Results 14,741-14,760 of 45,539 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products (2 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: Under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Emergency Departments Data (2 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: This is a very busy period for our health services, with many hospitals reporting significant numbers of patient attendances. For the first eight months of 2019, the number of patients attending hospital EDs increased by 2.9%, and the number of ED admissions increased by 1.7% compared to the same period last year. Trolley numbers for the year to date from January to August were 71,532, a 3%...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Reimbursement (2 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: The HSE has statutory responsibility for medicine pricing and reimbursement decisions, under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. The Act specifies criteria for decisions on the reimbursement of medicines. HSE decisions on which medicines are reimbursed by the taxpayer are made on objective, scientific and economic grounds, on the advice of the National Centre for...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospitals Data (2 Oct 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: Hospital Staff (2 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: As this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Staff Data (2 Oct 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: Hospital Appointments Status (2 Oct 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 Services (2 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: As this is an operational matter, I have referred the question to the HSE for direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug Trials (2 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: The requirements for the conduct of clinical trials in the EU are set out in Directive 2001/20/EC, which is transposed into national law by the European Communities (Clinical Trials on Medicinal Products for Human Use) Regulations 2004 (S.I. No. 190 of 2004), as amended. As Minister for Health, I have no role in the authorisation of clinical trials, nor in the determination of what...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Care Infrastructure Provision (2 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: The Health Service Executive recently published its Capital Plan for 2019-2021 outlining 250 projects to be progressed over the three-year period.  The Capital Plan includes a number of developments at Tallaght University Hospital such as the renal dialysis unit and the intensive care unit. The HSE is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects and...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Funding (2 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, the Independent Review Group was established in August 2017 to examine the role of voluntary organisations in health and personal social services. I welcomed the publication of the Independent Review Group’s final report in February 2019, as did Minister McGrath. The Group makes a series of findings and linked recommendations in its report, spanning a...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Equipment (2 Oct 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: National Children's Hospital Status (2 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: The National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB) has statutory responsibility for planning, designing, building and equipping the new children's hospital.  I have referred your question to the NPHDB for direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Screening Programmes (2 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: Following a complaint made to the Data Protection Commissioner in 2009, the State was found to be in breach of both EU and national data protection legislation in relation to the retention of newborn screening cards without consent. A policy was developed to review and address the legal and ethical requirements arising for the National Newborn Bloodspot Screening Programme. This came into...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Meeting on Health Issues: Discussion (2 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: I thank the Chairman and will take Deputy Kelly's constructive suggestion and be brief in my opening statement because I have circulated it to members and I am aware that they want to get into the questions and answers section of the meeting. I am pleased to be here today and to have an opportunity to be joined by my Secretary General, Jim Breslin, and also by the chief executive of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Meeting on Health Issues: Discussion (2 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: It is kind of ironic that I come to a health committee meeting and when I am asked not to deliver my opening statement but to take it as read, the second comment from a member of the health committee critiques what is not in the opening statement. As the Deputy knows, opening statements are a brief summation of some current issues. He knows the meat of these meetings comprises what we...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Meeting on Health Issues: Discussion (2 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: I understand that while the lady may make the point, the Deputy knows better and taxpayers' money was not spent in the production of such literature. While he is protected by privilege, I am sure he would not wish to accidentally slur me in that regard. I do not know the details of the case. Does the Deputy know the therapy in question?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Meeting on Health Issues: Discussion (2 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: The type of therapy would determine my response to the question. We have provided funding for an additional 100 therapy posts in the health service this year. We need more speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and others. The Deputy's party froze such recruitment, sadly, which should be acknowledged. The Deputy may have the solutions today but a recruitment moratorium...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Meeting on Health Issues: Discussion (2 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: I am absolutely aware of the position on access to speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and other therapies. That is why we are recruiting 100 more therapists. It is also why we are reforming the model of delivery. I will be very happy to discuss the details, but I take the Deputy's point.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Meeting on Health Issues: Discussion (2 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: Absolutely.