Written Answers Nos. 199-208
199. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding support for families of persons who have committed suicide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25399/15]
View answerGovernment policy on suicide prevention has been guided to date by Reach Out, the first National Strategy on Suicide Prevention ( 2005-2014). The Reach Out strategy came to the end of its 10-year term at the end of last year, and at my request, the Department of Health and the HSE developed a new strategic framework for suicide prevention to succeed and build upon Reach Out. I am pleased to say that Connecting for Life, the successor to Reach Out was launched this morning by An Taoiseach.
The new Strategy sets out a vision where fewer lives are lost through suicide, and where communities and individuals are empowered to improve their mental health and wellbeing. This includes a greater focus on the important area of support for families and communities in suicide prevention, and will include providing community-based organisations with guidelines, protocols and training on effective suicide prevention. The Strategy will also deliver co-ordinated communication campaigns for the promotion of mental health and wellbeing among the whole population with a focus on protective health behaviours and consistent signposting to relevant support services.
The National Office for Suicide Prevention continues to provide significant funding to a number of agencies such as The Samaritans, Console and Pieta House who provide counselling to people at risk of suicide and bereavement support for families who have been affected by suicide. This key area of support for families will continue to be prioritised in the future.
200. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding a court report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25409/15]
View answerThe Health Service 'Procedures on Protected Disclosures of Information in the Workplace' were devised to give effect to the legislation on protected disclosures of information as provided for in the Health Act 2004 (as amended by the Health Act 2007). The purpose is to facilitate employees to make protected disclosures in good faith where they have reasonable grounds for believing that the health or welfare of patients, service users or the public may be put at risk, or where there is waste of public funds or legal obligations are not being met, so that the matter can be investigated. The legislation also provides statutory protection for health service employees from penalisation as a result of making a protected disclosure in good faith in accordance with this procedure.
In this context, I understand that a protected disclosure was raised by two health sector employees in March 2013, with regard to concerns about an organisation that provides services to people with a disability.
As a result of that disclosure, the Health Service Executive (HSE) has been carrying out an investigation into the issues.
As the majority of issues raised relate to the investigation of issues raised in a protected disclosure to the HSE, which is not yet complete, it is not appropriate for me to comment further at this point.
201. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding funding. [25412/15]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
202. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if, in view of their current condition, a person (details supplied) in County Meath will have an appointment at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin 9 expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25420/15]
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.
203. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Meath will receive an appointment at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25422/15]
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.
204. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the proposed changes to the provision of mental health services in Kells in County Meath, with particular reference to services provided now, and to be provided in the future, at Climber Hall; if he will commit to maintaining services at Climber Hall; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25425/15]
View answerAs this is a service matter this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. If you have not received a reply within 15 working days, please contact me Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
205. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if it is the case that there has been a change of policy regarding the criteria applied when assessing eligibility for a preschool assistant in County Meath; if he will immediately address this to ensure continued provision; if he will immediately review the case of a person (details supplied) in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25426/15]
View answerAs the issue raised by the Deputy relates to an individual case, this is a service matter for the Health Service Executive. I have asked the HSE to look into the particular matter raised and to reply directly 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.
206. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his Department uses any system software for the auto deletion of e-mail messages; if so, his Department's guidelines on the use of such a system; and the length of time e-mails are stored before they are auto deleted. [25181/15]
View answerThe Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade does not use any system software for the auto-deletion of email messages.
207. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has raised the case of the mistreatment by police of a person (details supplied), a human rights activist, with the authorities in Uzbekistan; his plans on doing so; his views on the human rights position in Uzbekistan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25219/15]
View answerI am concerned by reports of the mistreatment of the person in question who is a prominent human rights defender in Uzbekistan. This case was raised at a meeting of the Permanent Council of the OSCE on 11 June. The EU expressed concern at reports that this human rights defender was detained for more than 10 hours and subjected to excessive and humiliating treatment by local authorities in the city of Chinaz in Uzbekistan on 31 May, and that she was subsequently detained again on 5 June and subjected once more to a physically invasive and humiliating search. The EU called on the government of Uzbekistan to properly investigate her official complaint of mistreatment and to ensure that those responsible would be held accountable. The EU also urged the government of Uzbekistan to implement in good faith its national and international human rights obligations and commitments.
In regard to the position of human rights in Uzbekistan, this was the subject of a Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council in 2013. As a member of the Council, Ireland called on Uzbekistan to implement fully and effectively the recommendations by the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment in his 2003 report and the Committee against Torture in its concluding observations in 2011. This recommendation was accepted by Uzbekistan. Ireland also called on Uzbekistan to agree a precise and early date for the visit by the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, which was noted by Uzbekistan. I welcome Uzbekistan’s adoption of a National Action Plan aimed at ensuring the implementation of the recommendations which it accepted under the 2013 Universal Periodic Review exercise. I would strongly encouraged Uzbekistan to step up its cooperation with the UN to ensure that this Plan is properly implemented and duly monitored, in cooperation with international partners.
At the Human Rights Council session in March, Ireland supported an EU Statement on Uzbekistan which acknowledged the recent releases of prisoners as positive steps and encouraged further releases. The Statement also expressed the EU's ongoing concern at the human rights situation in Uzbekistan, including restrictions on political activity and on civil society, reports of torture, and the imprisonment of human rights defenders. The EU encouraged Uzbekistan to implement planned reforms and to cooperate with UN Special Procedures.
The Human Rights situation in Uzbekistan is regularly discussed within the framework of that country's Human Rights Dialogue with the EU. The most recent meeting took place in November 2014. The EU highlighted its serious concerns about reports of the torture and abuse of detainees, and urged Uzbekistan to make the widest possible use of the next prison amnesty. Other matters raised included the need to cooperate with the International Labour Organisation on forced labour, the need to ease restrictions on the press, and the importance of independent civil society organisations. The next EU-Uzbekistan Human Rights Dialogue is scheduled to take place in Uzbekistan later this year and will be a further opportunity to raise with Uzbekistan mistreatment of detainees and the wider human rights situation in the country.
208. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views regarding the position of human rights and political freedoms in Bahrain following the detention of opposition leader, Sheikh Ali Salman; if he or his officials have discussed these matters with European Union colleagues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25220/15]
View answerI am familiar with the case of Sheikh Ali Salman, Bahrain’s main opposition leader, who was reportedly jailed for four years last week. The apparent arrest, detention and prosecution of Sheikh Ali Salman for the peaceful exercise of the right to freedom of expression is of great concern. Ireland was one of 47 member states who delivered a joint statement expressing serious concern over the human rights situation in Bahrain at the 26th Session of the UN Human Rights Council in June 2014. In the statement, the signatories expressed their concern regarding the protection of human rights in Bahrain and called on the government to expedite the implementation of the recommendations received from the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry in this regard. At the 27th session of the Human Rights Council in October 2014, in a national statement, Ireland welcomed the positive steps taken by the authorities in Bahrain with respect to cooperation with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights while again expressing our serious concerns about the human rights situation, in particular condemning ‘the continuing arbitrary detention of human rights defenders, detained for peacefully exercising their human rights’.
At the 28th Session of the Human Rights Council in March 2015, Ireland raised further concerns as regards to the detention or persecution of civil society actors in Bahrain for peacefully exercising their rights.
As noted by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, during the 29th Session of the Human Rights Council on 15 June 2015, “the way forward to ensure peace, stability and prosperity for all Bahrainis is through genuine dialogue between the Government and the opposition, without preconditions”, and I would like to echo his call for all those detained in connection with their peaceful activities to be released.
Ireland will continue to follow closely the human rights situation in Bahrain and to monitor the case of Sheikh Ali Salman in this context.
