Skip to main content
Normal View

Thursday, 9 Sep 2021

Written Answers Nos. 1211-1230

Health Services Staff

Questions (1211)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

1211. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter regarding a lack of neurologists in hospitals in County Cork for those with MS such as a person (details supplied). [42093/21]

View answer

Written answers

In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Cybersecurity Policy

Questions (1212)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

1212. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if any private cyber-security firms have been contracted to his Department or the HSE since 12 May 2021; if so, the details of the contract that has been entered into; and the cost of same to the Exchequer in tabular form. [42094/21]

View answer

Written answers

In response to the cyber attack in May this year, my Department engaged the services of its existing security partner, procured following a competitive tender process in 2020. The services provided were in respect of identifying, investigating, containing and remediating the presence of any malicious activity. The cost for these services was approximately €510,000 excl VAT.In respect of the Health Service Executive, as this is a service matter I have asked them to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.

Disability Services

Questions (1213)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

1213. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of children seen across all areas of intervention in each CHO area since the commencement of the Progressing Disability Services Policy on 19 April 2021; and the number waiting for an assessment of need in each CHO since the advent of the Policy and the Children's Disability Network Team. [42095/21]

View answer

Written answers

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Home Care Packages

Questions (1214)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

1214. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if a homecare package will be provided to a person (details supplied). [42096/21]

View answer

Written answers

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Hospital Services

Questions (1215)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

1215. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to directives underway in each hospital children’s ward in which parents who must stay overnight with their child for operations or observation are not allowed to swap out with the other parent who is already in a home bubble and in cases in which the child is already in a separate room within the hospital. [42097/21]

View answer

Written answers

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Cybersecurity Policy

Questions (1216)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

1216. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the cost to date to his Department and the HSE to repair the damage caused by the recent cyber-attack in tabular form. [42098/21]

View answer

Written answers

The cost of services provided to my Department in respect of identifying, investigating, containing and remediating the presence of any malicious activity was approximately €510,000 excl VAT.

In respect of the Health Service Executive, as this is a service matter I have asked them to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.

Data Protection

Questions (1217, 1218, 1219, 1352)

Pa Daly

Question:

1217. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the number of Kerry residents, distinguishing between children and adults who have had genomic and DNA data gathered on them under the State’s relationship with a research institute (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42103/21]

View answer

Pa Daly

Question:

1218. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the extent of genomic and DNA data gathered on Kerry residents attending hospitals in the State including any historical data under a research institute (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42104/21]

View answer

Pa Daly

Question:

1219. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the expected treatment of genomic and DNA data gathered under the State’s relationship with a research institute (details supplied) in view of the sale to a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42105/21]

View answer

Róisín Shortall

Question:

1352. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the sale of a company (details supplied); the implications of the sale on Irish DNA samples collected by the company; if he has engaged with the company in relation to their controllership of genomic research databases following this sale; if GDPR allows for the private sale of Irish citizen’s genomics data; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42511/21]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1217, 1218, 1219 and 1352 together.

I am aware of the sale of the company specified in the questions -Genuity (previously known as GMI).  It is important to make clear that my Department has no relationship with the company concerned and has no involvement or role in the sale of a private company. Such matters are governed, in Ireland, by the sizable body of applicable company law.    

Further, my Department has not provided funding to the company or asked any hospital to collect bio-samples or related personal data about individuals -adults or children- resident in Kerry or any county in the State for the purposes of the company.

Persons attend hospitals for care and treatment.  If, for the purposes of that care and treatment, bio-samples (including blood samples which includes DNA) are required they must be obtained from the patient on the basis of the patient’s informed consent and in line with long established principles of medical ethics. The processing of any personal information relating to those samples is regulated by data protection law and by the common law duty of confidentiality. 

Further, if is intended to further process -which includes disclosure to third parties- that personal data for research purposes, the Health Research Regulations set out a detailed governance structure including the safeguard of explicit consent to protect the data protection rights and freedoms of the individuals whose data are involved.  It is important to note that the rights and protections under the Health Research Regulations cover not only personal data that readily identifies the individual but also covers the situation where that data has been pseudonymised by the hospital before disclosure.

Hospitals, as data controllers, are required under data protection law to be aware of and record all processing of personal data collected and held by them and the purposes for which it is used and the third parties to which they intend to disclose it. They must also comply with the numerous substantive obligations placed on them by GDPR and by the Health Research Regulations. That is designed to ensure that the disclosure by them of readily identifiable or pseudonymised personal health information relating to genomic or DNA samples to the company referenced in the question or to any third party must be on the basis of the explicit consent of the individuals concerned and also within a formal corporate governance framework.

In short, data controllers, whether hospitals or private companies, need to ensure that they comply fully with the applicable law in this area. That includes where a private company is sold whether within the State or to another company outside the State. 

As the Deputies will be aware, the interpretation and enforcement of data protection law, including in relation to the processing of personal health data associated with genomic or DNA samples, is for the independent Data Protection Commission. It is not something that I, as Minister for Health, can interfere with or involve myself in. However, I can inform the Deputies that matters relating to the sale of bio-samples or personal data related to the samples are matters that fall to be addressed in the informed consent process.

As I said at the beginning of my answer, my Department has no relationship with the company specified in the Deputies’ questions. If an agency of the State provided funding to the company then the terms of that funding and any relationship created would be between the agency and the company but under no circumstances could any relationship set aside the provisions of data protection law. Indeed, it would be a serious breach of data protection law and of medical ethics for any hospital to gather genomic and DNA samples and related personal data as part of any relationship other than its relationship with the patient and his or her the care and treatment.

Question No. 1218 answered with Question No. 1217.
Question No. 1219 answered with Question No. 1217.

Health Services

Questions (1220)

Michael McNamara

Question:

1220. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the incidence of presentations at hospitals in the State with myocarditis, aneurysms and clotting disorders per month in the first eight months of 2021; and if he will provide a comparison with a similar period in 2018 and 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42107/21]

View answer

Written answers

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Home Help Service

Questions (1221)

Seán Fleming

Question:

1221. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health when home help will be provided for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42109/21]

View answer

Written answers

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Healthcare Policy

Questions (1222)

Patrick Costello

Question:

1222. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health when his Department will publish the second National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) 2021- 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42111/21]

View answer

Written answers

Ireland's second National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance 2021-2025 is under development and the actions related to human health are being currently being finalised with stakeholders. The new plan will continue to be based on the five strategic objectives as outlined in the Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance, published by the World Health Organization in 2015.

As with the first Plan, it will be based on the One Health approach, which includes input across the human health, animal health and environment sectors to promote a synergistic response to the challenges presented by Antimicrobial Resistance. The timelines for the development of the second National Action Plan were impacted by the COVID-19 response during 2020. The experiences from the COVID-19 response provided an important context which has now been captured as a key input to the second plan to inform the human health actions. The new Plan will cover the period from this year through to 2025.

Antimicrobial Resistance remains a key priority and has been highlighted in National Risk Assessment reports since 2014. The COVID-19 response has provided a unique opportunity to further understand emerging infectious diseases. It has shown a particular role for infection prevention and control, which remains an enabler for both COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 care. Building on previous investment, significant funding has been provided in both 2020 and 2021 to further the provision of infection prevention and control and antimicrobial stewardship in an integrated way across acute and community health and social care services. This is also in line with the recommendations from the COVID-19 Nursing Homes Expert Panel Report.

Substantial progress has now been made on the development of the Ireland's second National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance and my Department is working with One Health stakeholders to finalise and prepare the Plan for publication in the coming months.

Question No. 1223 answered with Question No. 1180.

Vaccination Programme

Questions (1224)

Richard O'Donoghue

Question:

1224. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the safety of giving the HPV vaccine and the full adult Covid-19 vaccine to young children and teenagers given that it is a concern of many parents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42121/21]

View answer

Written answers

The 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 practices in relation to immunisation. It makes recommendations on vaccination policy to my Department.

Following the recommendation for use of vaccines against COVID-19 by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and authorisation for use by the European Commission, the NIAC develops guidance for their use in Ireland which is contained in the Immunisation Guidelines for Ireland. These guidelines are continuously updated and include guidance on all new vaccines as they are approved for use in Ireland.

You can read the guidelines at: www.hse.ie/eng/health/immunisation/hcpinfo/guidelines/covid19.pdf

NIAC recommendations have been updated to enable co-administration of other vaccines with COVID-19 vaccines. Other vaccines may be administered with COVID-19 vaccines at the same time or at any interval. If other vaccines are being given at the same time as COVID-19 vaccines it is preferable to give them in different limbs.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (1225)

Richard O'Donoghue

Question:

1225. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health if discussions are expected for the use of the drug Ivermectin for patients that have been partially or fully vaccinated presenting with Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42122/21]

View answer

Written answers

The Deputy is advised that, previously at the request of the NPHET, HIQA conducted a rapid evidence review to identify studies on the effectiveness of (i) pharmaceutical and (ii) non-pharmaceutical interventions, in the ambulatory setting, aimed at reducing progression to severe disease in individuals with confirmed or suspected COVID-19. This evidence review included a review of relevant studies in relation to Ivermectin.

As confirmed by HIQA’s COVID-19 Expert Advisory Group, https://www.hiqa.ie/sites/default/files/2021-02/Interventions-to-prevent-progression_Advice.pdf, evidence regarding the effectiveness of pharmaceutical treatments intended for systemic use, must be subject to the highest standards of rigour. Where a pharmaceutical intervention is recommended in the absence of appropriate supportive evidence, there is a significant potential for harm to the patient. Whereas this risk of harm may be justified in certain circumstances (e.g. the intervention poses minimal risk, or the setting involves patients with high potential to gain due to almost certain risk of severe adverse consequences in absence of any intervention) this is less likely to be the case in the setting of mild disease, where a great number of otherwise well patients would potentially receive the intervention.

HIQA has also advised my Department that several international health technology assessment or guideline development organisations have specifically reviewed the evidence to date on ivermectin in COVID-19 and have cautioned or advised against the use of ivermectin outside the setting of clinical trials on the basis of the current evidence. HIQA has also advised that the pharmaceutical company MSD (Merck, USA), which holds a license in the USA for the use of ivermectin as an antiparasitic agent, on 4 February 2021 published a statement including the following:

It is important to note that, to-date, our analysis has identified:

No scientific basis for a potential therapeutic effect against COVID-19 from pre-clinical studies;

No meaningful evidence for clinical activity or clinical efficacy in patients with COVID-19 disease, and;

A concerning lack of safety data in the majority of studies.

We do not believe that the data available support the safety and efficacy of ivermectin beyond the doses and populations indicated in the regulatory agency-approved prescribing information.”

Further research was undertaken by HIQA and updated advice was provided to the NPHET on 12 May: COVID-19 - Interventions and health related factors that prevent infection or minimise progression to severe disease . This document was subsequently published by HIQA on the 23 June 2021:

https://www.hiqa.ie/sites/default/files/2021-06/Advice-to-NPHET_Interventions-to-prevent-COVID-19.pdf

One of the key findings of the review was that Ivermectin is not currently licensed for the treatment of COVID-19. From this evidence summary, there is currently insufficient information on whether it can be safely used to prevent or reduce the severity of COVID-19. Ivermectin should therefore not be used as prophylaxis outside well-designed, regulated clinical trials as the benefits and harms are not yet clear when taken in the context of COVID-19 treatment.

Low certainty or very low certainty evidence was identified in relation to a small number of interventions. However, HIQA noted the low quality of the evidence available including the high risk of bias, small sample sizes and short durations of follow-up, different trials and advised that results from these studies should not be used to inform decision-making with respect to effectiveness.

HIQA’s overall finding was that there is currently insufficient evidence of either effectiveness or safety to support the use of any pharmaceutical intervention outside of well conducted, well-regulated clinical trials. Furthermore, no evidence was identified for the effectiveness or safety of any non-pharmaceutical interventions.

I trust that the above information satisfactorily addresses your question.

Vaccination Programme

Questions (1226)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

1226. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of Covid-19 vaccines that have had to be disposed of due to the fact they were unused and went out of date. [42125/21]

View answer

Written answers

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Health Services

Questions (1227)

Seán Fleming

Question:

1227. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health when a personal assistant service will be provided to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42128/21]

View answer

Written answers

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Question No. 1228 answered with Question No. 1193.

Hospital Services

Questions (1229)

Denis Naughten

Question:

1229. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a detailed response as to the reason Beaumont Hospital is denying medical care to Covid-19 unvaccinated patients who are on the transplant waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42132/21]

View answer

Written answers

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Health Services

Questions (1230)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

1230. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the most appropriate method of transport for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42148/21]

View answer

Written answers

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Top
Share