3 May 2012, 16:30
The Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children will invite three Irish clinics involved in providing the controversial PIP silicone breast implants to attend a meeting to discuss the issue of PIP silicone breast implants and the use of non-medical grade silicone.
Committee Chairman, Jerry Buttimer TD said: “As part of our on-going hearings into the use of industrial grade silicone for breast implants instead of a grade for use in medical products by French company Poly Implant Prothese, the Chief Medical Officer, Dr Tony Holohan, addressed the committee.
Dr Holohan was very forthright and upfront when answering questions posed by members of the Committee. The Committee is pleased that he has taken the initiative to meet with the women affected as it is important that Dr Holohan directly hears their concerns.
This issue has 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.
Regulation of clinics providing this surgery and other cosmetic surgeries in Ireland is an area of concern, so we welcome the news by the Chief Medical Officer that the Department of Health is preparing legislation dealing with the regulation of cosmetic surgery and hope that it can be advanced quickly.
In a continuation of our meetings the Committee will write to the three Irish clinics involved in providing the breast implants in this country to ask them to appear before the Committee.
We are particularly concerned at the level of assistance being offered to women affected. The health, safety and well-being of the women involved are of primary importance. We would like to know what advice is being given to patients, what options are being made available to the affected women and what systems have been put in place by the clinics to advise and treat their former patients. The women affected should not have to bear the cost of fixing someone else’s error.
The Committee will want to explore the issues raised with the aim of ensuring that concerns of patients are dealt with in a sympathetic manner and make sure that they receive appropriate aftercare and management.”
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