Results 14,921-14,940 of 45,539 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Health: Infectious Diseases (1 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: The Deputy's Question concerns a procurement issue and it would not be appropriate in the interests of good governance for me, or my Department, to intervene in a function proper to the Health Service Executive (HSE). Thus, as this is an operational matter I have referred the Question to the HSE for its attention and direct response to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Insurance Prices (1 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 349 and 350 together. The Irish health insurance market is community rated, meaning insured persons pay the same level of premium for a given benefit, regardless of health profile (age, gender or health status). This principle applies to all consumers who are ordinarily resident in the country (here for a period of more than one year) as is set out in...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Healthcare Infrastructure Provision (1 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 the provision of a new 50 bed ward block at Portiuncula Hospital Ballinasloe. The Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects and has advised that the project is...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Staff Data (1 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: Physiotherapy Provision (1 Oct 2019)

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

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Strategies (1 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: My Department provided a written submission in May 2017 to the Department of Communications, Climate Action and the Environment's public consultation process to inform the development of a National Clean Air Strategy.  While my Department did not consult directly with any organisations when preparing the submission, it recommended to DCCAE that current World...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Consultant Recruitment (1 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 Data (1 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 Equipment (1 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Pharmacy Services (1 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: The Programme for a Partnership Government contains a commitment to expand the role of community pharmacy in managing patient health, and this is an issue which I intend to progress. Work has been done in recent years on wider healthcare roles for pharmacies, including the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland’s Future Pharmacy report, concerning expansion of professional pharmacy...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Availability (1 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, including on the advice of the National...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Commencement of Legislation (1 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: The 2013 Government Decision which approved a minimum pricing regime envisaged its introduction in Northern Ireland and in this jurisdiction simultaneously. It is my intention to seek a revised Government Decision to implement minimum unit pricing of alcohol here as soon as possible in order to address the very significant health harms and financial...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Staff (1 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: Medicinal Products Reimbursement (1 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 367 and 414 together. The HSE has statutory responsibility for medicine pricing and reimbursement decisions, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. The Act specifies the criteria for decisions on the reimbursement of medicines. In line with the 2013 Act and the national framework agreed with industry, if a...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Staff Recruitment (1 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 Treatment Purchase Fund Data (1 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: The National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) advise that in 2019 it placed a particular focus on engaging with hospital groups and individual hospitals to identify outpatient waiting list proposals. The NTPF has further advised that to date in 2019, all of the outpatient appointments it has funded are in Public Hospitals under insourcing initiatives arranged directly with the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: European Health Insurance Card (1 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: The Government, on 17 September 2019, approved the immediate drafting of the Health and Childcare Support (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2019, which will provide for benefits similar to those available under European Health Insurance Cards (EHIC) to eligible residents of Northern Ireland in the case of a no-deal Brexit.  There has been significant work undertaken since,...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (1 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: Departmental Staff Remuneration (1 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: The staff of my Department are paid on the basis of centrally negotiated Civil Service pay scales, in line with Government policy and as sanctioned by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.  Taking a net working hours requirement of 37 hours per week for a full-time employee, there are no staff in my Department who are currently earning less than €12.30 per hour. 

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Services (1 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: The Atypical Working Scheme is managed, monitored and administered by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service within the Department of Justice and Equality. The current terms applying to this scheme have been in place since 2015.  The Health Service Executive has recently become aware of challenges faced by agencies providing general practitioner services, particularly GP...