Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 19 Nov 2003

Vol. 574 No. 5

Written Answers. - Proposed Legislation.

Liz McManus

Ceist:

101 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Health and Children the legislation planned arising from the health reform programme; the status of the Bills listed in the current legislative programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27545/03]

Eamon Ryan

Ceist:

103 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Health and Children the type of legislative changes required as part of his health reform package; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27596/03]

Liz McManus

Ceist:

214 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Health and Children the legislation planned arising from the health reform programme; the status of the Bills listed in the current legislative programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27756/03]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Ceist:

216 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health and Children his programme of legislation to implement proposed changes in administration and medical staffing in the health services. [27791/03]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 101, 103, 214 and 216 together.

The health sector reform programme affects almost every aspect of the system, in terms of structures and in terms of governance, accountability, planning, monitoring and evaluation. It has implications for all organisations in the sector and requires that new structures be put in place in certain cases. This requires a fundamental reform of the existing statutory provisions in respect of the roles, functions, organisation structure and management of the health system. In line with the Department's approach on the reform programme, an action project has been established to prepare the legislation, which will provide the statutory basis for the establishment of new agencies in line with the Government decision on the implementation of the recommendations of the Brennan and Prospectus reports. The legislation will also incorporate any other consequential changes which may be necessary to give effect to the new reformed health system. It will incorporate legislative proposals arising from the other action projects. I envisage that I will be in a position to introduce the necessary legislation next year.

The report of the National Task Force on Medical Staffing – the Hanly report – noted that Ireland is required to ensure that the provisions of the European working time directive apply to doctors in training from 1 August 2004. The directive was transposed into Irish law by the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997. Doctors in training are excluded from these provisions at present. My Department is holding discussions with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment about the introduction of the neces sary statutory instrument to apply these provisions to doctors in training.

I will comment on the status of the Bills listed in the current legislative programme. The Public Health (Tobacco) Amendment Bill 2003 was published in August 2003 and its Second Stage in the Dáil is scheduled for 19 November 2003. I expect the health and social care professionals Bill to be published by the end of the year. It will provide for the establishment of a system of statutory registration whereby each member of a profession covered by the Bill must be registered with a registration board under the aegis of the proposed health and social care professionals council. I expect that the alcohol products (control of advertising, sponsorship and marketing practices-sales promotions) Bill will be published in mid-2004. The Bill will authorise the making of regulations that will restrict alcohol advertising, sponsorship and sales promotions.

I will now comment on the Bills in respect of which the heads have yet to be approved by the Government. The heads of the nurses and midwives Bill, which will implement the recommendations of the report of the Commission on Nursing, are being prepared. I expect that the Bill will be published in 2004. My Department is also preparing the heads of the Irish Medicines Board (miscellaneous provisions) Bill 2003 which will amend the Misuse of Drugs Acts 1977 and 1984, the Irish Medicines Board Act 1995 and the Clinical Trials Act 1987. I anticipate that the heads of the Bill will be submitted to the Government by the end of the year, with a view to publication early in the new year.

Work is also under way on preparing the heads of a Voluntary Health Insurance board (amendment) Bill which will give commercial freedom to the VHI. I expect that it will be ready for submission to the Government early in 2004. My Department has also commenced preparing the heads of the medical practitioners Bill to consolidate and update the existing Medical Practitioners Acts 1978 to 2002. It is hoped to have the draft heads of the Bill submitted to the Government by the end of the year with a view to publication in 2004. Work is also under way on drafting the heads of a pharmacy Bill which will update and rationalise the Pharmacy Acts 1857 to 1977. It is expected that heads of the Bill will be ready for submission to the Government by early 2004.

The Minister of State with responsibility for children, Deputy Brian Lenihan, is undertaking an extensive review of existing adoption legislation with a view to introducing consolidated adoption legislation, including the proposed adoption information, post-adoption contact and associated issues Bill and the proposed Hague Convention and the protection of children and co-operation on intercountry adoption Bill. Public consultation has been held, the outcome of which is being examined with the view to deciding on future legislation.