Results 3,061-3,080 of 11,597 for speaker:Colm Burke

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Report of the Review of the Operation of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018: Discussion (31 May 2023)

Colm Burke: I thank the witnesses for their presentations and their work in this area in reviewing what was put in place in 2018 and came into place in 2019. In real terms, that is a short time period and the scene has changed substantially. I have concerns about two areas. One is whether the witnesses are satisfied that adequate support services for women who have terminations are provided by GPs and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Report of the Review of the Operation of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018: Discussion (31 May 2023)

Colm Burke: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Report of the Review of the Operation of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018: Discussion (31 May 2023)

Colm Burke: Of the 19 units in the country, 11 are providing a termination service and the other eight are unable to provide a service for various reasons. Are there supports in those eight units?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Report of the Review of the Operation of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018: Discussion (31 May 2023)

Colm Burke: Are there designated people for dealing with it?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Report of the Review of the Operation of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018: Discussion (31 May 2023)

Colm Burke: Does Ms O'Shea think it is an area on which we also need to do more work?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Report of the Review of the Operation of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018: Discussion (31 May 2023)

Colm Burke: Providing a service is one issue but it is also about the support services thereafter. Is Ms O'Shea satisfied? Does she think we could do more in that area?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Report of the Review of the Operation of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018: Discussion (31 May 2023)

Colm Burke: I will move on to section 11 of the Act and the inability to get access in cases of fatal foetal abnormality. I have a case where a person was turned down for care in a major facility and was travelling to the UK but was persuaded to go to one of the other major facilities, which provided the service. The analysis from day one was correct; the foetus would not have survived. Of the people...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Report of the Review of the Operation of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018: Discussion (31 May 2023)

Colm Burke: I am asking about the people interviewed when compiling the report. Was it a case that these were people who travelled-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Report of the Review of the Operation of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018: Discussion (31 May 2023)

Colm Burke: I want to go back to section 11 again and to the people interviewed in compiling the report. They were not happy with the decision that was made and then they were forced to travel. Are the witnesses saying that some of these people should have been looked after within the service in Ireland? Is there adequate scope in the legislation to allow them to be provided with that service?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Report of the Review of the Operation of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018: Discussion (31 May 2023)

Colm Burke: In the case I had, one major centre turned down the care and another major centre provided the care. The centre that provided the care took the correct decision. Is there a discrepancy between some of the major centres in the advice and support they are providing?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Report of the Review of the Operation of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018: Discussion (31 May 2023)

Colm Burke: It is not the opinion of just one person though.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Report of the Review of the Operation of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018: Discussion (31 May 2023)

Colm Burke: That is right.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Report of the Review of the Operation of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018: Discussion (31 May 2023)

Colm Burke: On that issue, Ms O'Shea is saying there are six major units.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Report of the Review of the Operation of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018: Discussion (31 May 2023)

Colm Burke: Out of the 19 maternity units in Ireland, the other 13 units do not have the capacity to deal with an issue like that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Report of the Review of the Operation of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018: Discussion (31 May 2023)

Colm Burke: From the evidence the witnesses got from the people they interviewed who travelled, is it the case that even within the current legislation we could be doing a lot more than people ending up travelling? I know we are talking about changing the legislation, which would deal with a lot of these issues, but I am talking about the current process.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Report of the Review of the Operation of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018: Discussion (31 May 2023)

Colm Burke: In the example I give there was two major units with different opinions and the second unit was correct in its interpretation.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Disease Management (30 May 2023)

Colm Burke: 743. To ask the Minister for Health if he will consider the development of a national strategy for hemochromatosis (details supplied) in which everyone has equal access to testing diagnosis, treatment and quality of care, regardless of where they live in the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26094/23]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Disease Management (30 May 2023)

Colm Burke: 744. To ask the Minister for Health if he will appoint a main contact person to act as lead on haemochromatosis within his Department and-or the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26096/23]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Disease Management (30 May 2023)

Colm Burke: 745. To ask the Minister for Health if he will consider sponsoring a public awareness campaign for the purposes of providing information regarding the symptoms of hemochromatosis (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26097/23]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Disease Management (30 May 2023)

Colm Burke: 746. To ask the Minister for Health if will engage with the representative associations of medical bodies to ensure that GPs and other medical professionals are fully advised of the symptoms of haemochromatosis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26098/23]