Results 18,461-18,480 of 45,789 for speaker:Simon Harris
- Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 38 - Health (Further Revised) (10 Apr 2019) Simon Harris: A figure of €360 million has been budgeted for this year for the State Claims Agency. Of course, that is not all for legal fees - nor am I suggesting it is - but that is the Estimate for the State Claims Agency this year. As a Government, we are doing a number of things to try to address the issue and reduce the amount involved, of which open disclosure is one element. We all know -...
- Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 38 - Health (Further Revised) (10 Apr 2019) Simon Harris: Yes, it is. The figure was €320 million in 2018. We have introduced periodic payments through the Department of Justice and Equality. When people go to court, they often do not want to receive a massive lump sum, but they need to know that they will be able to care in an orderly manner for themselves or their loved ones affected by an adverse incident. The third element is a...
- Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 38 - Health (Further Revised) (10 Apr 2019) Simon Harris: That was a comment, rather than a question, but, as always, an informed one.
- Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 38 - Health (Further Revised) (10 Apr 2019) Simon Harris: We are beginning to roll out additional bed capacity. The Chairman asked when new builds or extensions would open. There are 40 beds due to be opened this year in Clonmel. I think there are approximately 50 due to be opened in Drogheda, while 60 are under way in University Hospital Limerick. When we publish the capital plan shortly, it will show how we will endeavour to roll out further...
- Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 38 - Health (Further Revised) (10 Apr 2019) Simon Harris: I am aware of the Deputy's commitment to general practice and pleased that we could collectively make some progress on the issue. Being very blunt, there is an issue with consultants' pay. How we resolve it requires the Government's collective thinking. Quoting from memory, the Public Service Pay Commission was clear that there should be a process in place to consider the issue. The...
- Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 38 - Health (Further Revised) (10 Apr 2019) Simon Harris: There is no provision made in the Vote because the issue of new entrants' pay is dealt with centrally by the Government. It is generally dealt with through the Vote for the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
- Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 38 - Health (Further Revised) (10 Apr 2019) Simon Harris: Not necessarily. The issue of new entrants' pay could be dealt with centrally. We have dealt with GPs' issues, or at least I hope we have dealt with them. It is a matter for them to decide. We have made good progress in dealing with the issue of restoration issue, among others. I accept that consultants' pay is the next big issue from a human resources perspective, with the staffing of...
- Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 38 - Health (Further Revised) (10 Apr 2019) Simon Harris: There are two parts to that question. I think the Deputy knows I do not accept there is €20 million for Sláintecare this year; there is €20 million in the Sláintecare integration fund. I will not rerun my view from my opening statement. Even the €27 million for the GP contract this year is clearly Sláintecare. The DPS and prescription charges are...
- Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 38 - Health (Further Revised) (10 Apr 2019) Simon Harris: Yes. To be clear on this, I accept the overall cost estimate of the Sláintecare report over a ten-year period, but I do not accept its sequencing. Even the ramping-up period was not, in my view, taken into consideration. The Sláintecare report is an excellent report and I fully accept where it wants to get us. It was not an operational or implementation plan. We did...
- Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 38 - Health (Further Revised) (10 Apr 2019) Simon Harris: I am happy to provide the Deputy with all that I have on Sláintecare. In some areas I will not have the level of specificity pending negotiations, big policy decisions and legislative change that the Oireachtas must make.
- Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 38 - Health (Further Revised) (10 Apr 2019) Simon Harris: When setting out a drugs budget, for obvious reasons we do not outline at the start of the year all the drugs we will provide because new drugs come on stream, negotiations go on etc. I hope we can make Spinraza available. The legal responsibility lies with the HSE. I know many parents are very anxious and stressed. While I do not have a note on it, I understand the company has now...
- Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 38 - Health (Further Revised) (10 Apr 2019) Simon Harris: No, nor was it available to me.
- Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 38 - Health (Further Revised) (10 Apr 2019) Simon Harris: To be very clear, this is not a criticism of my officials. I believe they behaved entirely appropriately in how they dealt with this and indeed showed great leadership. The email was not made available to me or the Cabinet. It was not passed on to me because all my officials believed all the risks outlined in that were risks that were readily identifiable to them. There was nothing in...
- Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 38 - Health (Further Revised) (10 Apr 2019) Simon Harris: I think I became aware in February of this year - in recent weeks or months.
- Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 38 - Health (Further Revised) (10 Apr 2019) Simon Harris: These concerns became available post the decision being made. I was taking the advice directly from my officials, who were at this stage effectively stepping into the breach. These concerns were not passed on to me. I believe it is somewhat irrelevant as to whether they were because I believe the decision was right, based on the advice I had from my officials and the time we were in. All...
- Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 38 - Health (Further Revised) (10 Apr 2019) Simon Harris: I did not mean to be critical of the Sláintecare plan and I hope it did not come across in that way. I just make the point that in that sense, if one were to be negative, it is somewhat contradictory because it is saying that this must be done in year 1, but later on it states that it can only be done when something is in place. I thought we needed to make it more programmatic and that...
- Written Answers — Department of Health: Industrial Disputes (9 Apr 2019)
Simon Harris: Since the Labour Court issued its original recommendation on 11th February, intensive engagement between Health Service Management and Unions took place to agree the new contract for the new Enhanced Nurse/Midwife role. While progress was made, there remained sections of the new contract where agreement was not possible. The INMO referred those disputed sections of the...
- Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Availability (9 Apr 2019)
Simon Harris: As the particular issue raised relates to an individual case, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
- Written Answers — Department of Health: Disability Services Funding (9 Apr 2019)
Simon Harris: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
- Written Answers — Department of Health: Ambulance Service (9 Apr 2019)
Simon Harris: I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.