Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:631 Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the assistance he will provide to a group (details supplied). [21565/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 1 May 2012
Ceisteanna (556, 557)
Thomas P. Broughan
Ceist:651 Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the progress that has been made in addressing the health concerns of the 1,500 women here who have been affected by PIP breast implants and specifically if he will report on the outcome of the recent meeting between the Chief Medical Officer and the three clinics in providing the PIP breast implant procedure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21842/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 631 and 651 together.
Since concerns were first raised regarding the issue of breast implants provided by the now defunct French company Poly Implant Prosthese (PIP) the Irish Medicines Board (IMB) and my Department have been in constant touch with European and UK investigators of the matter. The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of my Department along with officials of the IMB met with members of the PIP Action Group on 23rd March last and discussed their very reasonable concerns. The meeting was very constructive and identified a number of follow on activities which the Department will take to help these women in their unsatisfactory dealings with one of the treating clinics. In the meantime the CMO has continued to engage with the treating clinics with a view to reaching an acceptable arrangement for resolving this serious issue for all concerned. The CMO is due to meet with the Group again later this week and will advise them of developments since they last met.