work on sodium valproate issues since the Valproate Response team was established in May 2018. This work has included the provision of an expert support service for people with concerns about exposure to sodium valproate;...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (20 May 2020)

Simon Harris: Under the Infectious Diseases Regulations 1981, and subsequent amendments, the Health Protection Surveillance Centre is authorised by law to collect information from doctors and laboratories, via Medical Officers of Health, about diagnoses of certain infectious diseases in Ireland. These diseases are referred to as notifiable diseases. The most recent amendment to the Regulations is the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Food Safety Authority of Ireland (20 May 2020)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 792 and 793 together. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) is a statutory body established under the Food Safety Authority of Ireland Act, 1998 (as amended by the British-Irish Agreement Act, 1999).  Although, the FSAI is funded through my Department, it is independent in the exercise of its functions. The FSAI’s key function is the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Consultant Contracts (20 May 2020)

Simon Harris: Under the terms of the agreement between the HSE and the private hospitals, provision has been made to ensure continuity of care for patients who were in a private hospital or receiving a course of treatment when the Heads of Terms for the arrangement was agreed.  There are a number of principals underpinning the arrangement, including that for the duration of the arrangement the private...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Childcare Costs (20 May 2020)

Simon Harris: My colleague, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr Katherine Zappone has regrettably announced that the Temporary Childcare Scheme for Essential Health Workers will now not proceed on the 18th May as planned due to the low take up rate of childcare services volunteering to participate in the Scheme. 

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (20 May 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: Health Services Access (20 May 2020)

Simon Harris: The Health Act 1947 (Section 31A - Temporary Restrictions) (COVID-19) Regulations 2020 (SI No. 121 of 2020) were signed by the Minister for Health on 7 April 2020. Schedule 2 of the Regulations sets out essential services that are exempted from the restrictions and therefore can continue to be provided. This includes (at 15(b)) podiatry services as these services are provided...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Tests (20 May 2020)

Simon Harris: As the HSE has responsibility, the Executive has been asked to reply directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff (20 May 2020)

Simon Harris: As this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Dental Services (20 May 2020)

Simon Harris: The HSE provides dental care to children under 16 and special needs patients through its dental clinics.  Independent dental practitioners provide care to medical card holders through the Dental Treatment Services Scheme; to the self-employed and retired people who have the required number of social insurance (PRSI) contributions through the Dental Treatment Benefit Scheme; and to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (20 May 2020)

Simon Harris: As the HSE has responsibility, the Executive has been asked to reply directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Speech and Language Therapy (20 May 2020)

Simon Harris: As this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff (20 May 2020)

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