Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 June 2020
520. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the person or body that the appeal panels established to deal with appeals from decisions of the health research consent declaration committee is accountable to; and if decisions of the appeal panel can be challenged [12397/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Research Regulations provide that the Appeal Panel is appointed by the Minister and like the Health Research Consent Declaration Committee it is purposely wholly independent in terms of its proceedings and decisions. The Regulations do not allow the Minister to amend, overturn or revoke decisions. Decisions of the Appeal Panel can be challenged by way of judicial review in the courts.
It should be noted that unlike the Consent Declaration Committee the Appeal Panel, under the Regulations, is not a standing committee. It stands dissolved when it has finished its work in relation to an appeal before it. That approach allows the membership of the panel to be selected to best reflect the skills set relevant to the particular appeal.
At present, the Regulations provide that the size of the panel is set at 3 persons. However, I am considering an amendment to increase the size to at least 3 and not more than 7 to facilitate a wider range of skills when appropriate.
