Martin Heydon
Question:18. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of the joint approach to One Health being adopted by his Department and the Department of Health. [51038/18]
View answerThursday, 6 December 2018
Questions (18)
Written answers
Antimicrobial Resistance or AMR is a major strategic global public health risk. Tackling AMR, specifically antibiotic resistance, across three sectors, human health, animal health and the environmental sector (i.e. a ‘One Health Approach’) is critically important to achieving sustainable development. This department has always recognised the need for a joined up approach.
My Department has been working collaboratively with the Department of Health since 2013, with the production of an initial interdepartmental discussion paper on an intersectoral response to the spread of AMR in the human and animal sectors.
This was followed in 2014, by the establishment of a ‘One Health’ National Interdepartmental AMR Consultative Committee as a whole of government approach to address the AMR threat. This Committee brings together many of the key stakeholders in human health, animal health and the environmental sectors to raising public and professional awareness across the sectors and provide guidance to ensure that AMR is addressed holistically and in a co-ordinated way at national level.
In 2017 both Departments jointly launched Irelands first ‘One Health’ national action plan on AMR, i NAP, which serves as the framework for cross-sectoral co-operation to tackle the challenge of AMR until 2020.
The development of Ireland’s first ‘One Health Report’ which examines the surveillance of AMR and usage of antibiotics across the human and animal health sectors was completed this year. This report, by Department of Health and my Department, will be published shortly.
Most recently, under the ‘One Health’ umbrella, my Department, along with the Department of Health and HSE, and supported by the Environmental Protection Agency, hosted Ireland’s first One Health Event to mark European and World Antibiotic Awareness Week. This event facilitated the sharing and learning of best practice amongst healthcare and veterinary professionals in relation to prescribing and use of antibiotics in human and animal health.
Question No. 19 answered orally.