Written Answers Nos. 485-498
486. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health whether he or the Government have accepted or rejected amendments to Article 59 of the WHO International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005, including details on the public consultation process; the rationale for not facilitating a Dáil Éireann debate, and a request to publish all communication on the matter with the WHO; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53021/23]
View answer487. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health what steps he proposes to take for a genuine public consultation process, potentially including a referendum and a Dáil Éireann debate, before deciding to support or reject the WHO Global Pandemic Treaty, as this consideration is crucial due to the treaty's legal binding nature and its potential impact on Ireland's democratic sovereignty, which may undermine national decision-making, especially given the WHO's influence by China and multinational pharmaceutical corporations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53023/23]
View answer488. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health to outline all details of the Government’s engagement with the World Health Organisation concerning the controversial amendments to the International Health Regulations, providing the WHO with expanded powers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53024/23]
View answer489. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health to disclose publicly the legal opinion or risk assessment, if any, undertaken or provided regarding Ireland’s position on the amendments and future negotiations on a proposed WHO Global Pandemic Treaty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53025/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 486, 487, 488 and 489 together.
I thank the Deputy for his query in relation to the World Health Organisation Pandemic Agreement (WHO CA+) and the amendments to the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR).
The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that the global status quo in terms of pandemic preparedness and response is not adequate and requires revision. As pandemic type diseases are not contained by country borders, Ireland strongly supports a multilateral approach to global health issues with the World Health Organisation (WHO) in a central leadership role.
On 1 December 2021, the members of the World Health Organisation (WHO) reached consensus to begin the process to negotiate a convention, agreement, or other international instrument to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response, commonly known as the Pandemic Treaty. Ireland supports this WHO-led process to negotiate a binding legal instrument on pandemic preparedness and response. The aim of such a Pandemic Agreement is to protect public health and to help save lives in the event of future pandemics.
An Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) was established and met for the first time on 24th February 2022. The INB has met seven times to date and is due to meet again in December to progress work on drafting this agreement. A progress report was delivered to the 76th World Health Assembly in May 2023, and it is anticipated that the instrument will be adopted in May 2024.
The purpose and scope of the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR) is to prevent, protect against, control, and provide a public health response to the international spread of disease in ways that are commensurate with and restricted to public health risks, and which avoid unnecessary interference with international traffic and trade. These Regulations provide inter alia, the basis within international law, for the setting up of reporting structures for the monitoring and reporting of issues relating to infectious diseases, particularly where they may pose an international threat.
In relation to the Deputy’s query on the Government’s engagement with the WHO, Ireland has been participating in the member-led, consensus-based negotiation process on both the IHR and the pandemic agreement as part of the EU bloc of Member States. Ireland is also a member of the Group of Friends of the Treaty whose membership includes EU Member States, the UK, the Republic of Korea and South Africa among others. Ireland strongly supports an agreement that would foster an all-of-government and all-of-society approach, strengthening national, regional, and global capacities towards resilience to future pandemics.
Officials in my Department are leading the coordination of Ireland’s position with respect to the amendments to the International Health Regulations and the WHO Pandemic Agreement, working closely with Ireland’s Permanent Representation to the UN in Geneva, and engaging with the relevant policy units in my Department, other Government Departments and Agencies and EU partners on this matter.
In relation to the Deputy’s query on the legal opinion or risk assessment of the WHO Pandemic Agreement; as the proposed instruments are currently being negotiated, it is not possible to determine the precise legal ramifications of these instruments, or what form the final instruments shall take. These negotiations are due to conclude in May 2024. Once concluded, the drafts of the amendments to the IHR and the WHO Pandemic Agreement will be presented to Cabinet for agreement before adoption.
As provided for in the Irish Constitution, the conclusion of an international agreement is an exercise of the executive power of the State in connection with its external relations and is therefore concluded by or on the authority of the Government. In practice this means that Government approval must be sought for the signature, ratification, or approval of every international agreement.
The requirements of the Irish Constitution will, of course, be respected in Ireland’s position towards the negotiations and my department will engage with the Office of the Attorney General in relation to any concerns that may arise in this regard.
490. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if an issue in relation to allowances for a group (details supplied) will be examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53030/23]
View answerOn 2 June 2023 I met with representatives of the Anti-D Women patient advocacy group to discuss a number of matters they had raised with my Department. The HSE National Co-Ordinator for Hepatitis C Services also attended the meeting.
One of matters discussed was the funding and resourcing for Anti-D Women, including travel and other expenses linked to their work. At the meeting, the National Co-Ordinator advised that payments, such as travel and subsistence expenses for the group can be submitted to the National Hepatitis C Office of the HSE for reimbursement.
I am aware that such travel and subsistence payments made by the HSE are generally subject to a number of criteria. Anti-D Women have recently written to me in relation to a number of matters, including an issue related to the processing of travel and subsistence claims. This has been copied to the National Hepatitis C Office who are working to resolve the matter with Anti-D Women.
491. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health the amount his Department spent in 2021, 2022 and up to 27 November 2023 on advertisements with a website (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53055/23]
View answer492. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health the amount his Department spent in 2021, 2022 and up to 27 November 2023 on advertisements with two websites (details supplied) respectively, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53075/23]
View answer493. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health the amount his Department spent in 2021, 2022 and up to 27 November 2023 on advertisements with a website (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53092/23]
View answer494. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he has engaged with the management of the Mater Hospital, Dublin, in relation to the absence of free staff parking and the financial difficulties which this poses, especially to staff who do not have public transport options; the steps he is taking to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53110/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
495. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the status of the Programme for Government commitment to introduce a cap on the maximum daily charge for patients and visitors at all public hospitals; the timeline he is working towards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53111/23]
View answerI am aware that hospitals that charge parking fees are very cognisant of the financial implications of parking costs for patients and their families, particularly for those with long-term illnesses.
Consequently, many hospitals have introduced a maximum daily fixed parking charge and reduced rate parking for long-term patients and visitors for whom the payment of the full rate would cause hardship.
The Programme for Government - Our Shared Future, makes a commitment to introduce a maximum daily car parking charge for patients and visitors at all public hospitals, where possible, and to introduce flexible passes in all public hospitals for patients and their families. This is a reflection of the Government’s appreciation of the financial challenge that can be faced by people in meeting these expenses, in particular where they are frequent users of hospital services. Accordingly, my Department and the HSE are currently examining the issue.
496. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to ensure that the health service is properly resourced to deal with the health impacts of the Sale of Alcohol Bill 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53113/23]
View answerMy priority is to ensure that our health service is properly resourced to continue to provide quality and affordable healthcare services for all of our population.
In relation to the health impacts of alcohol, I have responsibility for the Public Health (Alcohol) Act. The primary objective of that Act is to reduce our population level of alcohol consumption in order to reduce the associated health harms.
In May this year, Ireland became the first country in the world to require comprehensive health labelling of alcohol products when I made Regulations under section 12 of the Act. In recent weeks I commenced section 19 of the Act which introduces a restriction on the times which alcohol advertisements can be shown on radio and television in order to reduce the exposure of our children and young people to advertisements for alcohol products. I will continue to work to reduce the health harms from alcohol in our population.
497. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health to indicate if and when a medical card can be provided in the case of the spouse of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53159/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
498. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 323 of November 2003 in the case of a person (details supplied), if my previous question constitutes a request for a review/reversal of the previous decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53160/23]
View answerUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
In relation to PQ 49219/23, I refer to HSE’s direct response to the Deputy on 13th November 2023 which states that the person can ask for an appeal of the decision on their eligibility within four weeks of the date of correspondence from HSE. The reply also includes relevant contact details for the Appeals Office, as set out below, where an individual wishes to request such an appeal.
Office of the Appeals Officer
HSE Offices
An Clochar
Ballyshannon Health Campus
College Street
Ballyshannon
Co. Donegal.
