Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

EU Regulations

Gino Kenny

908. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if the European Commission regulates EU hemp products with trace amounts of THC such as food; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13155/21]

EU Regulations

Gino Kenny

909. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if all three sources of cannabidiol are regulated as food by the European Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13156/21]

EU Regulations

Gino Kenny

910. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if the European Commission is in the process of providing scientifically authorised levels of THC in hemp foods in line with Article 28 of Council Decision (EU) 2021/3 of 23 November 2020 and with reference to Article 2 of Regulation (EC) No. 178/2002; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13157/21]

UN Conventions

Gino Kenny

911. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the recent clarifications provided by the European Commission to an organisation (details supplied); if Ireland will continue to apply criminal drugs laws to foods which are not controlled within the UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13159/21]

UN Conventions

Gino Kenny

912. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if Ireland is the only EU member state with an existing hemp food industry which continues to use criminal drugs laws to control trace amounts of THC which is not controlled within the UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13160/21]

UN Conventions

Gino Kenny

913. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health his views on whether the interests of justice are served by applying Irish criminal drugs laws to food products which are not controlled within the UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs when the express purpose of those Irish laws is to give effect to the convention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13161/21]

EU Regulations

Gino Kenny

914. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health his plans to exercise the Misuse of Drugs Acts against CBD foods with trace amounts of THC produced and or sold by Irish companies who have novel food applications pending at considerable cost on the advice of the Food Safety Authority given that the European Commission has indicated to an organisation (details supplied) that the Commission itself has regulatory authority over the certification pathway under Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 of the European Parliament and that the Commission has now resumed the verification process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13162/21]

EU Directives

Gino Kenny

729. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the number of Irish patients that have availed of the EU cross-border directive in the UK; and the breakdown by year for the past five years of the number of patients that availed of the EU cross-border directive in the UK. [11042/21]

Health Services Access

Gino Kenny

730. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if the application process for the new Northern Ireland planned healthcare scheme will be the same as the EU cross-border directive; and if the refund amounts by the HSE to patients availing of the scheme will be on the same guideline pricing as the EU cross-border directive. [11043/21]

Health Services Access

Gino Kenny

731. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if he plans to extend the Northern Ireland planned healthcare scheme beyond January 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11044/21]

Cannabis for Medicinal Use

Gino Kenny

994. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the timeframe for the commencement of the medicinal cannabis access programme in 2021; the funding that has been allocated for the programme; if those who are in receipt of a ministerial licence will be included in the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12078/21]

Drugs Payment Scheme

Gino Kenny

998. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if he plans to add first-line treatments for hyperemesis gravidarum to the drugs payment scheme and medical card; if his attention has been drawn to the significant financial pressure that the cost of these treatments put on pregnant women; if he will address this, as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10316/21]

Climate Change Advisory Council

Gino Kenny

28. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if it will be ensured that future appointees to the Climate Change Advisory Council will have relevant public health expertise; his views on whether climate change is the greatest threat to global health this century (details supplied) and that recovery from Covid-19 must build upon the current focus on public health to ensure Ireland and those supported by Ireland through Irish Aid are resilient to future health issues and take advantage of the opportunities for improved health afforded by tackling climate change in an holistic and health inclusive way; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9026/21]

Misuse of Drugs

Gino Kenny

694. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the recent EU ruling in a case (details supplied) in which the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that cannabidiol, CBD, is not a narcotic under EU law within the meaning of the 1961 United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drug as it does not have any psychotropic or harmful effects on human health on the basis of available scientific data; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that the court also ruled that EU states cannot ban the marketing of CBD legally produced in another member state; the measures in progress to amend the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 to reflect this ruling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8080/21]

Misuse of Drugs

Gino Kenny

695. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the measures in progress to raise the tetrahydrocannabinol, THC, levels permitted in cannabidiol, CBD, products to 0.3% as is currently legally permitted in the rest of the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8081/21]

Food Industry

Gino Kenny

696. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the measures in progress to ensure that a full range of cannabidiol, CBD, products will be available to Irish consumers, including oils, pastes, flowers, teas and other products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8082/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Gino Kenny

265. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health his plans to expedite the roll-out of vaccines in nursing homes and hospital settings (details supplied); if the matter will be clarified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7567/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Gino Kenny

218. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many tourist bus operators are not qualifying for grants or supports through the Covid restrictions support scheme due to issues with Fáilte Ireland criteria, such as having a walk-in premises on a main street, and that this is resulting in smaller tourist bus operators being excluded from funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6940/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Gino Kenny

219. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Finance if he will work with Fáilte Ireland to save smaller tourist bus operators and bus operators that are not members of a representative body (details supplied) to address issues with the funding criteria through the Covid restrictions support scheme, in view of the fact that there are hundreds of bus operators left out of funding. [6941/21]

Vaccination Programme

Gino Kenny

725. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to concerns in relation to places on the list of priority for vaccine roll-out for persons with cystic fibrosis who are particularly vulnerable due to the fact their illness affects their lung capacity and respiratory system; and the steps he will take to resolve the matter. [5389/21]

Vaccination Programme

Gino Kenny

726. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if consideration will be given to all childcare and early educators workers that are working during the pandemic and the risks in their workplace; and if they will be added to the vaccine roll-out programme as a priority, in particular the group 4 category of childcare workers. [5390/21]

Cannabis for Medicinal Use

Gino Kenny

809. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the action that will be taken to ensure patients who are currently being prescribed the products produced by a company (details supplied) will be able to continue to receive them and not incur further additional expenses such as couriering or personal collection of this prescribed product; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5659/21]

Cannabis for Medicinal Use

Gino Kenny

810. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if all patients who were receiving reimbursement for their cannabis product prescription costs prior to 21 January 2021 will continue to be reimbursed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5660/21]

Cannabis for Medicinal Use

Gino Kenny

811. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if consideration will be given to expanding the permissible products list of the medical cannabis access programme to include cannabis flower (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5661/21]

Cannabis for Medicinal Use

Gino Kenny

812. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if the qualifying list of conditions of the medical cannabis access programme will be expanded to include chronic pain, migraine, arthritis, endometriosis, anxiety, dementia and depression; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5662/21]

Cannabis for Medicinal Use

Gino Kenny

813. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if consideration will be given to the implementation of an online cannabis education programme for clinicians; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5663/21]

Cannabis for Medicinal Use

Gino Kenny

814. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the actions taken to ensure that cannabis patients who have had to emigrate can return to Ireland and legally and affordably access the medicine here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5664/21]

Cross-Border Health Initiatives

Gino Kenny

316. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if the EU Cross-Border Directive is affected by Brexit for Irish patients seeking to have surgeries in the UK; and if so, the changes in this regard. [4984/21]

Road Network

Gino Kenny

106. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Transport the status of information on the west Dublin orbital route. [3785/21]

Road Network

Gino Kenny

107. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Transport if funding for the west Dublin orbital route has been approved. [3786/21]

Road Network

Gino Kenny

108. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Transport when it is expected that works on the west Dublin orbital route will commence; and the length of time those works are expected to take. [3787/21]

Third Level Fees

Gino Kenny

585. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on calls by students and student unions to reduce university fees by 30% given that students are under severe financial pressure with the current Covid-19 pandemic to afford their college course; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3871/21]

Third Level Education

Gino Kenny

606. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will work with CORU to provide alternatives to placement for social care students in 2021 only; if he will consider with CORU reducing the number of placement hours from 400 to 250 in 2021 to reduce the significant pressure on students and organisations that are finding it difficult to accommodate same in view of the Covid-19 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4333/21]

Care of the Elderly

Gino Kenny

708. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the status of the private nursing home sector with particular reference to staffing levels, financial viability and supports being offered to the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3792/21]

Health Services Staff

Gino Kenny

709. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health his views on the most recent figures for HSE recruitment of healthcare workers particularly recruitment of care professionals from the private nursing home sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3793/21]

Care of the Elderly

Gino Kenny

710. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health his plans in the event of the closure of either private or public nursing home facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3794/21]

Care of the Elderly

Gino Kenny

711. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if a copy of contingency plans he may have for various adverse scenarios affecting private nursing homes will be provided; if a summary will be provided of these plans with particular reference to crises in staffing and in the event of serious Covid-19 outbreaks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3795/21]

Care of the Elderly

Gino Kenny

712. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if he has examined the option of emergency State intervention or State control of private nursing homes; if so, if costings for the acquisition and or operation of private facilities are available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3796/21]

Hospital Services

Gino Kenny

713. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic there were at one point over 2,000 vacant beds in the hospital system due to the cancellation of elective procedures and the reduction in non-Covid hospital admissions; the reason for missed targets despite this spare capacity given patient experience times failed to meet targets in many instances and times for persons over 75 years of age grew in this period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3797/21]

Hospital Services

Gino Kenny

714. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health his views and the data and on the way in which cancellations and reduced attendance at hospital affected health outcomes of patients generally and specifically in the case of persons over 65 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3798/21]

Care of the Elderly

Gino Kenny

715. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if he has considered using information on reduced inpatient numbers and associated health outcomes to examine resourcing of care in the community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3799/21]

Consultancy Contracts

Gino Kenny

716. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if a list will be provided of current contracts that the HSE has with private consultancy firms for each HSE division and directorate, for example, corporate change, disability and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3800/21]

Consultancy Contracts

Gino Kenny

717. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the estimated spend on private consultancy and auditing services in the HSE in each of the years 2018 to 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3801/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Gino Kenny

335. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to change the age criterion for jobseeker's and pandemic unemployment payments that are only payable to persons between 18 and 66 years of age. [2241/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Gino Kenny

336. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the jobseeker's age criterion of 18 to 66 years of age unfairly discriminates against persons under 18 years of age and persons over 66 years of age who were working and paying tax and PRSI during the Covid-19 pandemic. [2242/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Gino Kenny

1009. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the details of the prioritisation of vaccination for the most vulnerable of older persons not currently in nursing homes; the timeframe for vaccination of this cohort; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1350/21]

School Admissions

Gino Kenny

373. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Education if her Department plans to end a policy that is used by some primary schools to no longer allow a sibling first admission policy. [44196/20]

School Admissions

Gino Kenny

374. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Education if she will direct schools to not end a sibling first admission policy on the basis that parents' working lives, school collection arrangements and the financial burden on parents is not considered if they must send their children to multiple schools (details supplied). [44197/20]

Medicinal Products

Gino Kenny

538. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if the drug dupilumab which is a treatment for atopic eczema will be approved for Irish patients soon; the reason this treatment which is available throughout Europe and in Northern Ireland has still not been approved here given its benefits as a targeted treatment for atopic eczema; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43098/20]

Freedom of Information

Gino Kenny

547. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the reason access to HSE files under freedom of information can be refused under section 15(1)(c) if it is felt that there are too many documents to retrieve and examine; his views as to whether this denial of access can have grave and far-reaching implications for those who need their files; if consideration will be given to re-examining this reason for denying access in view of the negative impact it has on those who need to see their files; if there is a right to appeal this decision; if so, if the appeal can be conducted by an independent reviewer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43135/20]