Written Answers Nos. 634-653
634. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the details of the rapid review of previous progress of Healthy Ireland that was undertaken by his Department; the details of the extensive stakeholder engagement; the details of the review of goals for alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals and the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43522/20]
View answerIn late 2019 the Health and Wellbeing Unit in my Department commenced the development of a Strategic Action Plan for the next phase of the Healthy Ireland Framework. Despite the challenges caused by Covid-19, which has caused some delays to the original timeline for this process, significant progress on the development of the Strategic Action Plan for Healthy Ireland has been made.
A Rapid Review of progress to date on the implementation of Healthy Ireland was firstly conducted with the Health and Wellbeing Unit within the Department. The Unit have overall responsibility for the implementation of the Healthy Ireland Framework. The review was conducted against the existing six themes of the Framework, including:
1. Governance and Policy
2. Partnership and Cross-Sectoral Work
3. Empowering People and Communities
4. Health and Health Reform
5. Research and Evidence
6. Monitoring, Reporting and Evaluation
Following the review, feedback on progress to date from the wider stakeholder consultation phase was incorporated.
An extensive stakeholder engagement process on the Healthy Ireland Framework has been conducted by my Department. This has included three separate processes, one-on-one interviews, workshops and an on-line survey. Six one-on-one interviews with key leaders were conducted. Six workshops with stakeholder groups, including: other Government Departments, Community and Voluntary Sector Organisations, Department of Health staff, Health Services Executive staff and Academic institutions were held. An online survey was completed by 331 respondents from existing partner organisations, including Local Authorities. The findings of the stakeholder consultation have been incorporated into the development of a draft of the Strategic Action Plan.
The development of the Strategic Action Plan is also taking into account the wider context including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Programme for Government to ensure appropriate alignment with priorities across the whole of Government.
Presently a set of emerging priorities is being considered in partnership with other Government Departments and internally in the Department of Health. The Healthy Ireland Strategic Action Plan is expected to be finalised in early 2021, for agreement across Government and subsequent publication.
635. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Health if persons with cerebral palsy who are in the high risk category for Covid-19 are included in the Covid-19 vaccine allocation strategy, specifically the seventh group, persons aged 18 to 64 with certain medical conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43523/20]
View answerThe COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Strategy sets out a provisional priority list of groups for vaccination once a safe and effective vaccine(s) has received authorisation from the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
The Strategy was developed by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) and Department of Health, endorsed by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), and approved by Government on 8 December 2020.
The Allocation Framework was developed to consider how to prioritise different groups. It is based on (1) ethical principles and (2) epidemiological considerations, and takes account of the current and evolving understanding of distinctive characteristics of COVID-19 disease, its modes of transmission, the groups and individuals most susceptible to infection and the characteristics of the candidate vaccines. The primary aim of the allocation strategy is focus on the prevention of sickness and mortality, and to preserve the health of people, by prioritising those at highest risk.
The Strategy is a further component to the State’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and will evolve and adapt with more detailed information on the vaccines and their effectiveness.
With the benefit of the Vaccine Allocation Strategy approved by Government, the HSE, in conjunction with immunisation experts, is evaluating the further stratification and sequencing of cohorts for vaccination.
Further information on the Strategy can be found at:
https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/39038-provisional-vaccine-allocation-groups/
636. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Health if local authorities will be consulted on the Covid-19 vaccine with reference to those in group nine, namely persons living or working in crowded settings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43525/20]
View answerThe COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Strategy sets out a provisional priority list of groups for vaccination once a safe and effective vaccine(s) has received authorisation from the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
The Strategy was developed by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) and Department of Health, endorsed by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), and approved by Government on 8 December 2020.
The Allocation Framework was developed to consider how to prioritise different groups. It is based on (1) ethical principles and (2) epidemiological considerations, and takes account of the current and evolving understanding of distinctive characteristics of COVID-19 disease, its modes of transmission, the groups and individuals most susceptible to infection and the characteristics of the candidate vaccines. The primary aim of the allocation strategy is focus on the prevention of sickness and mortality, and to preserve the health of people, by prioritising those at highest risk.
The Strategy is a further component to the State’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and will evolve and adapt with more detailed information on the vaccines and their effectiveness.
With the benefit of the Vaccine Allocation Strategy approved by Government, the HSE, in conjunction with immunisation experts, is evaluating the further stratification and sequencing of cohorts for vaccination.
Further information on the Strategy can be found at:
https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/39038-provisional-vaccine-allocation-groups/
637. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43530/20]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 sets out the law governing access to termination of pregnancy in Ireland; however, the purpose of the legislation is not to dictate the practice of obstetrics. Indeed, it would not be appropriate for me, as Minister for Health, to dictate medical procedures or treatment plans; such decisions are a matter for the treating clinicians in any given case.
The Deputy can however be assured that medical practitioners are bound through professional regulatory mechanisms to operate in accordance with best medical practice.
As this question relates to a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
639. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the reason letters issued to women in the highest at risk category of ovarian cancer are saying the waiting list for an ultrasound scan is six to 12 weeks when the women themselves are being informed that it is running at 27 weeks plus; and his views on whether this is an acceptable wait time for a scan to detect a cancer that is the fourth most common cancer in women in Ireland and has a significant fatality rate. [43559/20]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible
640. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health the cost of the HPV vaccine for medical card and non-medical card holders who are advised to get the vaccine by their general practitioner or consultant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43562/20]
View answerThe immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). The committee's recommendations are based on the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland and international best practice in relation to immunisation. It makes recommendations on vaccination policy to my Department. The NIAC continues to revise recommendations to allow for the introduction of new vaccines in Ireland and to keep abreast of changes in the patterns of disease. Therefore, the immunisation schedule will continue to be amended over time.
In 2009, the NIAC recommended HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccination for all 12 to 13 year old girls to reduce their risk of developing cervical cancer when they are adults. In September 2010, the HPV vaccination programme was introduced for all girls in first year of secondary school.
The NIAC recommended that the HPV vaccine should also be given to boys. On foot of the NIAC’s recommendation, my Department asked the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) to undertake a health technology assessment (HTA) to establish the clinical and cost-effectiveness of extending the current immunisation programme to include boys in the first year of secondary school.
The HIQA completed the HTA in December 2018, recommending that the HPV immunisation programme be extended to include boys. A policy decision was made to extend the HPV immunisation programme to include boys, starting in September 2019, with the introduction of a 9-valent HPV vaccine.
The ages at which vaccines are recommended in the immunisation schedule are chosen by the NIAC in order to give each child the best possible protection against vaccine preventable diseases. As the HPV vaccine is preventative it is intended to be administered, if possible, before a person becomes sexually active, that is, before a person is first exposed to HPV infection.
Therefore, the gender-neutral HPV vaccination programme targets all girls and boys in first year of secondary school to provide maximum coverage. All vaccines administered through the School Immunisation Programme are provided free of charge.
My Department will continue to be guided by NIAC's recommendations on any emerging evidence on this issue in the future.
Anyone not in 1st year of secondary school or age equivalent in special schools or home schooled during the 2020/2021 school year who wishes to get the HPV vaccine, must go to their GP or sexual health clinic and pay privately for the vaccine and its administration. This applies to everyone whether or not they have a medical card/GP visit card, as it is outside of the HPV immunisation programme.
My Department does not collate information on the cost of vaccines paid for privately.
643. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the products on the Biocidal Product Registers which do not meet the WHO minimum standard for efficacy, particularly regarding the levels of ethanol and other alcohols; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42851/20]
View answerBiocidal products may only be marketed and used in Ireland once they are registered with my Department and are entered on the Biocidal Product Register (BPR) in accordance with Regulation 20 of Statutory Instrument 427 of 2013 and Regulation (EU) No. 528/2012 governing the marketing and use of biocidal products in the European Union.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) published guidance in 2010 for specific formulations which could be used in hand sanitisers. These recommendations are primarily aimed at the local production of hand sanitisers in countries where there may not be a recognised registration system for such products and where resources may be limited. These recommendations are not set down in Irish or EU legislation but were endorsed by various health authorities across the world as being suitable to help against the spread of Covid-19. However, it is important to note that all PT 1 class alcohol-based sanitiser products for human use, containing ethanol as the sole active ingredient, registered by my Department since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic require a minimum content of 60% ethanol, in line with HSE requirements.
There are no specific guidelines set down for ethanol-based sanitisers but all hand sanitising products registered in Ireland must fully comply with all of the provisions of Irish and EU legislation in this area.
644. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the personnel who carry out a desktop review of products for entry onto the Biocidal Product Registers are sufficiently qualified and experienced in chemistry and regulatory techniques and procedures; if they are appropriately competent in interpreting the safety data sheets for the active ingredient, co-formulants and impurity profiles of toxicological significance of the applicant products for entry on the Biocidal Product Registers; the minimum academic and laboratory qualifications required for the personnel deployed for this work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42852/20]
View answerNotified biocidal products containing active substances which have not yet been approved under the applicable EU regulations are subject to our national system of biocidal product registrations in accordance with Article 89 of the EU Biocidal Products Regulation.
Registration of such products requires a review of information prescribed by the Pesticide Controls Division of my Department and which must be submitted by the product applicant.
This includes:
- Information on the active substance in the product
- Information on all other ingredients contained in the product
- Safety data sheets for the final product
- A proposed label that will be used when the product is placed on the market.
Evaluation of all applications for registration of biocidal products are carried out by the Pesticides Control division of my Department. Standard operating procedures are in place for specially trained staff which ensures that only products which meet the prescribed data requirements are placed on the biocidal product register.
645. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department’s senior agricultural inspectors and, or professionally qualified evaluators are reviewing the approval of products currently on the Biocidal Product Registers while working from home; if not, the reason; the possible adverse consequences of same and danger to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42853/20]
View answerIn line with the public health advice and guidelines on Covid-19 for the workplace, Department staff in the Pesticides Control Division are working from home other than when it is necessary for them to attend their workplace in person.
Appropriate practices have been put in place to ensure that all work for which the Division has responsibility for, continues to be fully carried out in a safe and efficient manner.
646. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the methods of analysis used to test and evaluate the products on the Biocidal Product Registers; if an appropriate surveillance schedule is in place to conform with best practice and established standards; if such procedures were and are in place; the reason his Department failed to identify the defective and substandard hand sanitisers prior to his Department being notified by the Revenue Commissioners; if the details of the schedule will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42854/20]
View answerThe test method employed by the laboratory to analyse alcohol-based hand sanitiser products is a Gas Chromatography With Flame Ionization Detection - GC/FID method for quantification of methanol, ethanol, propan-1-ol, propan-2-ol and glycerol (total alcohol screen). This method is a newly validated test that has now satisfied the conditions for full INAB accreditation.
All new biocidal products, including Virapro hand sanitiser are registered based on a documentary application. Administrative checks are applied to applications for every hand sanitiser, including technical specifications around formulation, safety data and including label approval. As this is an administrative process, no samples are submitted or analysed as part of the approval process.
However, my Department's Pesticides Formulation Laboratory had already commenced developing the above-mentioned analysis method prior to the notification by the European Anti-Fraud Office to Revenue Commissioners of an issue with Virapro.
Since this test method was developed, the Pesticide Controls Division has submitted over 100 hand sanitiser product samples to the Pesticides Formulation Laboratory for analysis. The Division also has a draft sampling plan for the period up to end of quarter one 2021. This draft sampling plan will be adapted and extended as appropriate during the year, in response to test results.
647. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the attention of the professional personnel in his Department was drawn to a red flag warning which was widely reported in toxicology and regulatory circles and raised by the Food and Drug Administration in the United States of America earlier in summer 2020, detailing serious concerns regarding high methanol levels in some imported Mexican hand sanitiser products; if not, the reason; if his Department put in place effective measures and procedures to identify and locate these products in Ireland; if an assurance will be given that all entries into and on the Biocidal Product Registers are now being appropriately reviewed and re-examined for adverse toxicological affects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42855/20]
View answerMy Department became aware, through the Health Products Regulatory Authority, of a USDA Rapid Alert regarding the presence of methanol in hand sanitiser in the United States. This information related only to products originating in Mexico with no indication of this product being made available to the EU market
As a precautionary measure, my Department's Pesticides Formulation Laboratory set about developing a new and appropriate method to analyse these types of products. This new Testing method satisfies the conditions for full Irish National Accreditation Board (INAB) accreditation.
Registration of notified products in Ireland requires a review of information prescribed by the Pesticide Controls Division and which must be submitted by the product applicant.
I regard the protection of public health as our key priority. To ensure this, my Department continues to sample and test biocide products currently on the market here to ensure their continued compliance with regulatory standards and thereby provide the necessary assurance of public safety.
648. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of staff within his Department that have a flock or herd number registered in their name; the number of these staff that have received permission to represent themselves as flock or herd number holders on issues with his Department; the number of staff that are members of, or affiliated to, a farm organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42856/20]
View answerThe number of staff within the Department that have a flock or herd number registered in their name is not recorded centrally by my Department.
The Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour sets out the standards of behaviour required of civil servants as they carry out their duties. The Code, which embraces core public service values of honesty, integrity and impartiality forms part of the terms of employment of all civil servants, who are expected to apply it at all times.
Section 14 of the Code sets out the requirements for employees, in terms of conflicts or potential conflicts of interest with the business of their Department or Office.
While staff are not precluded from membership of outside organisations/associations, they are required to declare this activity if it presents a conflict or a potential conflict of interest with their work in the Department.
My Department has introduced a number of measures, including the appointment of a Compliance Officer, to ensure appropriate monitoring and management of any conflicts or potential conflicts of interest. This is done in a pragmatic way at central and local levels with a view to ensuring enhanced compliance levels among staff with both the Ethics Acts and the Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour.
649. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which farmers are expected to meet the 5% reduction target as part of the Beef Exceptional Aid Measure, BEAM, scheme when the nitrates updates are only updated the month prior and figures are only available up until the end of October 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42857/20]
View answerThe objective of the €75m Beef Exceptional Aid Measure (BEAM) was to provide temporary exceptional adjustment aid to farmers in the beef sector in Ireland subject to the conditions set out in EU Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1132. This aid was granted to support beef farmers who were affected by temporary market adjustment support in response to a specific market disturbance as outlined in Ireland's notification to the EU Commission and the 5% reduction was part of the conditionality sought by the EU.
Approved BEAM participants have given a commitment to reduce the production of bovine livestock manure nitrogen on the holding by 5% for the period 1st July 2020 to 30th June 2021 as compared with the period 1st July 2018 to 30th June 2019 as recorded on Department systems.
Participants who need advice on how to manage this reduction can contact the Department or consult an agricultural advisor to work out which changes will make most sense on their farm. Participating farmers can access all their relevant figures on the BEAM page on www.Agfood.ie. In addition to the reference and target figures, this page also displays a monthly updated figure for the previous 12 month period that tracks the trend for Nitrates figures on the holding to allow participating farmers to determine whether changes they have made are having the required effect.
These figures are extracted monthly for each holding from my Department's Animal Identification and Movement (AIM) system. The most recent figures displayed reflect the position to the end of October and were updated last week. These monthly updates will continue. There is a five week interval between the end of the month and the posting of the data to ensure the accuracy of the figures presented.
In addition, my Department is sending letters to all participating farmers to remind them of their commitments under the scheme, update them on the current Nitrates trends on their holding and to assist them in meeting the 5% commitment under the scheme. My Department is also engaging with public and private agricultural advisors to ensure that their farmer clients are informed of their requirements.
650. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if an application by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry for the beef finisher scheme will be processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42917/20]
View answerThe Beef Finisher payment (BFP) is a one-off, Exchequer-funded grant aid scheme under the Covid 19 State Aid Temporary Framework. The objective of BFP was to provide support for beef finishing farms in Ireland which had been severely impacted by the economic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
An application for the BFP was submitted by the person named on 6th September 2020 in respect of 31 animals. It is a requirement of the scheme that all applicants must have submitted a Basic Payment application for 2020. The person named had submitted his Basic Payment application but under a separate partnership number which has now been verified. As a result, the BFP application is now cleared and payment will issue shortly.
651. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the 2020 Basic Payment Scheme, BPS, payment will issue to a herd owner (details supplied) given that the delay is being caused by a software update which is beyond their control and in view of the fact that their entitlement position for 2020 has not yet been finalised by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42933/20]
View answerThe entitlements position for the named person has now been finalised and payment will issue shortly.
652. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of racing greyhound litters registered annually with an organisation (details supplied) between 1 January 2010 and 30 November 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42996/20]
View answerThe Irish Coursing Club is the organisation charged by statute since 1923 with the role of Keeper of the Irish Stud Book. The stud book records pedigrees, ownerships, breeding data and transfers of ownership primarily. The Irish Coursing Club is subject to the general control and direction of Rásaíocht Con Éireann.
Data provided by the Irish Coursing Club indicate the following data in respect of litters from 2010 – to end November 2020. Litters registered include all greyhounds, thereby incoporating greyhounds that will ultimately race.
|
Year |
Litters |
|
2010 |
3,003 |
|
2011 |
3,272 |
|
2012 |
2,980 |
|
2013 |
2,736 |
|
2014 |
2,801 |
|
2015 |
2,709 |
|
2016 |
2,520 |
|
2017 |
2,441 |
|
2018 |
2,344 |
|
2019 |
2,324 |
The number of litters registered in the period 1 January 2020 to 30 November 2020 is 1,852.
653. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of racing greyhound pups registered annually for racing with an organisation (details supplied) between 1 January 2010 and 30 November 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42997/20]
View answerThe Irish Coursing Club is the organisation charged by statute since 1923 with the role of Keeper of the Irish Stud Book. The stud book records pedigrees, ownerships, breeding data and transfers of ownership primarily.
The Irish Coursing Club is subject to the general control and direction of Rásaíocht Con Éireann. Greyhounds are required to be named with the Club and the table below sets out details of greyhounds named over the period 2010 – 2019.
It should be noted that the number of greyhounds named includes all greyhounds. Greyhounds that go on to be racing greyhounds comprise an element of the overall namings notified to the Irish Coursing Club.
|
Year |
Namings |
|
2010 |
16,467 |
|
2011 |
15,908 |
|
2012 |
16,224 |
|
2013 |
15,575 |
|
2014 |
14,898 |
|
2015 |
15,388 |
|
2016 |
13,987 |
|
2017 |
13,649 |
|
2018 |
13,327 |
|
2019 |
12,793 |
The number of named greyhounds in the period 1 January 2020 to 30 November 2020 is 12,443.
