Written answers
Thursday, 6 March 2008
Department of Health and Children
Departmental Agencies
5:00 pm
Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context
Question 100: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the areas and functions where responsibility has been devolved from her to a State or statutory agency; the agencies involved; the arrangements in each agency to respond on a priority basis to enquiries from Members of Dáil Éireann; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9926/08]
Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context
As Minister for Health and Children I am responsible for the legislative, policy and resource framework for our system of health and social services. Broadly speaking, in addition to discharging overall responsibilities on behalf of the Government for the resourcing of these services, this involves setting, evaluating and developing policies for the sector. I am supported in the discharge of these responsibilities by my Department.
Policies in the health sector are implemented by a range of bodies, particularly the Health Service Executive (HSE). Each body carries out its functions in accordance with the relevant statutory provision, as set out in the following table, and has its own governance arrangements covering operational policy, management, administration, service delivery and accountability.
| Agency | Legislative Basis |
| Adoption Board | Adoption Act, 1952 (No. 25 of 1952) |
| An Bord Altranais | Section 6 of Nurses Act 1985 (No. 18 of 1985) |
| Children Acts Advisory Board | Child Care (Amendment) Act, 2007 (No. 26 of 2007) |
| Agency | Legislative Basis |
| Consultative Council on Hepatitis C | Section 98 (3) of the Health Act, 1947 (No. 28 of 1947) (as amended by Section 41 of the Health Act, 1953 (No. 26 of 1953)The Consultative Council on Hepatitis C (Establishment) Order 1996 [S.I. No. 339 of 1996]. |
| Crisis Pregnancy Agency | Health (Corporate Bodies) Act, 1961 (No. 27 of 1961) Crisis Pregnancy Agency (Establishment) Order 2001 [S.I. No. 446 of 2001]. Crisis Pregnancy Agency (Establishment) Order 2001 (Amendment) Order 2007 [S.I.No. 175 of 2007]* |
| Dental Council | Section 6 of Dentists Act 1985 (No. 9 of 1985) |
| Food Safety Authority of Ireland | Section 11 of Food Safety Authority of Ireland Act, 1998 (No.29 of 1998) and Section 16 British Irish Agreement Act, 1999 (No.1 of 1999). |
| Food Safety Consultative Council | Section 14 of Food Safety Authority of Ireland Act, 1998 (No.29 of 1998) and Section 17 of British Irish Agreement Act, 1999 (No.1 of 1999). |
| Food Safety Promotions Board | Section 16 of British Irish Agreement Act, 1999 (No.1 of 1999). |
| Health Information Quality Authority | Health Act 2007 (No. 23 of 2007) |
| Health Insurance Authority | Health Insurance Act 1994 (No. 16 of 1994) |
| Health Research Board | Health (Corporate Bodies) Act, 1961 (No. 27 of 1961). The Health Research Board (Establishment) Order, 1986 [S.I. 452 of 1986].* |
| Health and Social Care Professional Council | Health & Social Care Professional Act 2005 (No.27 of 2005). |
| Health Service Executive | Health Act 2004 (No. 42 of 2004) |
| Irish Blood Transfusion Service | Health (Corporate Bodies) Act, 1961 (No. 27 of 1961) — The Blood Transfusion Service Board (Establishment) Order, 1965. [S.I. No. 78 of 1965].* |
| Irish Medicines Board | Irish Medicines Board Act, 1995 as amended by the Irish Medicines Board (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006 (No. 3 of 2006). |
| Medical Council | Section 6 of Medical Practitioners Act, 1978 (No.4 of 1978) and The Medical Practitioners Act 2007 (No.25 of 2007) as amended by Part 3 of the Health Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2007 (No.42 of 2007). |
| Mental Health Commission | Mental Health Act, 2001 (No.25 of 2001). |
| National Cancer Screening Services Board | Health (Corporate Bodies) Act, 1961 (No. 27 of 1961) as amended by Section 22 of the Health (Amendment) (No.3) Act 1996. (No. 32 of 1996). National Cancer Screening Service Board (Establishment) Order 2006. [S.I. 632 of 2006].* |
| National Cancer Registry Board | Health (Corporate Bodies) Act, 1961 (No. 27 of 1961) National Cancer Registry Board (Establishment) Order, 1991, [S.I. No. 19 of 1991], amended by National Cancer Registry Board (Establishment) Order, 1991 (Amendment) Order, 1996 [SI No. 293 of 1996]. * |
| National Council for the Professional Development of Nursing & Midwifery | Health (Corporate Bodies) Act, 1961 (No. 27 of 1961) as amended by Section 22 of the Health (Amendment) (No.3) Act 1996. (No. 32 of 1996). The National Council for the Professional Development of Nursing and Midwifery (Establishment) Order, 1999 [S.I. No. 376 of 1999].* |
| National Council on Ageing and Older People | Health (Corporate Bodies) Act, 1961 (No. 27 of 1961). The National Council on Ageing and Older People (Establishment) Order, 1997 — [S.I. No. 120 of 1997]. * |
| National Paediatric Hospital Development Board | Health (Corporate Bodies) Act, 1961 (No. 27 of 1961). National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (Establishment) Order, 2007. [S.I. 246 of 2007].* |
| National Social Work Qualifications Board | Health (Corporate Bodies) Act, 1961 (No. 27 of 1961). The National Social Work Qualifications Board (Establishment) Order, 1997 — [S.I. 97 of 1997].* |
| National Treatment Purchase Fund | Health (Corporate Bodies) Act, 1961 (No. 27 of 1961). National Treatment Purchase Fund Board (Establishment) Order, 2004 [S.I. 179 of 2004].* |
| Office for Tobacco Control | Section 9 of Public Health (Tobacco) Act 2002 (No. 6 of 2002). |
| Chief Inspector of Social Services | Section 40 of the Health Act 2007 (No. 23 of 2007). |
| Office of the Ombudsman for Children | Ombudsman for Children Act (No. 22 of 2002) |
| Opticians Board | Section 55 of Opticians Act 1956 (No. 17 of 1956). |
| Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland | Pharmacy Act 2007. (No.20 of 2007) |
| Poisons Council | Section 2 of Poisons Act 1961. (No. 12 of 1961).Comhairle Na Nimheanna Order, 1962. [S.I. No. 44 of 1962]. |
| Postgraduate Medical and Dental Board | Section 39 of Medical Practitioners Act 1978 (No. 4 of 1978). |
| Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council | Health (Corporate Bodies) Act, 1961 (No. 27 of 1961) The Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (Establishment) Order, 2000 — [S.I. 109 of 2000] The Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (Establishment) Order, 2000 (Amendment) Order 2004 [S.I. No. 575 of 2004].* |
| Voluntary Health Insurance Board | Voluntary Health Insurance Act 1957. (No. 1 of 1957). |
| Women's Health Council | Health (Corporate Bodies) Act, 1961 (No. 27 of 1961). The Women's Health Council (Establishment) Order, 1997 — [S.I. No. 278 of 1997] The Women's Health Council (Establishment) Order, 1997 (Amendment) Order 2001) — [S.I. No. 92 of 2001].* |
| [*The provisions of Section 5 of the Health Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2007 (No. 42 of 2007) apply.] |
The vast majority of enquiries to agencies concerning operational matters arise in relation to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are within the statutory responsibility of the HSE. Accordingly, extensive arrangements have been put in place by the HSE to meet the information needs of members of the Oireachtas. The Parliamentary Affairs Division of the HSE (PAD) provides a central contact for all requests from Oireachtas members for information relating to its activities. The PAD also allows for the centralised receipt, assignment and tracking of Parliamentary Questions within the HSE's extensive network of operations and monitors overall performance in relation to the timely issue of replies. The HSE provides specified information to members of the Houses of the Oireachtas in accordance with the Health Act 2004 (Dealings with members of either House of the Oireachtas) Regulations 2005, S.I. No 798 of 2005. In addition the PAD provides a dedicated email address for enquiries from Oireachtas members, provides briefings for Oireachtas members and routinely emails press releases to Oireachtas members.
In relation to the other agencies mentioned above, it is open to Oireachtas members to write to the Chief Executive Officer of thebody concerned. It may also be of interest to note that all of these bodies have websites which provide useful information.
No comments