Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputies for raising a range of issues. Obviously, Questions Nos. 1 to 10, inclusive, were about when the Cabinet Committee on Health will next meet, so Members will have to excuse me if I must come back to them on some of the specifics because quite a few of the questions strayed very significantly, I would imagine, from the Standing Orders, although they are valid and important questions in and of themselves.

Deputy Boyd Barrett's question, which he has raised on a number of occasions, is a serious point about medical prioritisation and the local authorities. He has requested a circular on this. The disadvantage I am always at on this is that I do not have the benefit of having the line Minister here with me. Let me speak directly with the Minister for housing about that issue because we do not want a situation, such as the one the Deputy outlined, whereby somebody who has two children with muscular dystrophy and cystic fibrosis must have a back-and-forth debate about the status of their healthcare with their housing authority. While the Deputy and I might hold different views, we both know the housing constraints that people face. Parents of children who are sick, or indeed people in general who are sick or have a disability do not need to be going back and forth. Let me look into that, as will my own officials who are watching this. We will engage with the Minister for housing on that issue and I will come back to the Deputy directly on it.

I thank Deputy Murnane O'Connor for raising some important issues about nursing homes and nursing home care. She has made a request for clarity and transparency around what is and is not covered through the fair deal scheme, the nursing home support scheme and the medical card. She gave the examples of the ear syringe costs, the staff burden that is being faced by nursing homes and how people are being charged for bloods when they have a medical card. I will raise both issues with the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, and the Minister of State, Deputy Butler. We will come back to her about that.

Regarding Deputy Padraig O'Sullivan’s point, I just met some people earlier today at the DART station who were on their way to an important conference about rare diseases. This is a very important issue. Again, I want to speak with the Minister for Health about this, but it is a fair point that the Deputy makes. We have some very large pharmaceutical companies here. I think that nine of the ten biggest pharma companies in the world are based here in Ireland. We have incredible universities and research infrastructure and we have a health service that we are now funding with the sum of well over €22 billion per year. Can we do more on access to orphan drugs and learn from the European example? I think we can and I think we have to. I will talk to the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, about the Deputy’s suggestion and I will come back to him.

Deputy Paul Murphy spoke about Aughinish Alumina. I thank him for offering to send that on again, because I do not want to reference something on the floor of the Dáil when I do not have the documentation before me. I would appreciate it if Deputy Paul Murphy sends that to me again. I am happy to look at that and speak to the Minister for Health and the Department of Health about it.

Deputy Ó Murchú spoke about Dealgan House. I did have the opportunity to meet a woman when I was in Dundalk in recent days in relation to this. The Deputy used a very important word there, which was "mechanism". I do not want to speak for the families, but it is my sense that that the families want to know about what mechanism can be put in place so that they can get truth, justice and answers. I share that view, as I know Deputy Ó Murchú does. It is a matter of deciding what is the best mechanism. Will that be the Covid-19 review or will it be a particular pillar of work? Some suggestions were made to me when I met with her, and I also exchanged contact details with a family member. I am happy to engage with the Minister for Health on this and come back to the Deputy about it, but I do fully accept that answers are needed about what happened in Dealgan House. It is the very least that the families deserve. I will work constructively with the Opposition to work out what the best mechanism is to bring about those answers.

Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan raised islander healthcare in Bere Island and Cape Clear Island, as well as the nursing resources and the importance of supporting island healthcare. I will speak with the HSE and the Minister for Health. I take the point the Deputy makes. We want to see the offshore islands thriving. Access to healthcare is an important part of making sure we have sustainable communities. Similarly, I will follow up about Bantry General Hospital and the neurology service there and the importance of the department to patients. I will ask the Minister for Health to come directly back to the Deputy.

Deputy Conway-Walsh spoke about University Hospital Galway, its importance as a centre of excellence, and the traumatic experience that one of her constituents has encountered there. The Deputy said she believes it is being replicated by many more. I was in Galway recently and I met some of the leading doctors working in this area. I know the Secretary General at the Department of Health was there, as was the Minister for Health in relation to the development plans for the hospital services for centres of excellence.

I will get the Deputy a detailed note that he can share with his constituent.

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