Written Answers Nos. 363-382
365. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 190 of 6 December 2023, if he is aware as outlined in a recent article (details supplied) that EU telehealth services are not in contravention of medical council guidelines; and what steps will be taken to ensure that GPs that the National Gender Service have previously contacted will have the correct information. [4710/24]
View answerTelehealth services are an emerging feature of the health landscape offering a number of benefits and efficiencies. However, as with all clinical services, appropriate clinical oversight and governance needs to be in place to protect the patient at all times.
370. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health what services the National Gender Service provides to patients during the assessment process. [4715/24]
View answer371. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health how many people have died by suicide while on the waiting list for an initial assessment by the National Gender Service. [4716/24]
View answer372. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health under what circumstances the National Gender Service considers it appropriate to stop providing hormones to a transgender person without their consent. [4717/24]
View answer373. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if the National Gender Service turns away patients for being unemployed. [4718/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 370 to 373, inclusive, together.
As this is a service matter I have referred the question to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
374. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to recruitment difficulties in Kilcock primary care centre, County Kildare; if he will verify the number and title of positions currently unfilled in the centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4726/24]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive (HSE) holds responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
The Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
375. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the current rationale for amalgamating the Maynooth and Leixlip primary care centres plans; if consideration has been given to developing centres in both locations; and if not, if he will outline the rationale for same. [4727/24]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive (HSE) holds responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
The Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
376. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4796/24]
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 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.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October 2023. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
377. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health for an indicative timeline for the new public health (tobacco products and nicotine inhaling products) Bill as proposed in the Government's Legislative Programme for 2024, published on10 January 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4801/24]
View answer378. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health in light of the fact that the issues involved in the proposed new legislation have already been examined and discussed at length during the various enactment stages of the recent Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Act 2023 which was enacted in December 2023, if he plans to proceed to the pre-legislative phase of the new Bill; if not, if he plans to move directly to the parliamentary stage without pre-legislative scrutiny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4802/24]
View answer379. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will be engaging with the EU Commission on the proposed new public health (tobacco products and nicotine inhaling products) Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4803/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 377, 378 and 379 together.
I am developing legislation to further regulate tobacco and nicotine inhaling products. The public consultation for this purpose closed on January 5th 2024. The content of the proposed legislation will be guided by our consultation as well as by evidence reviews, legal advice and regulatory impact assessment to ensure that any regulation is achievable and effective. This process is being further informed by engagement with other EU Member States, Government Departments and the HSE.
The timeframe for publication of the General Scheme of the Bill and considerations regarding pre-legislative scrutiny will be determined by the final proposed legislative measures.
The draft legislation will require notification at EU level under the Technical Standards Directive (Directive 2015/1535). In the EU context, it is also expected that the Commission will publish a proposal for a revised Tobacco Products Directive this year. It is as yet unknown how the revised Directive might impact possible domestic measures and we will continue to engage with that process via the EU Expert Group on Tobacco Policy.
380. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health how many submissions were received during the public consultation process for the public health (tobacco products and nicotine inhaling products) Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4804/24]
View answerThe Public Consultation on Further Regulation of Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products, which ran for six weeks and closed on January 5th 2024, received 15,822 submissions.
381. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4809/24]
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 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.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October 2023. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
382. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4810/24]
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 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.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October 2023. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
