Written Answers Nos. 155-162
155. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if and when an eye test may be arranged to facilitate replacement correction spectacles in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46663/14]
View answerI have asked the HSE to investigate this case and respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
156. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when the report of the vaccine damage steering group was first established; when it submitted its report to his Department; the recommendations made by his Department on the actions to be taken on foot of the report; when the report was published; the reason he has failed to implement its recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46678/14]
View answerThe Vaccine Damage Steering Group was established in 2007. The report from this Group was published on my Department's website in June 2009. This report is under active consideration by my Department. However, this issue is complex and needs to be considered in the wider context of how best to address the long term health and social needs of people who may have experienced adverse outcomes from other health services.
157. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health if he will establish an inquiry into the use of children in mother and baby homes for vaccine trials; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46679/14]
View answerThe Government has agreed to the establishment of a Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes. My colleague Dr. James Reilly T.D, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, is taking the lead in this matter. The scope of the Terms of Reference for this Commission is under consideration at present. The issue raised by the Deputy is among a number of matters that are being considered in this context.
158. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details provided) in County Sligo has been waiting almost two months for a piece of medical equipment which is needed to progress his recovery from a C1 spinal injury; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46695/14]
View answerAs the particular issue raised by the Deputy relates to an individual case, this is a service matter for the Health Service Executive (HSE). Accordingly, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
159. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of deaths in each of the past ten years arising from a drugs overdose where methadone was one of the drugs present; and the number of deaths in each of the past ten years arising from a drugs overdose where methadone was the only drug present. [46699/14]
View answerInformation on drug-related deaths is available from 2004 onwards as the National Drugs Related Deaths Index (NDRDI) was established in September 2005. The NDRDI is an epidemiological database which records cases of death by drug and/or alcohol poisoning and death among drug users and those who are alcohol dependent. Four sources are used to collate deaths: Coroner’s records; Hospital In-patient Enquiry System; Central Treatment List; and the General Mortality Register.
The Health Research Board (HRB) launched their report on the 21st January 2014 which showed deaths for 2011, the latest year for which data are available. Of the 113 such deaths reported in 2011 the majority of these deaths (86%) involved poly-substance poisonings, in addition, 68% of those who died where methadone was implicated were not in opiate substitution treatment at the time of their death.
The information sought by the Deputy is set out in the table.
|
- |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
|
ALL NDRDI poisoning deaths |
267 |
300 |
326 |
389 |
386 |
374 |
338 |
365 |
|
Deaths involving Methadone |
40 |
43 |
61 |
55 |
80 |
69 |
60 |
113 |
|
Deaths involving Methadone alone |
11 |
10 |
10 |
14 |
19 |
5 |
7 |
16 |
160. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the basis for the decision to make naloxone more widely available; the categories of drug users to whom this will be made available; the anticipated benefits of this approach; and the evidence on which this decision is based. [46700/14]
View answerOpioid overdose is treatable with naloxone, an opioid antagonist which rapidly reverses the effects of opioids. In the majority of cases, overdoses are witnessed by a family member, peer or someone whose work brings them into contact with people who use opioids. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), increased access to naloxone for people likely to witness an overdose could significantly reduce the high numbers of opioid overdose deaths.
In line with WHO recommendations and the National Drugs Strategy, the HSE has developed a National Overdose Prevention Strategy which recommends that naloxone should be made routinely available in Ireland for opioid drug users. The HSE is currently finalising a demonstration project which aims to assess and evaluate the suitability and impact of using naloxone in an Irish context. The project will involve training non-medical staff, such as care workers, family and peers, in the administration of a naloxone injection supplied in a pre-filled syringe. The project will use a similar methodology to a demonstration project carried out in Wales. This will enable the HSE to carry out a comparative analysis of data from both jurisdictions.
Key stakeholders including opioid drug users, carers, family and associated professions are being consulted in relation to the training required to deliver the programme. Locations will be selected according to need and will involve approximately 600 opioid drug users initially, attending voluntary and statutory addiction services and treatment services in prisons.
161. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the need to review the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations with particular reference to the need to ensure the rights of workers contracted to provide services to embassies and the employment rights of those working in embassies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46587/14]
View answerThe Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961 is an international treaty that provides a framework for diplomatic relations between states. To date, it has been ratified by 190 countries. The Convention provides for privileges and immunities for diplomats and certain other persons working in embassies. Under the Convention, it is the duty of all persons enjoying diplomatic privileges and immunities to respect the laws and regulations of the host State, including any applicable labour laws. Consistent with the State’s obligations under the Vienna Convention, my Department works to ensure that the law is upheld and my Department will assist, as appropriate, in any investigation being undertaken by the relevant Irish authorities.
Persons working for embassies – i.e. foreign governments – may in certain circumstances bring legal proceedings in relation to their employment against that government, subject to the rules of state immunity, also known as sovereign immunity. State immunity is not regulated by the Vienna Convention. However, a distinction must be drawn between individuals working for embassies and those working for individual diplomats as private domestic workers. Any legal proceedings brought by a private domestic worker against their diplomat employer will be subject to the rules set out in the Vienna Convention.
Although an international review of the Convention is not envisaged at this point in time, Ireland as well as many of our EU and OSCE partners keep under on-going consideration how best we can meet our international and national obligations.
My interest in the promotion of best employment practices led to my introduction last September of new guidelines for diplomatic staff who intend to employ private domestic workers. These guidelines set out clearly expectations regarding such matters as payment, working hours, employment records and health insurance. Upon publication of the guidelines, my Department arranged a briefing for all resident diplomatic Missions and followed up in writing with those Missions. My Department continues to monitor the implementation of the guidelines closely.
While I believe that the majority of diplomatic staff in Ireland already follow good practices, it is my view that the obligations as set out under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations combined with the effective implementation of best practices in the form of these new guidelines provide the best way forward to ensure the protection of domestic workers employed by diplomats in Ireland.
162. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the overseas trips he, and the Ministers of State in his Department, have planned between December 2014 and December 2015. [46593/14]
View answerMy Department performs a wide range of functions in pursuit of Ireland’s values and interests overseas. These include advancing reconciliation and cooperation on the island of Ireland; representing and advancing Government policies with other States and in international organisations; economic, trade and cultural promotion; front-line consular and passport services to Irish citizens; engaging with Irish communities abroad; and programme management, particularly in Irish Aid priority countries. These tasks require extensive engagement with our international partners, including through face-to-face Ministerial meetings.
Trade promotion and economic messaging are key elements in all visits abroad undertaken by Government Ministers. Every effort is made to ensure that, as far as is practicable, opportunities are taken for a substantive economic and promotional dimension to all official visits. An intensive programme of Ministerial-led trade missions is a key commitment in the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs in 2014 and planning is underway for the programme trade missions in 2015.
In terms of travel for the remainder of 2014, I intend to accompany the President on his State Visit to China next week and the Ministers of State expect to attend meetings as follows:
Minister of State Sherlock
11-12 December: Foreign Affairs Council (Development), Brussels
3-4 December: OSCE Ministerial Council in Basel
Minister of State Murphy
4-5 December: Justice and Home Affairs Council, Brussels
14 -19 December: Foreign Affairs, General Affairs and European Councils, Brussels
Next year's plans are still under development but I expect to travel to New York in late September 2015 to participate in the General Assembly of the United Nations and to address that body on Irish foreign policy priorities. I will also meet with Foreign Ministers and UN leaders there, to discuss a range of international issues, as well as bilateral issues and Ireland’s candidature for election to a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council in 2020. Given the importance of our economic relationship with the United States, I anticipate, as on previous visits, to prioritise opportunities to advance our economic interests and will work closely with the IDA, Enterprise Ireland and Tourism Ireland on an appropriate economic promotion programme. In addition, I plan to attend EU related meetings, including meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council and Informal Meetings of EU Foreign Ministers, on a regular basis throughout 2015. I expect that my colleagues will be similarly engaged on EU and other matters. My schedule over the coming months will include a visit to Kiev and, following my recent visit to Cairo to participate in the Gaza reconstruction conference, I intend to visit the Middle East at the earliest opportunity.
Minister of State Deenihan is expected to travel to Washington D.C. in mid-January 2015. Other travel undertaken by Minister Deenihan in 2015 will be planned around ensuring that the Government connects in the most effective possible way with our migrant and diaspora communities.
