Written Answers Nos. 184-190
184. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if he is considering or formulating plans to outlaw animal testing; if he will introduce penalties for animal testing, as has been done recently in New Zealand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41253/15]
View answerAnimal testing for finished cosmetic products has been banned under EU legislation since 2004. Animal testing of ingredients contained in cosmetic products has been banned since 2009 irrespective of where the testing takes place. A number of complex tests were given an extended deadline until March 2013. However, since March 2013 there is a legal requirement to use alternative methods to animal testing as the full marketing ban is actively implemented by Member States. In Ireland this ban was transposed into Irish legislation by means of the European Union (Cosmetic Products) Regulations 2013 (S.I. No 440 of 2013). Regulation 19 of these Regulations sets out the penalties which apply to an offence committed under the Regulations.
The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) is the competent authority for cosmetics in Ireland and is responsible for the implementation of the testing and marketing bans on animal testing in this context.
With regard to testing of animals for scientific purposes, Directive 2010/63/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes was transposed into Irish law by the European Union (Protection of Animals used for Scientific Purposes) Regulations 2012 (S.I. No 543 of 2012) and came into effect in January 2013. Regulation 85 of these Regulations sets out the penalties which apply to an offence committed under the Regulations.
This legislation represents an important step towards achieving the final goal of full replacement of procedures on live animals for scientific and educational purposes as soon as it is scientifically possible to do so. One of the requirements of the legislation is that studies on animals shall not be carried out when a scientifically satisfactory non-animal method is available.
The HPRA is the competent authority for the implementation of the legislation on scientific animal protection in Ireland. The HPRA is satisfied that all establishments in Ireland that hold animals for scientific purposes do so in compliance with the legislation.
186. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will appoint a lung specialist to Kerry General Hospital owing to the increase in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, as this is the fourth most common cause of death here after lung cancer, heart disease and stroke; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42012/15]
View answerAs this is a service matter, 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.
187. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the number of graduate physiotherapists, occupational therapists, radiographers and speech and language therapists that the Health Service Executive employed in each of the years 2013 to 2015 to date; the number that will apply for 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42017/15]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter. 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.
188. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the number of nursing posts that the Health Service Executive offered to Irish-trained nurses based in the United Kingdom in order to get them home; the number of posts that were filled; the number of posts that were offered but not yet filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42018/15]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter. 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.
189. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health his plans to increase the number of critical care beds to 579, as recommended in a 2009 report; and the full-year cost of doing so. [42026/15]
View answerIn 2008, the HSE commissioned Prospectus to undertake an independent review of the existing adult critical care provision and to conduct an assessment of the future requirements to the year 2020. The report recommended that the number of critical care beds in the system should increase from 289 to 579 over the period 2010 to 2020. A HSE the National Clinical Programme for Critical Care was subsequently established and, in 2014, the Programme launched a centralised, ‘hub-and-spoke’ Model of Care for Adult Critical Care, which was informed by the recommendations of the Prospectus report.
The Annual National Clinical Programme for Critical Care Capacity Census records adult critical care capacity i.e. the commissioned and actual critical care bed stock and critical care staff provided in critical care services in hospitals, and available to care for critically ill adult patient. There is now a more co-ordinated approach to the planning and delivery of critical care, within and across hospital groups, with a focus on small hospitals managing routine urgent or planned care locally and more complex critical care managed in the larger hub hospitals where the relevant clinical critical care expertise can be provided.
In relation to the particular query regarding the implementation of the report recommendations and the cost of same, as this is a service matter, 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.
190. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Health if Souvenaid (Nutricia Souvenaid) will be added to the list of medication covered under the medical card scheme. [42049/15]
View answerThe HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicinal products under the community drug schemes in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to you.
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.
