Results 13,461-13,480 of 46,456 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Status (5 Mar 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...

Taoiseach a Ainmniú - Nomination of Taoiseach (20 Feb 2020)

Simon Harris: Thanks, a Cheann Comhairle and congratulations on your re-election. I suppose this effort shows how you are very much protecting the individual rights of every parliamentarian to have his or her say today. I congratulate you on your re-election. I stand in support of the motion to elect Deputy Varadkar as Taoiseach. He is a man and a parliamentarian who has served our country with...

Seanad: Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (18 Dec 2019)

Simon Harris: This is an example of politics and engagement on an issue working. A number of concerns were raised in the other House about the issue of minor sanctions. The Bill as drafted provides that so-called minor sanctions of advice, admonishment or censure will require confirmation by the High Court before they take effect, as is the case with the more serious sanctions provided for in the Bill,...

Seanad: Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (18 Dec 2019)

Simon Harris: As with the previous set of amendments, we had quite a discussion on this here and in the other House. This is similar to the High Court confirmation of minor sanctions. Senators will recall that concerns were raised in this House about the mandatory publication of minor sanctions. It was suggested in particular that this measure would have a disproportionate impact on those receiving even...

Seanad: Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (18 Dec 2019)

Simon Harris: I thank Senator Devine for raising this matter. The Bill, as the Senator correctly says, amends the Health Act to give me, as Minister, the power to designate the HSE as the competent authority to compare the equivalence of non-Irish qualifications to the qualifications it sets for certain health professionals. These are professions which are not regulated on a statutory basis but which are...

Seanad: Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (18 Dec 2019)

Simon Harris: That is fine.

Seanad: Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (18 Dec 2019)

Simon Harris: I will be brief as I am conscious that we are endeavouring to make as much progress on Committee Stage as we possibly can today. First, I sincerely thank pharmaceutical assistants across the country. It is important that I as Minister for Health say that, because I know the job they have done and currently do, as well as the difference they have made to pharmacies and communities in towns...

Seanad: Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (18 Dec 2019)

Simon Harris: It can be frustrating at times but it is hard to dispute her expertise when it comes to the law and her knowledge of these matters. As the Senator knows, because I articulated such comments to her earlier, I have a concern about the practical implications of some of these amendments. Having said that, however, I do not intend to oppose them. I intend to engage with Senator Bacik and...

Seanad: Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (18 Dec 2019)

Simon Harris: These are essentially technical amendments. I am proposing amendments to the sections of the Nurses and Midwives Act and the Medical Practitioners Act which enable the relevant bodies to make rules. The Bill as passed by the Dáil inserts a new subsection (15)(c) into section 20 of the 2007 Act. Section 20 of that Act deals with membership functions and procedures of the committee and...

Seanad: Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (18 Dec 2019)

Simon Harris: These are simply typographical or minor drafting errors in the Bill, the majority of which relate to the internal numbering of section 71 of the Medical Practitioners Act 2007. They are also intended to flag that as a result of Committee Stage it may be necessary for me to introduce further correcting amendments on Report Stage.

Seanad: Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (18 Dec 2019)

Simon Harris: This also is effectively a technical amendment. Section 38 of the Medical Practitioners Act 2007 addresses areas that overlap between the practice and other health professions. Under existing legislation where a person holds a dual qualification in medicine and in another profession, for example, dentistry, this section allows that person to lawfully practice those areas of dentistry which...

Written Answers — Department of Health: State Claims Agency (18 Dec 2019)

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 State Claims Agency that there are currently 3,383 clinical claims under active management. The Outstanding Estimated...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Dental Services (18 Dec 2019)

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

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Administration (18 Dec 2019)

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: Hospital Appointments Administration (18 Dec 2019)

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: Departmental Funding (18 Dec 2019)

Simon Harris: My Department advises me that there is no evidence of any payments to either of these two organisations. I will ask the HSE to check their records and advise the Deputy accordingly.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing Staff Data (18 Dec 2019)

Simon Harris: Advanced Nurse Practitioners are educated to master’s degree level and have the competencies to be senior decision makers that undertake a comprehensive advanced physical and/or mental health assessment of patients with complex multiple healthcare needs. They can interpret the results of multiple different assessments and investigations to make a diagnosis, and plan and deliver...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Staff Recruitment (18 Dec 2019)

Simon Harris: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly, as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services Staff (18 Dec 2019)

Simon Harris: As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services Staff (18 Dec 2019)

Simon Harris: As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.