Ivan Yates
Ceist:88 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Health the number of times the ministerial committee under his chairmanship dealing with health issues has met; and the results of its deliberations to date.
Written Answers. - Ministerial Committee on Health.
The Cabinet Sub-Committee on Health Promotion facilitate co-ordination of health promotion policies on an intersectoral basis. Numerous bilateral meetings have taken place. The committee have met in plenary session on two occasions. I have been able to use these meetings to discuss important health-related issues with my ministerial colleagues. These arrangements have worked very well, particularly in relation to the development of school programmes, issues relating to environmental and occupational health as well as agriculture. For example, the bilateral contact with my colleague the Minister for Agriculture and Food resulted in the establishment of the Food Safety Advisory Committee in 1989. This committee have a major role in the protection of public health and have already submitted a number of important reports relating to food irradiation and lysteria.
The various recommendations of the Advisory Council on Health Promotion in the areas of nutrition, tobacco, alcohol, accidents and exercise have significant implications for other Government Departments and require very good co-operation with the Department of Health. The existence of the arrangements for ministerial meetings both in the context of the Cabinet sub-committee and bilaterally ensures that such co-operation is the closest possible.