Vol. 433 No. 7
35 Mr. Noonan (Limerick East) asked the Minister for Health the basis of his contact with interested groups on the proposed establishment of a public health department in each health board area; and if he will give a timescale for this endeavour.
142 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Health the way in which he intends to deal with the crisis in the public health service; and if he will make a statement on the way in which he intends to resolve the dispute between the Irish Medical Organisation and his Department.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 35 and 142 together. The 1990 Working Party Report on Community Medicine contains a wide range of recommendations on, inter alia, the public health service. These are being considered within the Department and are the subject of discussions with interested groups, including the Irish Medical Organisation. The discussions with the Irish Medical Organisation relate to the future organisation and content of public health services. Significant progress has been made in these discussions and substantial agreement has been reached.
