Vol. 569 No. 3
142 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Health and Children if it is intended to absorb the Office of Tobacco Control back into his Department; if his attention has been drawn to concerns expressed by ASH Ireland that this was being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17543/03]
I refer to the Government's recently published health service reform programme. The Deputy will be aware that the programme draws on analysis made by Prospectus strategy consultants in the audit of structures and functions in the health system. In looking at the range of agencies operating within the sector, the consultants found: that complex and fragmented structures were an obstacle to achieving improvements; that there was scope for the rationalisation of certain agencies; and that there is a lack of standardisation and co-ordination across the system.
They recommended a consolidated structure which forms the basis of the health service reform programme. This reorganisation of the system provides the opportunity to mainstream a number of agencies. The consultants suggested that four agencies with strong roles in policy development should have those functions subsumed into a restructured Department of Health and Children, which, in the new structure, will have an improved focus on policy formulation and evaluation. Any executive or operational functions of such agencies will be transferred to the appropriate mainstream delivery agencies.
The report acknowledges that the office and other specialist agencies have played a key role in the past. It emphasises the need to ensure that the skills and functions residing in these agencies be retained within the revised structures. It also recommends that, where particular commitments would be threatened by mainstreaming, "sunset" clauses should be established for relevant agencies to protect the completion of particular tasks.
My commitment to achieving a reduction in smoking in Ireland is well known. I am aware of the concerns raised by ASH. I would not take any action which might jeopardise the advances made to date by the Office for Tobacco Control. I will be considering the application of a sunset clause to this and the other specified agencies in due course. I will, at that time, consider the potential impact on the control of tobacco in this country, including the concerns raised by ASH, in the context of the broader need to streamline the structures and functions in the health system.
