Written Answers Nos. 222-229
222. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10796/13]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
223. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the timeframe for the introduction of the calorie count legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10812/13]
View answerThere is currently no proposal to introduce legislation for calorie posting.
As one initiative among others, to halt the rising levels of overweight and obesity, I initially wrote to 19 fast-food and coffee shop businesses to voluntarily display the calorie content of food and drinks offered on their menus. Calories on menus help people make healthier more informed choices.
I requested the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) to carry out a national consultation, which found that over 95% of consumers in Ireland want calories on menus. I am very much in favour that the programme of putting calories on menus in Ireland be introduced on a voluntary basis. Recent monitoring information from the FSAI, found that almost half of those to whom I wrote are currently displaying calories on menus.
Nevertheless, if a voluntary approach fails to make the desired impact, I may then have to consider legislation. The consultation showed that 92% of consumers and 88% of health professionals supported a mandatory approach for large food service businesses, although only 58% of food businesses would support that approach.
Following the national consultation, the FSAI has published a step-by-step guide for food businesses on how to achieve this: Putting Calories on Menus in Ireland - Technical Guidance for food businesses.
The FSAI is currently conducting a large telephone survey and quality assessment evaluating the uptake of calorie menu labelling by Food Service Businesses in Ireland. The final survey results will be ready for publication in March 2013. The FSAI is also working on a software tool to provide the Food Service Business with an easy method to establish the calorie content in the range of dishes which are on menus for more than 30 days per year.
224. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health his plans, if any, to establish a nursing care fund for children with life-limiting conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10822/13]
View answerThere are no plans to establish the kind of centralised care fund referred to by the Deputy. However, there are a range of services available for children with life limiting conditions and I have asked the HSE to let the Deputy know directly how current arrangements operate, including the accessing of nursing and other care requirements.
225. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Health the antenatal services currently available at Louth County Hospital in Dundalk; if there are any plans to close this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10823/13]
View answerIn relation to the particular query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy in this matter.
226. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 13. [10835/13]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
227. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the supports available in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5. [10837/13]
View answerIn relation to the particular query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy in this matter.
228. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reason for the refusal of treatment under the treatment abroad scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; the criteria on which the refusal was based; and where the treatment is available here. [10839/13]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
229. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a list of the members or former members of the Judiciary who, during the past five years, have acted as chairperson or member of any body in or under his Department, or as chairperson or member of any inquiry, or have performed functions including arbitration, mediation, conciliation, patronage, advisory or law reform functions or any other role in or in any body under his Department or in any body wholly or partly funded by him, specifying in each case the name of the judge; if he or she is serving or retired; the court of which he or she is or was a member; the role or function performed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10882/13]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy with regard to my Department and in respect of the Non-Commercial State Agencies under the aegis of my Department is currently being collated and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is available.
