Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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722. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the work being undertaken by his Department in relation to the restructuring of the NIAC in order to facilitate its continuing work and examining improved structural options for the committee, as per the deficiencies identified in the briefing that he received upon entering office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51361/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) is an independent voluntary committee, comprised of expert members, set up by the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI) at the request of the Department of Health and hosted by the RCPI.

The NIAC makes recommendations on immunisation policy to my Department. Its recommendations are based on the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland and international best practice in relation to immunisation. It continues to revise these recommendations to allow for the introduction of new vaccines in Ireland and to keep abreast of changes in the patterns of disease.

The NIAC has played an integral role during the COVID-19 pandemic by providing robust, evidenced based advice to my Department which has informed and supported decision making in relation to the use of COVID-19 vaccines in Ireland.

It is important that we have an effective, fit for purpose, transparent and accountable immunisation advisory function in Ireland. With this in mind, my Department has been examining options for a more sustainable model with appropriate governance structures in place. The Department will be engaging with the NIAC shortly with a view to progressing this work. This will ensure the continued success of existing and future immunisation programmes in Ireland.