Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

With regard to a number of commitments made under the health section of the programme for Government, could the Tánaiste indicate to me when the hospital insurance fund will be established? When will the legislation for the patient safety authority be brought before us, and when will the authority be established? Regarding the section of the programme for Government dealing with the care of older people and community care, could the Tánaiste indicate when we will see more residential places, home care packages, home help and other professional community care services? We have seen a reduction in such services thus far, not an increase. People are looking for the additional services committed to. When will the integrated care agency be established and when will we see the relevant legislation?

With regard to the area of bio-ethics, could the Tánaiste indicate when he intends to legislate for stem cell research, as committed to? When will he legislate for post mortem procedures and organ retention practices, as recommended in the Madden report? The Government said it would legislate to change the organ donation system to an an opt-out system for organ transplantation rather than an opt-in system? When will this legislation be introduced?

With regard to the wider issue of charities, will the Tánaiste indicate when the Government will commence the charities legislation and establish a regulator under that legislation? The legislation has been passed by the Oireachtas but it has yet to be commenced.

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