Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Question 139: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the steps she has taken to date in 2006 to deal with the possibility of an outbreak of bird flu, or worse, a flu pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3089/06]

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 144: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her Department is co-operating with the Department of Agriculture and Food on the question of bird flu; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3094/06]

Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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Question 157: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her views on the recent reports regarding the effectiveness of Tamiflu; the reserves of Tamiflu here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3087/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 139, 144 and 157 together.

Avian influenza, bird flu, is an infectious disease of birds caused by type A strains of the influenza virus. The Department of Agriculture and Food is responsible for controlling avian influenza in birds and mammals other than humans. That Department has put in place a range of measures aimed at maintaining Ireland's avian flu free status.

The health sector's role in avian flu relates to the human health implications that would arise were there to be an outbreak of avian flu here. My Department is working very closely with the Department of Agriculture and Food in this context and there are ongoing meetings between officials to discuss issues of mutual concern.

The Department of Agriculture and Food is also an active participant in my Department's influenza pandemic expert group. A sub-group of the expert group has developed these guidance documents for use in the event of an avian influenza outbreak in animals in Ireland.

Guidance on the investigation and management of suspected human cases of avian influenza has also been developed and circulated within the health system. These guidance documents are available on the HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre website, www.hpsc.ie.

The Department of Agriculture and Food is issuing a comprehensive "biosecurity information pack" to almost 7,500 poultry flockowners who have registered with them. This mailshot includes public health advice on bird flu prepared by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre.

The overall aims of influenza pandemic planning are to reduce mortality and morbidity, and to minimise the resulting disruption to society. However, the consequences of a global pandemic are still likely to be serious. Pandemic planning can only mitigate the effects and my Department and the Health Service Executive are working closely together on pandemic planning. This work is ongoing on a number of fronts, as follows: the influenza pandemic expert group is updating expert guidance; the pandemic influenza operational response plan is being updated in line with the most up to date expert advice. This work is being progressed through working-implementation groups established by the HSE to address actions within the following functional areas — surveillance, health services, public health measures, vaccines-antivirals etc., communications, laboratories and materials management. My Department is a member of the HSE steering group and is also actively involved in the vaccines-antivirals and communications groups; my Department is establishing a standing interdepartmental committee to consider issues which go beyond the health aspects of an influenza pandemic. This committee will assist with planning for such an emergency and will also be available in the event of an emergency arising; and arrangements to procure a stockpile of H5N1 vaccine for key health care workers and other essential workers are in train. My Department is also actively pursuing an advanced purchase order for a pandemic strain vaccine.

An emergency supply of more than 45,000 treatment packs of antivirals, Tamiflu, was purchased in 2004. A further 1 million treatment packs of antivirals, Tamiflu, are being stockpiled. A total of 600,000 packs have already been delivered. The remaining 400,000 packs will be delivered this year. Arrangements are also being made to purchase a supply of the active pharmaceutical ingredient, oseltamivir phosphate powder, to treat children aged between one to five years of age.

Recommendations for the stockpiling of antivirals are kept under constant review by the influenza pandemic expert group. In October 2005, the expert group reviewed recommendations with regard to stockpiling of zanamivir, Relenza, in addition to oseltamivir, Tamiflu. This was in light of a case report of resistance to Tamiflu. The expert group advised that a quantity of Relenza should be stockpiled. The situation was reviewed again at an expert group meeting last week and this decision was confirmed. My Department is now finalising arrangements for the purchase of this additional stock, including quantities and timeframe for delivery.

Treatment with antiviral drugs will play an important part in the response to an influenza pandemic, but it is not the only response. Non-pharmaceutical public health interventions aimed at reducing the spread of infection also have an important role. The expert group is currently updating guidance in this area with reference to the latest recommendations from the World Health Organisation.