2 May 2012, 12:31
Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer at the Department of Health, will attend the Joint Committee on Health and Children tomorrow, Thursday, May 3rd to discuss the issue of PIP silicone breast implants and the use of non-medical grade silicone.
Committee Chairman, Jerry Buttimer TD said: “The news that French company Poly Implant Prothese used industrial grade silicone for breast implants instead of a grade for use in medical products caused much anxiety and concern and raised questions about potential safety risks for many women internationally and here in this country. In Ireland, around 1,500 women have been identified as having received PIP implants between 2001 and 2010.
At the end of March, the Committee met with the Irish Medicines Board to discuss the issue of PIP silicone breast implants and the use of non-medical grade silicone. At our meeting tomorrow, we will have an opportunity to consider the subject with the Department of Health’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr Tony Holohan.
Tomorrow, the Committee will get an update on the matter from Dr Holohan. The Committee will be keen to know if the Department has a precise figure on the number of women in Ireland that are affected by this product. We will also want to know what assistance is being offered to women affected. It will also give us a chance to get the Chief Medical Officer’s views on the regulation, or lack thereof, of clinics providing this surgery and other cosmetic surgeries in Ireland. The NHS in the United Kingdom has set up a dedicated helpline for women affected and we will want to know if the Chief Medical Officer would consider establishing a similar system in the Republic.”
The meeting takes place tomorrow, Thursday, May 3rd, at 11.30am in Committee Room 2, LH 2000. Committee proceedings can be followed live at: http://bit.ly/24YmPI
For further information please contact:
Ciaran Brennan,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 3903
M: 086-0496518
F: +3531 618 4551
ENDS
Committee Membership:
Deputies
Jerry Buttimer, Fine Gael
Catherine Byrne, Fine Gael
Michael Colreavy, Sinn Fein
Ciara Conway, Labour Party
Regina Doherty, Fine Gael
Robert Dowds, Labour Party
Peter Fitzpatrick, Fine Gael
Seamus Healy, Independent
Derek Keating, Fine Gael
Billy Kelleher, Fine Fail
Eamonn Maloney, Labour Party
Charlie McConalogue, Fianna Fail
Mattie McGrath, Independent
Denis Naughten, Independent
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, Sinn Fein
Senators
Colm Burke, Fine Gael
John Crown, Independent
David Cullinane, Sine Fein
John Gilroy, Labour Party
Imelda Henry, Fine Gael
Marc Mac Sharry, Fine Fail
Jillian Van Turnhout, Independent