As the Deputy will be aware, action 15 of the health strategy states that a policy for men's health and health promotion will be developed. The National Health Promotion Strategy 2000-2005 also identified the development of a national plan for men's health as an important initiative. Work will commence on the development of this plan in association with the relevant stakeholders as soon as possible.
Interest in men's health to date has tended to be on "male specific" conditions and increased emphasis on men's health in the wider context is now needed. In this regard, the health promotion unit of my Department has supported the appointment of a men's health research officer, in the South-Eastern Health Board, to research the role of gender and masculinities on Irish men's concept of health, their knowledge, beliefs and attitudes to health and illness, health behaviours and risk behaviours, and the barriers that Irish men perceive in accessing the health services. The findings from this study will inform the development of the men's health action plan.