Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Thalidomide Victims Compensation

Clare Daly

1214. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will convene a meeting with the Department of Social Protection, the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government and the Thalidomide Survivors groups as a matter of urgency to prepare a comprehensive plan for the delivery of a care package for the 32 Thalidomide survivors which honours the commitment given to their parents in 1975. [16655/13]

Thalidomide Victims Compensation

Clare Daly

1215. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that funds are ringfenced to meet the needs of the 32 Thalidomide survivors, including access to car and dwelling adapations, personal assistances, and any other measures necessary in a comprehensive care package. [16658/13]

Assisted Human Reproduction

Clare Daly

1235. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will address the issue of infertility treatment in Ireland from the point of view of the lack of available clinics for medical card holders and the inadequate private health insurance cover for many of the treatments, with particular reference to considering a model as operated under the NHS, where couples get a minimum of one free treatment and can apply for up to three treatments, or that greater provision is delivered through health insurance reform. [16714/13]

Medicinal Products Availability

Clare Daly

516. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will increase custom and exercise supervision of commercial packaging operators, in order to deal with the explosion of prescription drugs being ordered on-line and delivered within a 24 hour period. [14779/13]

Health Service Inquiries

Clare Daly

533. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health when the report into the death of a person (details supplied) is due; if the leaking of the draft report is being investigated; and if the family has received a copy of the report. [14849/13]

Guthrie Cards Retention

Clare Daly

534. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will direct the Health Service Executive not to destroy the bio-bank of Guthrie cards on or after 31 March in order that there can be proper discussion regarding same in a more informed way and if necessary to enact legislation to save these cards. [14850/13]

Primary Care Reimbursement Service Payments

Clare Daly

579. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the reason no action was taken by the Primary Care Reimbursement Service when evidence was submitted to them that a patient (details supplied) in County Sligo did not make a claim for which they reimbursed the pharmacy; and the assurances that can be given that this is not a regular occurrence. [15196/13]

Maternity Services

Clare Daly

140. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the circumstances in which a hospital went to the High Court to seek an order for a woman to have a Caesarean section on 10 March 2013; the nationality of the woman involved; the basis of that decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13741/13]

Midwifery Services

Clare Daly

488. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health his views on whether the memorandum of understanding between midwives attending home births and the Health Service Executive sufficiently safeguards a woman's right to give birth how and when she wishes by the care provider of her choice; and, if not, his plans, if any, to revise it. [13648/13]

Care of the Elderly

Clare Daly

554. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health his plans for funding the development of elder care in the public health system; and his plans for funding elder care of public patients in for- profit nursing homes (details supplied). [14016/13]

Cochlear Implants

Clare Daly

200. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the reason he has yet to meet with representatives of an organisation (details supplied); and when will he arrange for a meeting to take place as they urgently require their issues to be progressed. [13218/13]

Drugs Payment Scheme

Clare Daly

224. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No 472 of 5 March 2013, the steps that are open to citizens when they have evidence that a claim was made under the drug payment scheme on their behalf, although the medication was neither received by them nor ordered by them. [13405/13]

Animal Welfare Issues

Clare Daly

594. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of times his Department authorised concussion and-or percussive blow to the head as a permitted method of euthanasia for new-born puppies, kitten, fox cubs and or ferret kits, between 2002 and 1 January 2013; if it occurred without explicit authorisation, and the number of young animals that were killed by this method. [12491/13]

Animal Welfare Issues

Clare Daly

595. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health his position in relation to concussion and or percussive blow to the head as a humane method of killing new-born puppies, kitten, fox cubs and or ferret kits; his policy and or that of the Irish Medicines Board on the use of this killing method under SI 543 European Union (Protection of Animals used for Scinetific Purposes) Regulations 2012. [12492/13]

Fire Safety Regulations

Clare Daly

454. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take to ensure that fire safety regulations are adhered to in all hospitals here (details supplied). [11014/13]

Industrial Relations

Clare Daly

455. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take regarding State bodies' refusing to use the State's industrial relations machinery (details supplied). [11015/13]

Hospital Staff

Clare Daly

470. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the reason St. James Hospital management believe that it is appropriate for non-electrical staff to be able to access fuse boards in the hospital ward areas. [11013/13]

Industrial Disputes

Clare Daly

471. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take to ensure that the electricians suspended by the management of St. James Hospital, County Dublin, are reinstated in their positions and that the hospital immediately engages in dialogue with them through the auspices of the Labour Court or other vehicles of the States industrial relations machinery. [11016/13]

Drugs Payment Scheme Administration

Clare Daly

472. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the safeguards that are in place to ensure that claims under the drug payment scheme are legitimate and authorised and that the medication has actually been received by the person in question. [11020/13]

Departmental Staff Data

Clare Daly

280. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the numbers and cost of agency staff under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11064/13]

Water Fluoridation

Clare Daly

250. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will document the public moneys spent on fluoridation of the water supply between 2006 and 2012 inclusive. [9426/13]

Water Fluoridation

Clare Daly

251. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the company or companies that supply fluoride to the State; where the fluoride, natural and synthetic, is added to the water and sourced. [9427/13]

Patient Redress Scheme

Clare Daly

664. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will meet with the victims of former consultant Michael Neary as a matter of urgency in order to deal with his commitment to resolve their outstanding issues and quest for justice. [8102/13]

Hospital Staff

Clare Daly

733. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that due to the increased number of medical school graduates this year it is anticipated that in July 2013 there will be a shortage of intern places for both EU and non-EU graduates of Irish medical schools; and the action he will take regarding same. [8743/13]

Hospital Staff

Clare Daly

97. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health his plans to deal with the excessive hours worked by junior doctors, with particular reference to addressing 36 hour shifts as a critical issue of health and safety. [7440/13]

Thalidomide Victims Compensation

Clare Daly

108. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the reason he has not met the Irish Thalidomide Survivors Society, despite repeated requests and promises that he would do so, with particular reference to the urgent need to implement a proposed care plan to meet their particular needs. [7441/13]

Hospital Facilities

Clare Daly

705. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will instruct the Health Service Executive to sanction all necessary recruitment of nurses, and EEG technologists to allow the epilepsy monitoring units in Cork and Beaumont hospitals to open without further delay. [7197/13]

Mental Health Services Provision

Clare Daly

706. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health his plans to investigate the role played by consultant psychiatrists and medical staff in having people incarcerated into mental institutions for deviant behaviour in the 1950s and 1960s, when medically there was nothing wrong with them; and the way redress and an apology can be delivered to these victims and their families. [7198/13]

HSE Funding

Clare Daly

707. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the reason the Health Service Executive did not fund Helping Hands Mediation Agency, as agreed, when it was re accredited last October; and his plans he has to deal with this situation. [7199/13]

Dispensing Fees

Clare Daly

219. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the reason a pensioner on eight different types of medication was paying €3 per month before Budget 2013 and is now paying €12 per month for the same medication; and his views on same. [4971/13]

Hospital Services

Clare Daly

220. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if a facility to provide bilateral cochlear implants for children under four years is to be included by the Health Service Executive under its 2013 service plan. [4972/13]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Clare Daly

221. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the reason a patient (details supplied) in County Dublin is waiting 18 months for an urgent surgical procedure in the Mater hospital, Dublin; and his views on same. [4973/13]

Medicinal Products Supply

Clare Daly

222. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if Pradaxa is covered under the medical card scheme [4974/13]

Services for People with Disabilities

Clare Daly

659. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will reverse the cutbacks in relation to St. Michael's House with particular reference to access to swimming pool facilities at weekends [3803/13]

Thalidomide Victims Compensation

Clare Daly

660. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the steps he intends to take to implement a statuary agreement to assist the survivors of thalidomide. [3811/13]

Medicinal Products Expenditure

Clare Daly

582. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the reason generic drugs here are substantially more expensive than in many other countries; the position regarding the implementation of a scheme similar to the pharmac system which operates in New Zealand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2275/13]

Drugs Payment Scheme Threshold

Clare Daly

931. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the reason a family which reaches the drug refund scheme limit of €132 per month in 2012, but has one family member on a medical card paying a separate prescription charge of 50 cent an item, is prevented from claiming any moneys paid beyond the €132 per month, even though they can demonstrate that more was paid. [1004/13]

Animal Experimentation

Clare Daly

938. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the permitted humane methods of killing for different species of animals bred for or used in laboratory experiments at different stages of their development and or different body weights, under SI 566/2002, operable until 1 January 2013 [2072/13]

Environmental Regulations

Clare Daly

952. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will investigate the cost involved to his Department and the health system in general following the European Environmental Agency findings against the ESB and a multi national alumina industry [57848/12]

Hospital Staff Issues

Clare Daly

958. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health in view of the fact that two junior doctors at Tallaght Hospital, Dublin, took their own lives in the past six months, the time limitation on hours worked by junior doctors working in hospitals, and his plans to alter same. [57901/12]

Orthodontic Services Waiting Lists

Clare Daly

968. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a person (details supplied) in Dublin 13 has been 44 months waiting for an appointment for orthodontic treatment and the action he will take regarding same. [57984/12]

Health Services Staff Issues

Clare Daly

1107. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact Limerick Maternity Hospital is recruiting new graduates and bypassing nurses and midwives already on the Health Service Executive panel and the actions that he intends to take to address same. [1823/13]

Hospital Staff Issues

Clare Daly

1108. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health with the announcement by the Health Service Executive that 1,000 nurses and midwives are to be given two year contracts to replace agency staff, the reason these positions are only open to new graduates and not staff already on the panel. [1824/13]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Clare Daly

1109. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a person (details supplied) in County Dublin has to wait eleven months to a year for an MRI scan at the Mater Hospital, Dublin; and the actions that he intends to take regarding same [1827/13]

Lourdes Hospital Redress Scheme Eligibility

Clare Daly

27. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health in view of the age profile and growing stress of the women involved, the reason for the delay in delivering on the commitment for redress of the victims of Dr. Michael Neary, and when the promised redress may be expected [56892/12]

National Treatment Purchase Fund

Clare Daly

72. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the reason the National Purchase Treatment Fund scheme to remove faulty PIP implants has not been implemented; the reason the Harley Medical Group has not fulfilled their obligations to provide an appropriate care package to the women affected therefore increasing the threat of cancer and serious health problems [56893/12]

Maternal Mortality

Clare Daly

651. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health in relation to recent statements he has made in the press about Ireland having one of the lowest rates of maternal mortality in the world, if he will confirm that the recently published first Confidential Maternal Death Enquiry in Ireland Report for the Triennium 2009 – 2011 records that the maternal death rate in Ireland is at best average in comparison with other EU countries and that data on maternal mortality figures are incomplete due to ongoing deficiencies in data collection systems. [56899/12]

Hospital Services

Clare Daly

652. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm that the Health Service Executive commissioned KPMG Independent Review of Maternity and Gynaecology Services in the greater Dublin area, published in 2008, found a 30% shortfall in necessary obstetric, midwifery, neonatal and theatre staff to meet international standards for safe care; and if in view of recorded recent maternal deaths in hospitals in the greater Dublin area, those staff shortages have been dealt with in full [56900/12]

Medicinal Products Licensing

Clare Daly

480. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the basis on which anti-epileptic drugs are being included in the list of medications for generic substitutions under the Health Bill 2012 in view of the concerns raised by his Department and the Health Service Executive working group [55295/12]

Water Fluoridation

Clare Daly

132. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if a cost benefit analysis has been undertaken with regard to the fluoridation of water, and in the context of the banning of this practise in other countries, the reason it is continuing here [54893/12]