Results 18,341-18,360 of 45,789 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Health: Ambulance Service Data (10 Apr 2019)

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

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospitals Capital Programme (10 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: The Health Service Executive is currently developing its Capital Plan for 2019. My Department and the HSE are in discussion in respect to capital funding in 2019 and subsequent years as part of a process of engagement to finalise the HSE Capital Plan for 2019. Once the HSE has finalised its Capital Plan for 2019, it will then be submitted to me for approval with the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Alcohol Pricing (10 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: The Government Decision in 2013 approved the implementation of a minimum unit pricing regime for alcohol products under the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill to be subject to a similar provision being introduced simultaneously in Northern Ireland. Government approval will be sought to introduce the measure in this jurisdiction only. Section 11 (1) of the Act sets out the minimum price per gram...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Primary Care Centres (10 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: National Maternity Hospital (10 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: My Department continues to engage with St Vincent’s Healthcare Group and the National Maternity Hospital to develop a legal framework to protect the State’s significant investment in the new hospital.  St Vincent’s Healthcare Group has agreed in principle to provide the State with a 99-year lease of the land upon which the new maternity hospital will be built,...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Service Capacity Review (10 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: The Health Service Capacity Review, published in 2018, examined the capacity needs of the health sector in order to inform future planning decisions. The report provides capacity forecasts for two alternative scenarios; a baseline “status quo” scenario which assumes no major change in the way health services are delivered, and a reform scenario which considers the impact of a...

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 38 - Health (Further Revised) (10 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: I am delighted to be back at a meeting of the select committee and I very much look forward to taking the opportunity to address it on the Revised Estimates for my Department for 2019, Vote 38. The committee wishes to consider the Revised Estimate on a programme by programme basis but, as the Chairman will be well aware, the health Vote, unlike other Votes, is not configured along programme...

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 38 - Health (Further Revised) (10 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: I am very happy to deal with that.

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 38 - Health (Further Revised) (10 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: I would like to take the opportunity to correct Deputy Donnelly, because I have been listening to these false political charges for quite some time. I have also listened to the patient representatives, including Ms Vicky Phelan, Mr. Stephen Teap and Ms Lorraine Walsh, asking this committee to focus on the more important issues of the present for now and stop focusing on the past and playing...

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 38 - Health (Further Revised) (10 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: How did I make a blanket offer?

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 38 - Health (Further Revised) (10 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: How so?

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 38 - Health (Further Revised) (10 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: I do.

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 38 - Health (Further Revised) (10 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: I significantly regret, as I am sure do the members, that women are waiting. How we work to resolve that is what I would like to discuss in a moment, following on from the HSE's contribution to this. The Deputy may be asking me whether I wish I had made a different decision. I do not believe it was possible to have made a different decision. Women and GPs were seeking this. The Deputy...

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 38 - Health (Further Revised) (10 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: The Deputy is suggesting-----

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 38 - Health (Further Revised) (10 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: The Deputy is speaking for my chief medical officer somewhat, suggesting that my chief medical officer gave different advice from what I advised the public. I did not.

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 38 - Health (Further Revised) (10 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: She does and she makes it based on reading a tweet I issued and what I was actually offered. My tweet stated that we put a facility in place and that arrangements would follow later. About 20 minutes later we issued those arrangements via my Department's Twitter account and via a press release.

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 38 - Health (Further Revised) (10 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: I and the chief medical officer were ad idemon this issue, just to finish that point.

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 38 - Health (Further Revised) (10 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: The Deputy is trying to conflate issues and say I made a decision against advice. I made a decision to do the appropriate thing that I was requested to do by GPs and by women at the height of a crisis, and that decision, I believe to this day, was the appropriate decision in a crisis. I regret extremely that there are women waiting a long time. That is why we have been working night and...

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 38 - Health (Further Revised) (10 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for the honesty of his assessment that he, his party and many people felt that this was the right decision to make based on what women wanted and needed at the time. I accept that. I also accept fully that the challenge has been the fact of the impact this has had on capacity. Being very truthful - I believe my officials have said this previously, as has the HSE - and it...

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 38 - Health (Further Revised) (10 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: I accept that.