John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 235: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the title of each Bill sponsored by her which was passed by the Houses of the Oireachtas and subsequently signed into law in respect of each of the years 2004 to 2008 and to date in 2009; if, in each case, it was drafted and passed in order to give effect to a directive from the European Union; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18852/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Acts sponsored by the Minister for Health and Children which were passed since 2004 are set out below. Any Act which included provisions meeting or reflecting European Union (EU) requirements are shown with an asterisk. The Health Insurance (Amendment) Act 2007 amended the Health Insurance Act 1994 which gave effect to the EU's Third Non-Life Insurance Directive (Council Directive 92/49/EEC) and the Voluntary Health Insurance (Amendment) Act arises in the context of being a requirement under the Non-Life Insurance Directives. The Public Health (Tobacco) Amendment Act 2004 and the Irish Medicine Board (Miscellaneous Provisions ) Act 2006 were partly required by EU obligations. The other Acts shown with an asterisk included EU related provisions but dealt substantially with other policy matters.

The Deputy will be aware that, under the European Communities Acts 1972 to 2007, EU measures may be transposed by statutory instrument with the general practice being to introduce primary legislation where major policy changes are being implemented on foot of EU measures. 2004 Health (Amendment) Act 2004 Public Health (Tobacco)(Amendment) Act 2004* Health Act 2004 2005 Health (Amendment) Act 2005 Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005* 2006 Health (Repayment Scheme) Act 2006 Irish Medicines Board (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006* Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Act 2006 2007 Health (Nursing Homes)(Amendment) Act 2007 Health Insurance (Amendment) Act 2007* Health Act 2007 Pharmacy Act 2007* Medical Practitioners Act 2007* Child Care (Amendment) Act 2007 Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2007 2008 Health Act 2008 Mental Health Act 2008 Voluntary Health Insurance (Amendment) Act 2008*

To date in 2009 no legislation pertaining to my Department has been approved by Dáil Eireann. However, there are currently four Bills before the Oireachtas. These are: Nursing Home Support Scheme Bill 2008 Adoption Bill 2008 Health Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008 Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009