Written Answers Nos. 536-544
536. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the Amnesty International report on the criminalisation of abortion here (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23310/15]
View answerI am aware of this report and have been considering its findings.
As the Deputy is aware article 40.3.3 of the Constitution states: 'The State acknowledges the right to life of the unborn and, with due regard to the equal right to life of the mother, guarantees in its laws to respect, and, as far as practicable, by its laws to defend and vindicate that right.'
The Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act was signed into law by the President on 30 July 2013 and it was commenced on 1 January 2014. The Act received very careful consideration by the Houses of the Oireachtas and the Joint Oireachtas Committee for Health and Children, including three days of public hearings. The main purpose of the Act is to restate the general prohibition on abortion in Ireland while regulating access to lawful termination of pregnancy in accordance with the X case and the judgment of the European Court of Human rights in the A, B and C v Ireland case. The Act also creates procedures which apply to the lawful termination of pregnancy. Its purpose is to confer procedural rights on a woman who believes she has a life-threatening condition, so that she can have certainty as to whether she requires this treatment or not.
A referendum would be required to amend the Constitution so that terminations in cases of rape, incest, serious risks to the health of the mother, or fatal foetal abnormality would be lawful.
537. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if it is appropriate that the Health Service Executive has decided to centralise a methadone treatment centre in Mountview health centre in Dublin 15 located adjacent to a local school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22985/15]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
538. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the proposed transplant opt-out scheme; if it is his intention to proceed with such a scheme; the engagements he has had with consultants in transplant work, as well as with donor representative and lobbying organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22986/15]
View answerMy Department undertook a public consultation on the practical aspects of introducing an opt-out system of consent for organ donation. A total of 57 submissions were received and an overview of these submissions is available on my Department's website www.health.gov.ie. In addition, my Department, in conjunction with the HSE, hosted a consultation event on organ donation and transplantation in Dublin Castle in November 2013.
Consideration is currently being given to the development of legislative proposals which will give effect to an opt-out system of consent for organ donation.
539. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the transplant programme at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, specifically since the retirement of a person (details supplied); the names and specialties of those currently so engaged at the hospital; his plans to develop the transplant programme at the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22987/15]
View answerAt the end of 2014, two consultant transplant surgeons left the renal and pancreas transplant programme at Beaumont Hospital, one on retirement and the second on leave of absence for professional development purposes. The remaining transplant surgeons in Beaumont are as follows:
- Ms. Dilly Little, Consultant Transplant Surgeon/Urologist
- Mr. Ponnusamy Mohan, Consultant Transplant Surgeon/Urologist
- Mr. Richard Power, Consultant Transplant Surgeon/Urologist
- Mr. Gordon Smyth, Consultant Transplant Surgeon/Urologist.
Given the limited number of surgeons who specialise in transplantation, the filling of any vacancies poses a challenge. Every effort is currently being made to fill the two vacancies.
Beaumont Hospital is also collaborating with St Vincent’s University Hospital in relation to a combined approach to kidney/pancreas transplants, as well as the development of an intra-abdominal organ retrieval service. It is proposed that pancreatic transplants, of which 6 were performed in 2014, will move to St Vincent’s University Hospital this year. Most pancreas transplants are combined with a kidney transplant. The arrangements being put in place for such cases will involve transplant surgeons from both St Vincent’s Hospital and Beaumont Hospital working together on the St Vincent’s campus.
540. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the case of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly; and on when the person can expect an appointment with the consultant paediatrician (details supplied) at Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin, Dublin 12. [22989/15]
View answerUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual. The scheduling of appointments for patients is a matter for the hospital to which the patient has been referred. Should a patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he or she should take the matter up with the consultant and the hospital involved.
In relation to the specific case raised, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
541. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Health when the introduction of the general practitioner visit card for over-70s will commence; if the card will be issued automatically, or if an application will be necessary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22993/15]
View answer543. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health when he expects the Health (General Practitioner Services) Bill 2015 to complete its passage through the Houses of the Oireachtas; when the roll-out of general practitioner visit cards to all those over 70 years of age will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23021/15]
View answer554. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health when he expects free general practitioner care to be available to all those over 70 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23100/15]
View answer629. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Health the progress being made in introducing free general practitioner care for those over 70 years of age; the expected timeframe for the introduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23756/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 541, 543, 554 and 629 together.
The Health (General Practitioner Services) Bill 2015 has completed all stages in the Dáil and is scheduled to shortly complete its passage through the Seanad. After the legislation has been enacted all persons over 70 years who are ordinarily resident that do not currently have a medical card or GP visit card will be able to start registering for the GP service without fees in late July and the service will be made available in early August.
542. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, by county, the 26 public nursing homes at risk of being non-compliant with Health Information and Quality Authority standards on accommodation. [23016/15]
View answerThe Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has indicated that a number of public units do not fully meet the standards one would expect to find in a modern nursing home. This is not surprising given the age and structure of many of our public nursing homes. Compliance issues are in the main related to physical infrastructure and to issues such as personal space and privacy and access to toilet facilities. It is important to stress that the care provided to residents of these facilities is of a generally high standard.
Discussions are ongoing between the Health Service Executive (HSE) and HIQA in this context. Addressing these issues will require prioritisation across facilities within the overall resources that can be made available and it would not be helpful to that exercise to highlight individual units where issues arise.
It is also important to point out that the Department of Health is not and cannot be involved in the dialogue between HIQA and the HSE on the status of individual units.
544. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Health if he will report on all public and private, official and unofficial engagements and meetings with a person (details supplied) and with senior executives within the person's media companies here; and the outcome of such meetings. [23047/15]
View answerSince my appointment as Minister for Health, I have had no engagements or meetings with the individual concerned or senior executives from the relevant companies.
