Parliamentary questions

Vaccination Programme

Clare Daly

487. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will consider that parents and guardians should be given the option of providing consent for each HPV vaccination and not as it is at present, that is, consenting for at the start of the series of jabs; if he will consider providing the parents the right to give consent individually for the two vaccinations; and his views on the fact that this would allow the parents to monitor the health of their daughters after each vaccination. [34594/16]

Vaccination Programme

Clare Daly

488. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if there is a possibility of aluminium in Gardasil forms of HPV vaccines crossing the blood brain barrier; if he will publish any data held by his Department on this subject; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34595/16]

Vaccination Programme

Clare Daly

489. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if there is a possibility of potential synergistic toxicity of aluminium in HPV vaccines. [34596/16]

Vaccination Programme

Clare Daly

490. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if pandemrix was at one time considered as safe as the HPV vaccines and that the benefits outweighed the risks; and if there is a possibility that the many autoimmune reactions being experienced by HPV vaccinated girls are following a similar pattern of neurological disturbances. [34597/16]

Vaccination Programme

Clare Daly

491. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the data that the manufacturer submitted to the EMA which indicated that those pre-exposed to vaccine relevant HPV may experience a 44.6% increased risk of pre-cancerous lesions after vaccination with Gardasil; and the steps in place to monitor cervical cancer rates in the HPV vaccinated population. [34598/16]

Midwifery Services

Clare Daly

234. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health his views on the fact that the Rotunda Hospital is currently 42 midwives short of the recommended number of WTEs of 207.99, the National Maternity Hospital is 25 midwives short of its recommended complement of 234 and the Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital is 34 midwives short of its recommended complement of 212; the steps he will take to address these serious shortages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34198/16]

Commissions of Inquiry

Clare Daly

139. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 488 of 18 October 2016, the body or person from whom he has sought legal advice in relation to procedural and administrative matters raised regarding the Dignam report; when that advice was sought; and if he has received a preliminary response. [32452/16]

Nursing Homes Support Scheme

Clare Daly

145. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 386 of 4 October 2016, his views on the impact on a person's dignity of allocating daily pocket money under the fair deal scheme, where some persons residing in nursing homes are allocated as little as €6.34 per day; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32502/16]

Medicinal Products Availability

Clare Daly

118. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the reason a drug (details supplied) is not available to multiple sclerosis sufferers here, despite clinical trials showing its effectiveness in reducing symptoms and improving quality of life for persons with MS. [32157/16]

Housing for People with Disabilities Provision

Clare Daly

120. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the steps his Department will take to provide the resources to the HSE to meet the demand for residential care for adults with intellectual disabilities [32171/16]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Clare Daly

394. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) is waiting over three weeks for a follow-up appointment with their consultant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31494/16]

Medicinal Products Licensing

Clare Daly

420. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if there is a dedicated investigations unit within the Health Products Regulatory Authority, HPRA, which examines complaints regarding products advertised or marketed as medicinal products but which have no marketing authorisation from either the HPRA or the European Medicines Agency, as for example, in the case of products marketed as a cure for autism. [31641/16]

Vaccination Programme

Clare Daly

453. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if the recent complaint by a centre (details supplied) regarding maladministration at the European Medicines Agency, EMA, in regard to a drug has been noted by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31879/16]

Departmental Legal Cases

Clare Daly

473. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 384 of 18 October 2016, if the case in question is no longer before the courts; and if his Department will investigate the incident of missing blood samples. [31945/16]

Pension Provisions

Clare Daly

218. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the detail of the discussions he has had with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform regarding the transfer of members of the Central Remedial Clinic pension plan to the single public service pension scheme; the progress of those discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30725/16]

Pension Provisions

Clare Daly

219. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health when he was first informed that the Central Remedial Clinic pension plan was to be wound up. [30726/16]

National Drugs Strategy

Clare Daly

235. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality, in its report of November 2015 on a harm-reducing and rehabilitative approach to possession of small amounts of illegal drugs, made a number of recommendations; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that recommendation No. 6 recommended that research be undertaken to ensure the adoption of any alternative approach be appropriate in an Irish context; if recommendation No. 6 has been acted on and if research has been undertaken; if the research has been concluded; if the research is available to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31348/16]

Health Services Access

Clare Daly

129. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will review the case of a person (details supplied); if he will resolve this case, where an Irish citizen, who is now living abroad, cannot access medical services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31056/16]

Medicinal Products Availability

Clare Daly

146. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if negotiations with the manufacturer of the drug, Orkambi, have been completed; and the outcome regarding its likely availability for cystic fibrosis patients. [31164/16]

Maternity Services

Clare Daly

92. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will provide specific evidence of the implementation of the national maternity strategy; his views regarding the funds that have been made available for its implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30355/16]

Maternity Services

Clare Daly

97. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health his views regarding the 17% deficit in the number of midwifery staff needed to run maternity services cited by the master of the Coombe hospital on 13 September 2016 at a patient safety conference run by the State Claims Agency; the steps he will take to address this deficit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30354/16]

Departmental Legal Cases

Clare Daly

384. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the degree to which matters relating to the allegations of missing blood and other samples (details supplied) was addressed in the High Court on 18 June 2015. [30199/16]

Health Services Staff

Clare Daly

413. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if consideration was given to the introduction a statutory duty of candour for clinicians as part of his Department's input into the Civil Liability (Amendment) Bill, which forms part of the Government's autumn 2016 legislative programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30359/16]

Maternity Services

Clare Daly

414. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will provide figures that show that every 13 hour shift in the delivery suites in the three Dublin maternity hospitals are staffed to their full complement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30360/16]

Commissions of Inquiry

Clare Daly

488. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the progress of the establishment of a commission of investigation into the Grace foster home scandal; and if he will provide assurance that a previous undertaking that Dáil Éireann would be given an opportunity to debate the terms of reference of the commission will be honoured. [22240/16]

Health Services Staff

Clare Daly

151. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the date the HSE was first approached by the Central Remedial Clinic to explore the possibility of members of the Central Remedial Clinic pension plan being accepted into a public sector pension scheme for past and-or future service. [30183/16]

Hospital Procedures

Clare Daly

63. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the position regarding patients who received hips manufactured by a company (details supplied); the number who have already had them replaced; and the number who remain on the list. [29947/16]

Vaccination Programme

Clare Daly

493. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of longitudinal studies of girls vaccinated against HPV in the past five years that have been performed and their results. [29876/16]

Vaccination Programme

Clare Daly

494. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of adverse effect reports received by the HPRA regarding a drug (details supplied) since that drug was licensed for use here. [29877/16]

Vaccination Programme

Clare Daly

495. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if his Department has performed any lifetime analysis of the cost of support to persons reporting serious adverse effects following the administration of a drug (details supplied). [29878/16]

Maternity Services

Clare Daly

182. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health in respect of his comments at the Joint Committee on Health on 29 September 2016, the reason there are no national guidelines for dealing with maternal death; the reason the HSE did not approach the widowers and partners whose names are in HSE records who have endured maternal deaths for appropriate support guidelines, based on those views. [28840/16]

HSE Reports

Clare Daly

183. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health when the report on changes in Sligo University Hospital (details supplied) will be issued. [28841/16]

Nursing Homes Support Scheme

Clare Daly

386. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the policy implemented under the fair deal scheme by which residents in nursing homes are allocated a daily allowance of €6.34; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28193/16]

Nursing Homes Support Scheme Administration

Clare Daly

416. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) is waiting 13 months for an application to be processed for the fair deal scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28331/16]

Primary Care Centres

Clare Daly

196. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to reports that no new staff are to be allocated to the primary care centre in Balbriggan in view of the fact that his predecessor made a number of promises regarding jobs and health services that would come on stream with the centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27830/16]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Clare Daly

197. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) has to wait up to 14 months for an assessment by a psychologist, occupational therapist and physiotherapist when this assessment should be completed within six months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27838/16]

Hospital Appointments Delays

Clare Daly

549. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health his views on the case of a person (details supplied), particularly in view of Government statements regarding its commitment to reduce waiting times for patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26475/16]

Maternity Services

Clare Daly

608. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will commission a fully independent hospital wide review of vaginal birth after caesarean section, VBAC, counselling at Lourdes hospital, rather than the HSE managed review of an individual case with no start or completion date and no review of any of the other cases, despite the fact that its own limited audit of 2011 cases highlighted over 50% of cases had no documentation of the risks of VBAC being discussed. [26670/16]

Maternity Services

Clare Daly

609. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health his views on the HSE's apparent widespread failure to counsel on the risks of vaginal birth after caesarean section, VBAC, to enable persons to make an informed birthing choice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26671/16]

HSE Correspondence

Clare Daly

660. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a public representative made a written submission (details supplied); if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that, despite a reminder being sent, to date there has been no acknowledgement of or response to the submission; if he will consider introducing legislation to ensure that the HSE responds to correspondence promptly and within a reasonable timescale; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26930/16]

Maternity Services

Clare Daly

662. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health his views on the fact that in the week of 6 June 2016 a total of four qualified midwives and a student midwife were covering nine delivery rooms, working 13-hour shifts, in the Rotunda Hospital; the steps he has taken to deal with staffing problems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26935/16]

Maternity Services

Clare Daly

663. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health his views on how he proposes to deal with problems in our maternity services, with particular reference to the fact that eight maternity units are under investigation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26936/16]

Hospital Procedures

Clare Daly

680. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will examine the case of a person (details supplied) and determine if a procedure can be carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27009/16]

Hospitals Funding

Clare Daly

681. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health his plans to reverse budget cuts to the chronic pain management clinic at St. Vincent's Hospital, Dublin. [27010/16]

Drug Treatment Programmes

Clare Daly

993. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the work that has been undertaken to deliver well resourced custodial drug treatment centres that could provide an alternative to standard custodial sanctions for suitable persons, and as provided for in the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977. [25669/16]

Health Services Data

Clare Daly

1006. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will request the HSE to outline the reason a person (details supplied) was told there are minimal case notes available in his or her case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24383/16]

Blood Donations

Clare Daly

1042. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health his new policy and the revised criteria for donating blood; and the date upon which gay persons can present themselves to blood transfusion services in order to perform their civic duty [24476/16]

Local Drugs Task Forces

Clare Daly

1087. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the reason the HSE has not recruited a person for the role of task force co-ordinator with the Canal Communities local drugs task force following the retirement of the person who had filled that role. [24627/16]

Bereavement Counselling Services Provision

Clare Daly

1127. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the reason there are no institutionalised referral pathways from Irish hospitals to the specialist counselling and information services provided by the IFPA to women who have received a diagnosis of fatal foetal abnormality; the steps he will take to institute such official referral pathways in view of the fact that, as it stands, women do not receive essential information (details supplied) from hospitals and are referred to the IFPA's information service on an entirely ad hoc basis. [24868/16]

Health Services Data

Clare Daly

1133. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will secure the release of files for a person (details supplied) given that the review report referred to in a television programme of 14 July 2016 involved the examination of 1,080 files spanning a 30-year period. [24927/16]