Results 17,981-18,000 of 45,622 for speaker:Simon Harris

National Children's Hospital Costs: Statements (17 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: I am taking the other two questions the Deputy asked and will be brief because of the time restrictions. The Deputy asked a question about Professor Chris Fitzpatrick's testimony which I, too, read. He was kind enough to send it to me. I am satisfied that the current site can accommodate the maternity hospital, which was the subject of one of the professor's questions. It has been...

National Children's Hospital Costs: Statements (17 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: The Minister, Deputy Donohoe, might comment. To the question related to McCann FitzGerald I truthfully do not know the answer, but I will ask that it be found for the Deputy and given to him directly. It is important to say, though, that PwC did not find that the procurement process, in using the good manufacturing practices, GMP, process was flawed. Importantly, what it found was that...

National Children's Hospital Costs: Statements (17 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: Deputy Donnelly has asked an important question. It is something on which we agree. I want to see all our stand-alone maternity hospitals co-located with acute adult hospitals. It is in the national maternity strategy. The hospital that has a large allocation this year is the National Maternity Hospital Holles Street which is moving to St. Vincent's. It is a project dear to both our...

National Children's Hospital Costs: Statements (17 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: I can commit to that. As I told the Select Committee on Health last week, companies will have contracts with the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board. Whether the Minister is me, Deputy Donnelly or someone else, those contracts will be legally placed with the National Paediatric Hospital Development board and the company. As I told the meeting, I intend to meet the chair of the...

National Children's Hospital Costs: Statements (17 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: I ask for a tiny bit of latitude as I have only 14 seconds available to answer those two questions. I did say that I would come back to the Deputy on the Private Members' motion. I understand that a vote took place on that on 28 March. The Deputy may recall that a Minister of State took the debate for me. The report was due on 29 March and was given a one-week extension for fact checking....

National Children's Hospital Costs: Statements (17 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: I confirm that Deputy O'Brien's analysis is correct and I apologise for suggesting to the contrary in error last week. I and the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, will bring proposals to Cabinet next month looking at the overall governance structures and how we can strengthen them. I expect there will be changes in those structures. We will take legal advice on whether that will require primary...

National Children's Hospital Costs: Statements (17 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: The boards and committees to which the Deputy referred are administrative so they were set up by way of a Government decision when we decided to proceed with the main construction works. They can be amended by a similar Government decision.

National Children's Hospital Costs: Statements (17 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: Yes.

National Children's Hospital Costs: Statements (17 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: I am glad Deputy Kelly could join us. He missed my opening statement.

National Children's Hospital Costs: Statements (17 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: In recent weeks there has been significant debate and discussion about the development of the new national children’s hospital and the increase in the cost of the project. These statements provide another opportunity to discuss the issue following the publication last week of the report of the independent review of the escalation in the national children’s hospital costs. Last...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Aids and Appliances Provision (17 Apr 2019)

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

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Treatment Purchase Fund Eligibility (17 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: Reducing waiting time for patients for hospital operations and procedures is a key priority for Government. Budget 2019 announced that the Government has further increased investment in tackling waiting lists, with funding to the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) increasing from €55 million in 2018 to €75 million in 2019. The joint Department of Health/HSE/NTPF...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Children's Hospital Expenditure (17 Apr 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: Primary Care Centres Provision (17 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: As the HSE has responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres and other Primary Care facilities, the Executive has been asked to reply directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Speech and Language Therapy Provision (17 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 147 to 155, inclusive, together. As these questions relate to service matters, I have arranged for the questions to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Staff Recruitment (17 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: As this is an operational issue, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff Remuneration (17 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: You will be aware that in February 2018, an agreement was reached at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) between my Department, the HSE and health sector Trade Unions in relation to a process aimed at resolving the pay restoration issue for staff employed by section 39 bodies in 50 pilot organisations.  The 50 organisations included were agreed at the WRC by all parties. I asked...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Status (17 Apr 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: Ambulance Service Provision (17 Apr 2019)

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

Written Answers — Department of Health: Ambulance Service Provision (17 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: As this is a service matter I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.