John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 3: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she is satisfied with the preparations for avian flu and a possible flu pandemic; the reason Dáil Éireann was not informed about the purchase of a vaccine which was announced through the media; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8740/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I am satisfied with progress on preparations for a possible flu pandemic and with public health actions in response to a possible outbreak of avian flu in Ireland. The health sector's role in regard to avian flu relates to the human health implications that would arise were there to be an outbreak of avian flu. Guidance on the investigation and management of suspected human cases has therefore been developed and circulated within the health system.

My Department and the Health Service Executive are working closely on pandemic planning. The influenza pandemic expert group is updating the expert guidance and the pandemic influenza operational response plan is being updated in line with the expert advice. In addition, my Department has established a standing interdepartmental committee to consider issues which go beyond the health aspects of a flu pandemic.

Arrangements have been made to procure a stockpile of H5N1 vaccine for key health care workers and other essential workers and we are stockpiling 1 million treatment packs of the antiviral drug, Tamiflu. Arrangements have also been made to purchase a supply of the active pharmaceutical ingredient to treat children aged one to five years of age and further arrangements are being finalised for the stockpiling of additional supplies of the other suitable antiviral drug, Relenza.

I do not understand the Deputy's reference to this House not being informed with regard to the purchase of H5N1 vaccine. On 31 January last, in reply to a parliamentary question, I stated that arrangements to procure a stockpile of H5N1 vaccine for key health care workers and other essential workers were in train. Officials from my Department and the HSE informed the Joint Committee on Health and Children on 16 February of our plans in this regard and the Joint Committee on Agriculture and Food was briefed on 25 January. The announcement with regard to the purchase was made last Friday at the earliest possible opportunity.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I attended the meeting to which the Tánaiste referred and have checked the minutes. No reference was made to the purchase of 400,000 doses of vaccine. Will those 400,000 doses be given on a voluntary basis only? How many people does the Tánaiste expect to use the vaccine? When will the 400,000 doses arrive? Does the Tánaiste agree with the assessment of Dr. Kevin Kelleher, who addressed the Joint Committee on Health and Children, that the health service as it stands probably could not cope with a flu pandemic? Can she confirm that the full stock of antiviral drugs has not yet arrived and probably will not arrive until next September? Can she confirm that a new national emergency plan will not be finalised until the end of the summer, that the plan for dealing with a pandemic has not been updated since 2004 and that hospital isolation units are inadequate and sometimes non-existent? Given all of this, does she agree we cannot face a possible flu pandemic with any degree of real confidence?

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I totally disagree. We have shown in recent times, in particular with regard to how the foot and mouth disease was handled, that we are very good, as a country, at handling emerging issues of this kind and can work closely together. Our planning is very much in line with that of the World Health Organisation. We follow its instructions and the 2004 plan is in line with its instructions. The WHO is constantly updating its plans and we do the same. Therefore, it is not correct to say we have no plan. We have a plan, which is constantly revisited. The new plan will be available this summer.

The vaccine would be taken on a voluntary basis but it is clear that health care professionals would want to use the vaccine to protect themselves. It has been 40 years since the last pandemic. This morning our national expert, Professor Hall, who is one of the world experts in this area, told me it could be another 40 years until the next pandemic. However, we must be vigilant and cannot be complacent. Therefore, when we are creating stockpiles in Ireland of vaccines, Relenza and Tamiflu, we do so to have enough to cover 40% of the population, which is a higher proportion than in any other European country. Indeed, we have been commended for our proposals.

In the event of a pandemic, it is undoubted the health system would be under pressure, as it would be in any country. We would have to respond to that pressure and would do so at different levels, in the first instance using Tamiflu, Relenza and the vaccines. We are acquiring these products as quickly as we can. We joined with the UK to access the vaccine because as a small country we do not have much muscle in dealing with the producers of these products. We joined with the UK for a single procurement of the vaccines and I am pleased to acknowledge the support of the UK in allowing us to operate with it. This gave us greater clout in negotiating with the producer of the vaccine, which is not yet available. We also have a sleeping contract for any vaccine that might be manufactured after the strain of the disease is identified, which would not be for four to six months after a pandemic would arise.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The vaccine to which the Tánaiste referred was discussed at the committee meeting. The Tánaiste referred to 40% coverage. The committee was told there would be 25% coverage. Has it increased in the meantime? The Tánaiste also stated the threat might arise 40 years from now. The committee was clearly told that it is not a question of if, but when. Does the Tánaiste agree that, given that there has been a case of the virus spreading to a mammal in Germany, it will probably not be 40 years hence and that we are dealing with an urgent situation?

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I am quoting Professor Hall, who said it was 40 years since the last pandemic and that nobody could say for certain when it will happen, and that it could be 40 years from now. It is not significant that the disease transferred to a cat in Germany. Last year 45 tigers had to be put down in Bangkok zoo because they ate raw, infected chicken — I stress that it was raw, infected chicken and that it happened a year ago. What happened in Germany is not new.

The decision to purchase Relenza is new. Together with the vaccine, the use of Relenza will mean that 40% of the population is covered. To the best of my knowledge, no country is aiming for anywhere near that target and certainly none are going beyond it. We have decided to buy Relenza, an inhaler-type product, which we believe is suitable for certain categories of patients, as well as the Tamiflu in addition to the vaccine for health care and other workers. The H5N1 virus first arose in South-East Asia in 1997. We must be vigilant. I met Professor Hall today and regular meetings of the expert group are held. I recently sat in on a European planning meeting in the event of a pandemic. Among the issues on which we have yet to make decisions is what we should do with schools. Should we advise people to stay at home? Many health care workers are parents and may stay at home with their children, and other major issues remain to be resolved. We are working with other countries to establish clear areas of co-operation and co-ordination in these matters.