Written answers

Tuesday, 27 November 2012

Department of Health

Departmental Agencies

Photo of Billy TimminsBilly Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the number of new State agencies, forums and task forces that have been established in 2012; the number of new employees there are as a result of this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53700/12]

Photo of James ReillyJames Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I wish to confirm that no new agencies have been established by my Department in 2012 and consequently there are no new employees as a result.

Details in respect of the other bodies referred to by the Deputy, established between January and September 2012, are set out below. In most cases these types of bodies are established on a temporary basis and are usually staffed by existing employees of my Department and/or the relevant agencies/interest groups who undertake the work as part of their normal duties. Occasionally it may be necessary to take on outside experts on a temporary basis to provide additional expertise for the duration of the existence of the body.

Sugar Sweetened Drinks Health Impact Assessment Steering Committee (SAGO Sub-group)
Health and Well-Being Steering Group
Expert Group to review the Mental Health Act 2001
CORU: Radiographers Registration Board established January 2012
Review Group on National Children's Hospital: est. March 2012, headed by Frank Dolphin, established to consider decision of An Bord Pleanála to refuse planning permission for National Paediatric Hospital on site of Mater; reported to Minister 8 June 2012
Strategic Board on Establishment of Hospital Groups, and associated project team: est. June 2012, chaired by Prof. John Higgins; work currently ongoing
Tallaght HIQA Report Oversight Group, est. June 2012, chaired by Deputy Sec. Gen.
Implementation Group on Universal Health Insurance (UHI), established in February 2012.
Hospital Financing Sub-Group of the UHI Implementation Group, established in April 2012.
Health Insurance Consultative Forum, established in February 2012.
Universal Primary Care (UPC) Project Team
Implementation Group on Generic Substitution and Reference Pricing established August 2012
November 2011 - The National Steering Group for the European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations 2012
Tallaght Report Implementation Oversight Group
Ministerially appointed Expert Group on the A, B & C v Ireland Judgment, established 13th Jan 2012, on foot of the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in the A, B and C v Ireland case, and to fulfil a commitment included in the Programme for Government. The Expert Group will recommend a series of options on how to implement the judgment taking into account the constitutional, legal, medical, and ethical considerations involved in the formulation of public policy in this area and the over-riding need for expeditious action.
Sexual Health Strategy Steering Group and 3 Working Groups established May 2012 to develop a National Sexual Health Strategy.
National Advisory Committee on Bioethics established by Minister for Health in March 2012.
The task of this committee is to advise the Minister on the ethical and social implications of scientific developments in human medicine and healthcare. In particular, this includes:
1. Providing advice in the form of expert reports on priority issues of national significance as requested by the Minister.
2. Providing recommendations and assistance towards the development of healthcare policy and associated legislation.
3. Representing Ireland at international fora on bioethics and collaborating, communicating and exchanging information with other national bioethics committees regarding developments in health policy.
The Committee is comprised of 12 members. The Committee's membership is multi-disciplinary. Members were invited to join the Committee by virtue of their personal expertise, distinction and authority and not as representatives of particular bodies or professions.

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