Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As was noted in Parliamentary Question No. 646 of 30 April 2024, there are currently no specific plans at this time to legislate to prohibit the dispensing of EU prescriptions in the Republic of Ireland. Officials in my department are currently exploring the available options to enhance safety standards around online EEA prescriptions.

Also noted in PQ No. 646 of 30 April, a new clinical programme for gender healthcare has been initiated by the HSE, and over the next two years an updated clinical model for gender healthcare services will be developed. The work will be informed by the best evidence based clinical care for individuals who express gender incongruence or dysphoria. Emerging and evolving international evidence, including the recently published Cass report, will be reviewed as part of this work. The HSE aim to provide a wide range of services for all people with gender dysphoria, from care locally in the community to more specialised and complex care and are committed to building a service based on experience and clinical evidence, respect, inclusiveness, and compassion. There is a clear and well-established approach to the development of a Model of Care which will incorporate best available clinical evidence and input from healthcare professionals, patient advocates and those with lived experience. Developing a Model of Care for gender healthcare services is expected to be a complex process and the HSE and my department will work closely together to support the process, ensure transparency and to keep the patient and their safety at the centre of the process.