Vol. 463 No. 3
93 Mrs. O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health when he intends to ratify the St. Vincent's Declaration; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Irish Diabetic Association are pressing for this declaration to be accepted by the Irish Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6014/96]
Limerick East): Ireland is a signatory to the St. Vincent Declaration, an initiative of the World Health Organisation. The Declaration set out clear outcome targets aimed at reducing major health problems and it identified the indicators that can be used to monitor progress towards the targets.
In response to this Declaration a diabetic action group, with representation from professional groups and voluntary organisations (including the Irish Diabetic Association) which deal with the condition, was established. The Department of Health has observer status on the group.
In December 1995 a preliminary workshop was held by the group to investigate the current services which are available to people with diabetes. Another workshop is scheduled to take place in the near future. The reports of these workshops will be valuable to my Department in assisting it to more effectively plan the provision of services.
