Vol. 483 No. 3
191 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children if the new National Immunisation Committee has been convened; if their terms of reference will remain the same as for the previous committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20668/97]
204 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Health and Children the date on which the National Immunisation Committee was set up; the names of the members of this committee; and the priority issues, if any, with which it will deal. [20197/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 191 and 204 together.
The national immunisation committee is established by the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland. In July 1997 the Chief Medical Officer of my Department requested the Royal College of Physicians to re-establish the committee to review and, where necessary, update the recommendations contained in its document "Immunisation Guidelines for Ireland", produced in 1996. I understand that the Royal College of Physicians is making arrangements for the re-establishment of the committee and that it is hoped that it will meet shortly. As the national immunisation committee is an autonomous committee of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, its membership is a matter for the college. I anticipate, however, that as with the previous committee, its membership will include a wide range of experts in the field of immunisation.
My Department will be represented on the committee. Among the matters which the Chief Medical Officer considers might be addressed by the committee are a number of immunisation issues relating to hepatitis B, polio and bacterial meningitis.
