Results 17,121-17,140 of 45,622 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Health: Ministerial Meetings (29 May 2019)

Simon Harris: Yes, I have met with Paul Reid, the new Director General, since his appointment. I have had a one to one meeting as well as attending the Joint Committee on Health with Mr. Reid on 22 May last.

Seanad: Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2018: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (28 May 2019)

Simon Harris: Amendments Nos. 1, 3, 4 and 5 relate to health needs assessments and ministerial directions. A health needs assessment is a systematic method of identifying the unmet health and healthcare needs of a population and identifying the changes required to meet those unmet needs. Amendment No. 1 amends the Long Title consequential to the inclusion of provisions on health needs assessments. The...

Seanad: Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2018: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (28 May 2019)

Simon Harris: I will be speaking on Amendments Nos. 2, 11 to 18, inclusive, 21 to 23, inclusive, 26 to 28, inclusive, and 31 to 33, inclusive, from the Dáil. Most of these are consequential to amendments Nos. 11 and 21, which strengthen the roles and responsibilities of the Board and chief executive. Amendment No. 21 requires the chief executive to ensure that appropriate systems, procedures and...

Seanad: Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2018: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (28 May 2019)

Simon Harris: HSE board membership was debated by the Select Committee on Health and amendments Nos. 6 to 10, inclusive, and 35 to 37, inclusive, were made on Report Stage in the Dáil following the Committee Stage debate. The Dáil amendments relate to the board and include health professional membership. Amendment No. 8 from the Dáil provides that at least one of the persons appointed to...

Seanad: Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2018: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (28 May 2019)

Simon Harris: Amendment No. 19 includes a role for the board in respect of the terms and conditions of the chief executive and brings the provision in line with many other Acts. Terms and conditions for the chief executive will be determined by the board, but, importantly, with the approval of the Minister for Health of the day and given with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform....

Seanad: Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2018: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (28 May 2019)

Simon Harris: The Bill as published prohibited the CEO from holding any other office, employment or business unless the board approved it. Amendment No. 20 was made on Dáil Report Stage and prohibits the CEO from holding any other office under any circumstances. Senators will recall that this matter was raised during debate in this House last year, including by Senators Devine and Boyhan. I agreed...

Seanad: Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2018: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (28 May 2019)

Simon Harris: Amendment No. 24 amends provisions relating to the CEO appearing before Oireachtas committees. The Bill had contained a standard provision, found in many Acts, that the CEO is not required to give an account before a committee of any matter relating to the general administration of the HSE that "has been, or may at any future time be," the subject of proceedings before a court or tribunal in...

Seanad: Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2018: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (28 May 2019)

Simon Harris: Amendment No. 25 is a technical correction to section 12 to replace the words "the person referred to" with the words "a person referred to in". Amendment No. 34 is a technical correction to Schedule 2 to the Health Act 2004 and provisions for authenticating the seal of the HSE. The reference to an employee of the board is corrected to refer to an employee of the HSE.

Seanad: Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2018: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (28 May 2019)

Simon Harris: Amendment No. 29 amends provisions relating to the HSE's audit committee. The Bill as passed by this House provided that the audit committee membership is made up of one board member and not fewer than four external members. This was based on arrangements for the audit committee under the directorate governance model. However, in light of the new independent board governance model,...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Alcohol Advertising (28 May 2019)

Simon Harris: The Public Health (Alcohol) Bill was enacted in October 2018. In November I commenced 23 of the 31 Sections of the Act including to provide that: From 12 November 2019: - Alcohol advertising in or on public service vehicles, at public transport stops or stations and within 200 metres of a school, a crèche or a local authority playground will be prohibited; - Alcohol advertising in a...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Status (28 May 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: Cancer Services Provision (28 May 2019)

Simon Harris: University Hospital Galway (UHG) advise that the waiting times for chemotherapy for ovarian cancer is currently 3-4 weeks. Generally, waiting times for an appointment in the Haematology/Oncology Day Ward is around three weeks, with the Hospital expecting to secure treatment within 15 working days for 90% of patients this month. I am aware that there have been some capacity issues at UHG....

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Provision (28 May 2019)

Simon Harris: As this question relates to a service matter, I have arranged for it to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Status (28 May 2019)

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: Ambulance Service Staff (28 May 2019)

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

Written Answers — Department of Health: Ambulance Service Staff (28 May 2019)

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

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Delays (28 May 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 Status (28 May 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: Medical Card Eligibility (28 May 2019)

Simon Harris: The Irish Public Health System provides for two categories of eligibility for persons ordinarily resident in the country, i.e. full eligibility (medical cardholders) and limited eligibility (all others). Full eligibility is determined mainly by reference to income limits. Determination of an individual's eligibility status is the responsibility of the Health Service Executive. Persons with...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (28 May 2019)

Simon Harris: The report of the cross-party Oireachtas Committee on the Future of Healthcare, Sláintecare, identifies four core building blocks that underpin a well-functioning health system. The first of these building blocks is a clear governance and accountability framework. As part of its recommendations in this area, the Committee called for the establishment of a HSE Board, the HSE to become a...