Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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496. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 131 of 25 February 2015 and the memorandum of understanding on health regulation between Ireland and China, to expand on the activities of the various elements of traditional Chinese medicine, with a particular focus on acupuncture; the instances of practical progress made since the memorandum was signed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6747/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on health cooperation between the Department of Health of Ireland and the Ministry of Health of the People’s Republic of China was signed by both Ministers at a bilateral meeting in China on 16 August 2012. The Memorandum replaced a previous MOU which covered the period 2004 to 2009.

The objective of the MOU is to encourage and develop cooperation and exchange in the field of healthcare between Ireland and the People’s Republic of China. Traditional Chinese Medicine is one such area of potential cooperation set out in the MOU, though this is not mandatory as cooperation and exchange will take place in accordance with the common interests of the two countries.

The areas of cooperation set out in the MOU are:

1. Health regulation;

2. eHealth and telemedicine;

3. Medical professional training;

4. Health promotion;

5. Maternal and child health;

6. Hospital standards; and

7. Traditional Chinese medicine.

The MOU is valid until 2017. There is currently no further agreement under discussion.

There is at present no statutory regulation of complementary therapists, such as acupuncturists, in Ireland. While complementary therapists are not subject to professional statutory regulation, they are subject to a range of legislation and regulation, similar to other practitioners including consumer legislation, competition, contract and criminal law.

Ireland enjoys a strong and growing bilateral relationship with China. Since the Ministerial visit to China in 2012 there was a return visit of a Chinese delegation, headed by the Chinese Minister for Health, to Dublin in May 2013. There was also a high level visit from senior health officials from Shanghai in May 2015. These visits allowed the Chinese delegations to discuss health policy with the Minister and health officials and to visit hospital, primary and community services to see these services first hand and to meet the health professionals responsible for the delivery of these services to exchange views and experiences.

In addition, the Department facilitates, where possible, requests from Chinese delegations to discuss and share experiences on health matters.