Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 248: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the organisations or authorities operating within her Department's policy area, set up by statute or statutory instrument, for which she does not have official responsibility to Dáil Éireann. [31116/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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While it is not clear what is meant by the reference to 'official responsibility' in the Deputy's question, I trust the following information will assist.

As Minister for Health and Children I am responsible for the legislative and policy framework for our system of health and social services. Broadly speaking, this involves setting, evaluating and developing policies for the sector. These policies are implemented by a range of bodies which have their own statutory functions and governance arrangements covering operational policy, management, administration, service delivery and accountability.

It should be noted also that such bodies are subject to general Government policy with regard to matters such as remuneration.

In the above context I set out for the Deputy's information a list of organisations and authorities in the health sector:

The Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council

The Adoption Board

The Consultative Council on Hepatitis C

The Irish Blood Transfusion Service

The National Haemophilia Council

The National Cancer Registry Board

The National Cancer Screening Services Board

The Women's Health Council

The Health Research Board

The Health Information and Quality Authority

The Dental Council

The Medical Council

The Postgraduate Medical and Dental Board

The Irish Medicines Board

The Mental Health Commission

An Board Altranais

National Council for the Professional Development of Nursing and Midwifery

The Office of the Ombudsman for Children

The Office of the Chief Inspector of Social Services

The Children Acts Advisory Board

The National Social Work Qualifications Board

The Health and Social Care Professionals Board

The Health Service Executive

The Health Insurance Authority

The Voluntary Health Insurance Board

The Crisis Pregnancy Agency

The Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland

The National Council on Ageing and Older People

The Drug Treatment Centre Board

The Office of Tobacco Control

The National Paediatric Hospital Development Board

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland.

In addition to the above mentioned bodies, the Food Safety Promotion Board was established under the British-Irish Agreement Act 1999 and reports to the North-South Ministerial Council.