Results 16,861-16,880 of 45,789 for speaker:Simon Harris

Supplementary Report of the Scoping Inquiry into the CervicalCheck Screening Programme: Statements (19 Jun 2019)

Simon Harris: That point is more than fair. This has been going on for too long at this stage. My understanding is that there is a draft report on this. I am being careful with my words because I want to check this but my understanding is it has been shared with the patient representatives. They have certainly seen it and had a chance to have an input to it. I will put it on the record of the House...

Supplementary Report of the Scoping Inquiry into the CervicalCheck Screening Programme: Statements (19 Jun 2019)

Simon Harris: I can give that assurance because it is a recommendation from Dr. Scally and on top of that I want to give the assurance that there will continue to be a double reading of all Irish slides being read in US laboratories. That is not normal US practice but any Irish slide being read in a US laboratory will be double read. As I said, this is different to normal US practice where slides are...

Supplementary Report of the Scoping Inquiry into the CervicalCheck Screening Programme: Statements (19 Jun 2019)

Simon Harris: The Deputy has asked me this question before and I asked Dr. Scally about this when I met him as I was conscious that the Deputy may ask me this question again. The Deputy will have a chance to ask him directly and I am sure he will do so. My understanding is that it took Dr. Scally that period of time to get to the bottom of the various questions he wanted answered. As the Deputy will...

Supplementary Report of the Scoping Inquiry into the CervicalCheck Screening Programme: Statements (19 Jun 2019)

Simon Harris: I cannot second guess why a laboratory did or did not do anything. All I and this House can rely on are the findings of the Scally report which showed very serious shortcomings in respect of governance and procurement but not in respect of deficiencies. I am satisfied that Dr. Scally has established the truth in that regard. I am also satisfied that the new standards that we have in place...

Supplementary Report of the Scoping Inquiry into the CervicalCheck Screening Programme: Statements (19 Jun 2019)

Simon Harris: Sure.

Supplementary Report of the Scoping Inquiry into the CervicalCheck Screening Programme: Statements (19 Jun 2019)

Simon Harris: I would have to check that with the HSE but I will provide the Deputy and perhaps Deputy Donnelly with a written record on that. I would not have that available to me.

Supplementary Report of the Scoping Inquiry into the CervicalCheck Screening Programme: Statements (19 Jun 2019)

Simon Harris: That is the key question. I am very pleased that when I had a chance to meet Dr. Scally before the publication of this report I asked him was he satisfied that the new arrangements in place for quality assurance of the new contract are appropriate and meet what I refer to as the "Scally standard" and he said that he was. I am satisfied that the implementation of Dr. Scally's recommendations...

Supplementary Report of the Scoping Inquiry into the CervicalCheck Screening Programme: Statements (19 Jun 2019)

Simon Harris: That is a very important question. We are trying to find as many alternative pathways as possible. This week I got approval from the Cabinet for the publication of the full tribunal Bill. I heard Deputy Mattie McGrath refer to it as a different sort of tribunal. The idea here is that this would be an adjudicative tribunal and an alternative to court. I intend to introduce that Bill on...

Supplementary Report of the Scoping Inquiry into the CervicalCheck Screening Programme: Statements (19 Jun 2019)

Simon Harris: I have read it.

Supplementary Report of the Scoping Inquiry into the CervicalCheck Screening Programme: Statements (19 Jun 2019)

Simon Harris: Yes.

Supplementary Report of the Scoping Inquiry into the CervicalCheck Screening Programme: Statements (19 Jun 2019)

Simon Harris: Last week, I published the Supplementary Report of the Scoping Inquiry into the CervicalCheck Screening Programme following a Cabinet meeting and today I welcome the opportunity to discuss the report's findings and speak about the issues at its core. At the outset, I would like to place on the record of this House my sincere gratitude to Dr. Gabriel Scally and his team for not only the...

National Maternity Services: Motion [Private Members] (19 Jun 2019)

Simon Harris: There is one project under way.

National Maternity Services: Motion [Private Members] (19 Jun 2019)

Simon Harris: Hear, hear.

National Maternity Services: Motion [Private Members] (19 Jun 2019)

Simon Harris: Yes.

National Maternity Services: Motion [Private Members] (19 Jun 2019)

Simon Harris: I welcome the opportunity to speak about our maternity services, to highlight the considerable progress made in recent years and the excellent work done by our front-line staff every day and night right across our maternity services and to outline the next steps we need to take. Fianna Fáil will try to present this motion as some sort of policy development on its part. The reality...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (19 Jun 2019)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Scanlon for raising the issue. He and Deputy McLoughlin have been raising it with me for some time. I am eager that the vacancy be advertised as quickly as possible in order that we can ensure the post is filled. I will speak to the HSE director general about it when I meet him later this week. I am sure the people of the north west will be interested to hear that a...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (19 Jun 2019)

Simon Harris: I thought Deputy Martin Kenny was going to rise today to welcome the decision to grant planning permission for 50 new beds at Sligo hospital. On the important issue he has raised of a diabetic specialist nurse, I acknowledge that the Deputy has raised the matter with me previously. I have asked my officials to come back to me on it and I will revert to the Deputy by the end of the day on...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (19 Jun 2019)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputies Mary Butler and Peter Fitzpatrick for their questions on this matter. My colleague, the Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe, has already dealt with the issue from an industrial relations point of view. I hope progress can be made on that today. From a contingency planning point of view, which I think is at the core of the Deputies' questions, the HSE and SIPTU at a local...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Jun 2019)

Simon Harris: The Deputy has not read the PwC report.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Jun 2019)

Simon Harris: It cut the minimum wage.