Written Answers Nos. 129-138
129. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Justice if she has progressed plans to formulate a committee to review existing legislation relating to the control of firearms; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21371/22]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, the new Justice Plan 2022 contains a commitment to undertake an expansive review to modernise firearms and explosives legislation.
Within the plan, Action 34.3 outlines a commitment to identify all outstanding issues requiring overdue reform in the management and processing of firearms licensing, register of firearms dealers and inspections. It also commits to the production of a roadmap for addressing issues identified, including a new legislative framework.
I am pleased to report that work in regard to this action is progressing well. I anticipate that by the end of the second quarter of this year, a determination will be made in terms of the medium term policy and legislative changes required, as well as a timeline agreed for the further development of legislation.
While I cannot pre-empt the outcome of the review, I can advise that in advance of the finalisation of any new or amending measure, I will of course be consulting with all relevant stakeholders in due course and hope to be in a position to provide greater detail in relation to all of this work as the review progresses.
This review is proceeding in tandem with plans to establish a Firearms Expert Committee, on a non-statutory basis, which it is intended will bring forward recommendations on which type of firearms should be licensable in the State and for what purposes.
On 31 March 2022, I announced that I am seeking expressions of interest from suitably qualified candidates for appointment to a new advisory body, the Firearms Expert Committee, to be established in the second quarter of this year in line with commitments under the Justice Plan 2022.
Applications are specifically sought for the roles of:
- Chairperson; and
- Ordinary member (two positions).
The Firearms Expert Committee will comprise five members in total, including representatives of this Department and An Garda Síochána. The Committee will be established on a non-statutory basis for an initial period of six months, which may be extended for a further six months at my discretion, if required.
The Expert Committee will serve in an advisory capacity to me as Minister, providing guidance on a wide range of matters related to firearms licensing in the State. In line with its Terms of Reference, the Committee will carry out an assessment of all types of firearms currently licensed in the State to determine their use under the existing licensing system. Based on this assessment, the Committee will make recommendations on the suitability of different types of firearms for future licensing.
The Committee will complete this assessment and report to me within a short six-month period. The critical expertise of the Committee and its recommendations will inform any future determinations for reforms to the firearms legislation and licensing regime within this jurisdiction.
Further information concerning the Firearms Expert Committee and the appointment process is detailed in the Expression of Interest available online at:
www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/EoI_Firearms_Expert_Committee
The closing date of receipt of expression of interest is no later than 15:00 on Friday 29 April 2022.
130. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the progress that has been made to date in the determination of an application for naturalisation in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21381/22]
View answerThe Citizenship Division of my Department will contact the persons concerned shortly to notify them of their application numbers. Applications for naturalisation and general queries in respect of same are dealt with in chronological order by date received.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility at: INISOireachtasMail@justice.ie, which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Question process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in the cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
131. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health the way that a person (details supplied) can access an S1 form for the purpose of applying for a medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21304/22]
View answerOfficials in my Department have made contact with your office by email and phone seeking additional information for this PQ. However, this information was not provided by the required deadline time to process this PQ answer. Should you forward the outstanding information, my officials will pursue on your behalf.
132. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) in south Kerry CAMHS offered to return to CAMHS on a temporary basis until a full-time consultant psychiatrist was appointed; if so, the response to the offer; the notification the person received; the rationale for the response; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21306/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
133. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if he will clarify a matter raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21309/22]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines and medical devices under the community drug schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
134. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if he will remove the current age restriction for the FreeStyle Libre device with immediate effect following a recent survey (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21310/22]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines and medical devices under the community drug schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
135. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if he will investigate the current impasse that seems to be preventing the undertaking of a health technology assessment for the FreeStyle Libre device or offer a different process to enable this to take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21311/22]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines and medical devices under the community drug schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
136. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health his plans to expand the reimbursement for the FreeStyle Libre device continuous glucose monitoring sensor to over 21 years of age under the HSE’s community funded scheme for aids and appliances (details supplied); if so, the details of these plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21326/22]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines and medical devices under the community drug schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
137. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the way that his Department is addressing inequalities in the uptake of continuous glucose monitoring sensors between the under-21s and over-21s age groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21327/22]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines and medical devices under the community drug schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
138. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if consideration will be given to the introduction of a national diabetes register considering that the lack of a register has made it difficult for policy makers and academics to understand the impact of tools used to help diabetes patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21328/22]
View answerThe development of a national diabetes registry remains a priority. The National Diabetes Registry Demonstrator Project, funded through Sláintecare, was paused as key HSE staff were redeployed onto urgent on-going COVID-19 work. Following substantial increases in investment in eHealth, the national diabetes registry is now being considered as part of a wider review of Ireland’s health information strategy, and will operate as a “virtual” registry.
Government approval was given this month to prepare the General Scheme of a Health Information Bill. It is envisaged that the Bill will include a provision to enable the operation of disease-specific “virtual” registries, including a virtual national diabetes registry, where information on disease diagnoses and treatment from healthcare providers is efficiently collated, combined and quality-checked from administrative records to create a database akin to an active registry for each disease. This will greatly improve the potential to monitor rare-disease prevalence in Ireland.
