Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 11: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if funding has been identified and ring-fenced for the implementation of the new national men's health policy 2008-13; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6651/09]

Mary Wallace (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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One of the main purposes of the national men's health policy is to bring a greater focus on the needs of men as a population group. The policy, which aligns itself with existing policies and strategies, focuses on the need to ensure services are reconfigured to reflect best available evidence of what will work to deliver the desired outcomes.

I am satisfied that much can be done within existing resources to re-orientate services to improve men's health, including in the case of primary care services and in making good quality "male-friendly" health information available and accessible to men. The policy document has been extensively researched and will be an invaluable resource for policy-makers across various Departments in providing research evidence for the development and roll-out of services appropriate to the needs of men as a population group.

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Has funding been identified and ring-fenced? What is the funding figure?

Mary Wallace (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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No additional resources have been allocated to this because much of what is contained in the report can be done within existing resources with regard to reorientating services. Before launching the document I went through it to establish what can be done within existing resources. This is a matter of doing business differently and making it more accessible to men. We know the traditional circumstances in which men go to the doctor. We also know that married men are more inclined to go to the doctor because their wives send them.

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I hope the Leas-Cheann Comhairle goes to the doctor.

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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That put me in my spot.

Mary Wallace (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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In many cases it is a matter of making places more accessible and encouraging men to know more about their health and to do something about it. I refer to health in a broader sense than just medical health, including well-being. This involves many Departments and it involves people taking more physical activity, and what the Department of Arts, Sports and Tourism should do. We need to change our habits. Considering the recommendations, we can identify persons in the various HSE areas to take responsibility for this policy. People must be aware of the policy and the policy must be applied within the existing resources.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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We met the National Women's Council of Ireland today and were challenged on what we are doing in respect of women's health. It is good that we are redressing the balance this afternoon. Are there specific measures in this or is it a case of encouraging more men to go to the doctor and care for their hearts better? Are there specific screening programmes for men?

Mary Wallace (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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There are many specifics in respect of this and some may be of interest to Deputy O'Sullivan. I will move away from the medical health aspect because sometimes we think this is what health is all about. The plan is to review the adequacy of existing legislation to deter risk-taking behaviour in men, which involves the Department of Transport, the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the HSE. Minimal costs arise because this involves reviewing what we are doing and proofing various items of legislation. The programme also involves the SPHE programme, bullying in schools and masculinity. Costs involved are mainly included in the delivery of the existing programme through the Department of Education and Science. It is a matter of examining existing programmes and proofing them.

Years ago, Deputy O'Sullivan and I sat on the women's rights committee and dealt with gender proofing issues. This is a case of gender proofing in the opposite direction. For example, the Health and Safety Authority supports the implementation of this policy by continuing to play a key role in maintaining standards of safety in the workplace. There is minimal cost involved. It is a case of ensuring workplaces are safe.

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I am disappointed with the response of the Minister of State. She referred to bullying being gender orientated. Girls bully and are bullied also.

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Only when provoked.

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The Minister should not bully me. The question refers to men's health and the ring-fenced funding that is available to promote this issue and to implement policy. There appears to be no ring-fenced funding for this, nor is there any real initiative regarding men's health. What action is being taken on men's issues, such as testicular cancer and prostate cancer? Where is the meat in this? The Minister and the Ministers of State will forgive me for using the following word when the former Taoiseach did so, but this answer is waffle.

Mary Wallace (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy is aware of the excellent work of Professor Tom Keane on breast cancer and he is now moving on to the area of prostate cancer. I refer to the work being done in St James's Hospital. Many things are being done at present within existing services. This document is to policy proof that in respect of men.

I find myself on the opposite side of the table from where I have been for 20 years, with the Oireachtas women's rights committee. We examined how women in the workplace were not being treated equally, how many women in the Dáil were not being treated equally, the fact that so many teachers were female and the fact that so many principals were male, despite the fact that boys and girls were equal in school. Sometimes it is difficult to say that one thing will make a difference.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Sometimes it is waffle.

Mary Wallace (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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The last recommendation will be of interest to Deputy Reilly. It refers to managing stress in the workplace, something we can all take on board.

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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We have given enough time to men's health.