Ivor Callely
Ceist:74 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health if he will make a statement on the major health issues expected to be on the agenda during Ireland's forthcoming Presidency of the EU. [11206/96]
Written Answers. - Irish EU Presidency.
Limerick East): The key issues for my Department for the Irish Presidency are in the areas of drug dependence, blood safety, and reduction of tobacco consumption.
In relation to drug dependence, I look forward to a successful conciliation procedure with the European Parliament under the co-decision procedure of the Treaty on European Union followed by the adoption of the EU Programme of Action on Drug Dependence under the Irish Presidency. This programme is one element of the European Union Action Plan to Combat Drugs which is primarily the responsibility of Ministers for Justice.
The drug dependence programme will be the first of its kind and provides for actions in the areas of improving public awareness, using opportunities provided in other Union policies, instruments and programmes to combat drug dependency, and supporting initiatives and actions relating to young people of school-going age.
The programme will run for five years and has an indicative budget of 28.5 million ECU.
In relation to blood safety, my aim is to help pave the way towards development of an integrated EU programme on blood safety and self-sufficiency which would (a) guarantee the safety of the blood supply chain and (b) ultimately make the EU self-sufficient in blood and blood products. To this end, I am arranging for a conference to take place in Limerick in September which will include experts, administrators and policy makers in blood safety. I am also inviting my colleagues, the EU Ministers for Health to attend. I hope that, resulting from the recommendations from the conference, a resolution calling on the Commission to draw up an integrated programme can be produced at the Health Council in November.
With reference to tobacco, a proposal for a directive imposing a total ban on advertising has been under discussion in the Health Council since 1991. Ireland supports the proposal but it has not been possible to secure majority support for it. I am concerned to maintain the fall in smoking levels which we have brought about through our own national policies which include limitations on advertising budgets. It is important therefore to maintain the momentum at EU level and it will be a priority under the Irish Presidency to keep this issue at the forefront of discussions with our EU partners.