Written answers
Wednesday, 6 October 2010
Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government
Infectious Diseases
8:00 pm
Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 291: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will provide information on Lyme disease on the website of his Department and encourage local authorities and other bodies under the auspices of his Department to do so also, using the information provided by Tick Talk Ireland in order to inform people of how to protect themselves from this disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35418/10]
John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The question of public awareness on disease and infections is a matter for the Minister for Health and Children.
Jennifer O'Dea
Posted on 14 Oct 2010 6:10 pm (Report this comment)
Tick Talk Ireland received an email on the 16th August 2010 from Minister Gormley's office stating the following:
Please Quote Ref: REP5609/JG/10
16 August, 2010
I have been asked by Mr. John Gormley, T.D., Minister for the
Environment, Heritage and Local Government to acknowledge receipt of your recent email in connection with Lyme Disease.
**The contents of your email have been noted and will be brought to the attention of the relevant officials.**
Yours sincerely,
________________
Eddie Kiernan
Private Secretary
The Health & Protection Surveillance centre have kindly issued an updated leaflet AND poster with intent for these to be made available to the public at national parks. As far as I understand the national parks is under the auspices of the Dept of the Environment. It is shocking to see that there isn't even a link to Lyme disease on the Department of Environment's own website - puzzling when Minister Gormley was happy to issue a nation wide license to allow hunting of muntjac deer to help lessen the spread of Lyme disease in Ireland. Doesn't he think that pubic awareness would also go some way in helping to halt the spread of disease? By having these leaflets & posters available at national parks would enable the public to get a 'visual' reminder of the dangers of contracting tick-borne illnesses in this country. I would implore Minister Gormley to please at least WORK with the Department of Health in trying to get the information out to the public's eye where it needs to be.