Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 264: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the date of establishment of the advisory committee for human medicine; if this body is still in existence; the purpose and role of this body; the number of members of the board of this body; the number of whom are appointed by her; the person the remaining board members are appointed by; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6283/08]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 265: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the date of establishment of the advisory committee for veterinary medicines; if this body is still in existence; the purpose and role of this body; the number of members of the board of this body; the number of whom are appointed by her; the person the remaining board members are appointed by; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6284/08]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 266: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the date of establishment of the Poisons Council; if this council is still in existence; the purpose and role of this council; the number of members of the board of this council; the number of whom are appointed by her; the person the remaining board members are appointed by; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6285/08]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 267: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the date of establishment of the Food Safety Consultative Council; if this council is still in existence; the purpose and role of this council; the number of members of the board of this council; the number of whom are appointed by her; the person the remaining board members are appointed by; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6286/08]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 270: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the date of establishment of the scientific committee of the Food Safety Authority in Ireland; if this body is still in existence; the purpose and role of this body; the number of members of the board of this body; the number of whom are appointed by her; the person the remaining board members are appointed by; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6289/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 264 to 267, inclusive, and 270 together.

The Advisory Committee for Human Medicines was established on 1 January 1996 and is still in existence. The committee assists and advises the Irish Medicines Board in relation to any matters pertaining to the safety, quality or efficacy of medicinal products for human use referred to it by the Board and it provides advice in cases where it is proposed to refuse to grant a licence for a medicinal product on any grounds relating to its safety, quality or efficacy. The committee consists of between six and twelve members — all of whom are appointed by the Minister for Health and Children.

The Advisory Committee for Veterinary Medicines was established on 1 January 1996 and is still in existence. The committee assists and advises the Irish Medicines Board in relation to any matters pertaining to the safety, quality or efficacy of medicinal products for animal use referred to it by the Board and it provides advice in cases where it is proposed to refuse to grant a licence for a medicinal product on any grounds relating to its safety, quality or efficacy. The committee consists of between six and twelve members — all of whom are appointed by the Minister for Health and Children with the consent of the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

The Poisons Council was established on 16 March 1962 and is still in existence. The council advises the Minister for Health and Children and the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in relation to any Regulation made under the Poisons Act and on any other matter in relation to poisons, their manufacture, storage, transport, distribution, sale or use. The council consists of 18 members — all of whom are appointed by the Minister for Health and Children but five of whom are nominated by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

The Food Safety Consultative Council was established on 19 December 2000 and is still in existence. The council allows the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) to fulfil its responsibility to consult with representatives of consumers, producers, retailers, distributors, caterers and manufacturers on activities or other measures to be undertaken. The council consists of 24 members — not more than twelve of whom are nominated by the Minister for Health and Children; three are nominated by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, one by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, and one by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The remainder are appointed by the Board of the FSAI.

The Scientific Committee of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland was established on 24 February 2000 and is still in existence. The committee advises the Board of the FSAI on scientific and technical questions relating to food safety and hygiene; the implementation and administration of food inspection services; and the nutritional value or content of food. The committee consists of 15 members — all of whom are appointed by the Minister for Health and Children, following consultation with the Board of the FSAI.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 268: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the date of establishment of the Irish expert body on fluorides and health; if this body is still in existence; the purpose and role of this body; the number of members of the board of this body; the number of whom are appointed by her; the person the remaining board members are appointed by; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6287/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Irish Expert Body on Fluorides and Health (known as the Expert Body) was set up in 2004 and is still in existence. The Expert Body consists of one chairman and twenty two members who are appointed by me.

The purpose and role of the Expert Body is set out in its terms of reference as follows:

To oversee the implementation of the recommendations of the Forum on Fluoridation

To advise the Minister and evaluate ongoing research — including new emerging issues — on all aspects of fluoride, its delivery methods as an established health technology and as required.

To report to the Minister on matters of concern at his/her request or on own initiative.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 269: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the date of establishment of the National Children's Advisory Council; if this body is still in existence; the purpose and role of this body; the number of members of the board of this body; the number of whom are appointed by her; the person the remaining board members are appointed by; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6288/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The National Children's Advisory Committee was established in May 2001. The first Council served from May 2001 until May 2004. The second term of the reconstituted Council commenced in April 2005. This second term is due to conclude in mid-2008.

The Council has an independent advisory and monitoring role in relation to the implementation of the National Children's Strategy and reports to the Minister for Children, in that regard. Its functions are:

to advise the Minister on all aspects of children's lives, including the development of child well-being indicators;

to advise the Minister on the better co-ordination and delivery of services to children;

to contribute to the monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of the Strategy;

to undertake and advise on research and to advise on training in relation to the Strategy;

to advise on the development of mechanisms to consult with children.

The National Children's Advisory Council provides independent advice to the Minister for Children. Through its diverse membership the Council is uniquely placed to provide advice, which reflects a combination of expertise and practical "on the ground" experience. The Council also plays an important role in monitoring the implementation of the National Children's Strategy. One of the key features of the Council, when it was first established, was that for the first time, an Advisory Council to the Minister included youth members who would work alongside nominees from the statutory and voluntary sector. The current Council includes five youth members who have been elected by the Children and Young People's Forum of the Office of the Minister for Children. Further information on the Council is available on www.ncac.ie.

The current Membership of the National Children's Advisory Council is as follows:

Chairperson

Mr Peter O'Brien

Children and Young People's Forum Representatives

Ms Nicola Conroy

Mr James Doyle

Ms Alison Jack

Ms Isobel Jones

Mr Paul O'Toole

Statutory Sector

Mr Michael O'Fiannachta, Department of Education and Science

Mr Seamus Mannion, Health Service Executive

Ms Elizabeth Canavan, Office of the Minister for Children

Mr Charlie Hardy, Office of the Minister for Children

Ms Bernie Priestly, Irish Sports Council

Ms Anne-Marie O'Connor, Department of Social and Family Affairs

Ms Mary Meaney, National Disability Authority

Mr Finbarr Murphy, An Garda Síochána

Ms Gaye Tanham, the Arts Council

Ms Sorcha Byrne, Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government

Voluntary Sector

Ms Maria Corbett, Children's Rights Alliance

Ms Norah Gibbons, Barnardos

Ms Jackie O'Callaghan, National Parents Council / Post Primary

Mr Michael O'Connor, Focus Ireland

Mr Diarmuid Kearney, National Youth Council of Ireland

Ms Collette Murray, Pavee Point

Ms Caroline O'Sullivan, ISPCC

Sr. Catherine Prendergast, Council of Religious of Ireland

Ms Irene Gunning, National Childcare Coordinating Committee

Ms Jennifer Wallace, National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism

Research

Dr. Saoirse Nic Gabhainn, National Children's Research Advisory Board

Ministerial Nominees

Mr David Hopkins

Mr George Maybury

Dr. Dermot Stokes

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 271: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the date of establishment of the Women's Health Council; if this body is still in existence; the purpose and role of this body; the number of members of the board of this body; the number of whom are appointed by her; the person the remaining board members are appointed by; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6290/08]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Women's Health Council is a statutory body established on 25th June 1997 and continues in existence. All 15 board members are appointed by the Minister for Health and Children.

The functions of the Women's Health Council are as follows:

1.Advising the Minister for Health and Children on all aspects of women's health

2.Assisting the development of national and regional policies and strategies designed to increase health gain and social gain for women.

3.Developing expertise on women's health within the health services.

4.Liaising with other relevant international bodies which have similar functions as the Council.

5.Advising other Government Ministers at their request.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 272: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the date of establishment of the heart health taskforce; if this taskforce is still in existence; the purpose and role of this taskforce; the number of members of the board of this taskforce; the number of whom are appointed by her; the person the remaining board members are appointed by; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6291/08]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The inaugural meeting of The Heart Health Task Force took place on the 21st September, 1999. The Heart Health Task Force was set up to give overall direction and impetus to the implementation and review of the Cardiovascular Health Strategy and Building Healthier Hearts.

There were twenty six members of the Task Force, all of whom were appointed by the Minister for Health and Children. The work of this Task Force is now complete and it is no longer operational.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 273: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the date of establishment of the primary care taskforce; if this taskforce is still in existence; the purpose and role of this taskforce; the number of members of the board of this taskforce; the number of whom are appointed by her; the person the remaining board members are appointed by; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6292/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Primary Care Task Force was established in April 2002 and concluded its work in June 2005 following the transfer of its responsibilities to the Health Service Executive. The Task Force represented a partnership between my Department and the former health boards to drive the implementation of the Primary Care Strategy on a national basis. The Task Force was comprised of 3 staff of my Department and 4 staff of the former health boards who were either on full-time or part-time secondment to my Department.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 274: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the date of establishment of the strategic taskforce on alcohol; if this taskforce is still in existence; the purpose and role of this taskforce; the number of members of the board of this taskforce; the number of whom are appointed by her; the person the remaining board members are appointed by; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6293/08]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Strategic Task Force on Alcohol (STFA) was established in January 2002 by the previous Minister for Health and Children, Mr Micheal Martin T.D. The brief of the STFA was, inter alia, to recommend specific evidence based measures to Government to reduce alcohol related harm in Ireland. The Taskforce had a membership of 28 drawn from a wide range of bodies including representatives from government departments, health professionals, the Gardaí, non-governmental organisations and the drinks industry. The STFA produced an Interim Report in May 2002 and completed its work by publishing a Second Report in September 2004.