Pat Breen
Ceist:
55
Mr. P. Breen
asked the
Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children
the legislation she plans to publish before the end of 2006; the legislation she expects to pass through before the end of this Dáil; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[21219/06]
Amharc ar fhreagra
As the Deputy will be aware, the Health (Repayment Scheme) Bill 2006 and the Health (Nursing Homes)(Amendment) Bill 2006 are currently being debated in the Oireachtas and I expect that they will be enacted during the current Dáil.
The following Bills are those which I intend to publish before the end of 2006 and have enacted during the lifetime of the current Dáil:
1. The Hepatitis C and HIV Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Bill
Purpose
To amend the Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal Acts 1997 and 2002 in order to provide for the establishment of an insurance scheme for persons who have been infected with Hepatitis C or HIV from the administration within the State of blood or blood products.
Expected Publication Date
This Bill is currently being prepared by Parliamentary Counsel and will be published during the Summer Session 2006.
2. The Child Care Bill
Purpose
The purpose of the Bill is to allow foster carers of children in long term placements greater autonomy, in relation to,inter alia, applying for passports and seeking routine medical and dental checks for children in their care.
Expected Publication Date
The Bill will be published during the Summer Session 2006.
3. Health Bill 2006
Purpose
To provide for the establishment of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) and the Office of the Chief Inspector of Social Services, within HIQA, on a statutory basis and to provide for a registration system in respect of services for children, older people and people with disabilities to replace existing registration procedures in the Health (Nursing Homes) Act 1990 and the Child Care Act 1991 and 2001.
Expected Publication Date
Public consultation on the draft Heads of the Bill has been concluded. Final Heads will be submitted to Government as soon as possible seeking approval to draft the Bill. Publication of the Bill is expected during the Autumn Session 2006.
4. Voluntary Health Insurance Board Bill
Purpose
To address VHI's corporate status and related matters.
Expected Publication Date
Publication is expected during the Autumn Session 2006.
5. Adoption (Hague Convention, Adoption Authority) Bill
Purpose
To ratify the Hague Convention on the protection of children in respect of Intercountry Adoption, 1993 which Ireland signed in 1996. The Bill will provide,inter alia, for the creation of the Adoption Authority (replacing the Adoption Board) as the Central Authority required under the terms of the Convention to oversee the implementation of the Convention in effecting intercountry adoptions. Miscellaneous issues dealing with domestic adoption will also be provided for.
Expected Publication Date
Publication is expected during the Autumn Session 2006.
6. Medical Practitioners Bill
Purpose
To replace the Medical Practitioners Act 1978 which established the Medical Council and provides for the registration of doctors and the regulation of their activities.
Expected Publication Date
Heads of Bill will be published during the Summer Session and the Bill is expected to be published during the Autumn Session 2006.
7. Pharmacy Bill — No.1
Purpose
To allow the Minister for Health and Children to make fitness to practice regulations for pharmacists and, as a consequence, the removal of the restriction on pharmacists educated in other EU or EEA countries from owning, managing or supervising a pharmacy in Ireland that is less than three years old — a derogation under Article 2.2 of Council Directive 85/433/EEC. It is also proposed to deal with a number of related issues raised by the Pharmacy Review Group (PRG), namely and appropriate statutory basis for the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland, and certain competency issues.
Expected Publication Date
Heads of Bill have been approved by the Government. Publication of the Bill is expected during the Autumn Session 2006.
8. Nurses and Midwives Bill
Purpose
To modernise the regulatory framework for nurses and midwives. It will update and amend the Nurses Act, 1985 in order to reflect and to respond to the significant changes which the health services and nursing and midwifery professions have undergone since 1985.
Expected Publication Date
Publication of the Bill is expected during the Autumn Session 2006.
9. Eligibility for Health and Personal Social Services Bill
Purpose
To clarify and update the present provisions relating to eligibility for health and personal social services.
Expected Publication Date
Publication of the Bill is expected during the Autumn Session 2006.
I expect that the Pharmacy Bill — No. 2, which will deal with other changes in the regulatory framework for pharmacy and pharmacy services and other recommendations of the Pharmacy Review Group, will be published in early 2007.
