I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am pleased to have this opportunity to address the House on the Second Stage of the Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2020. The Bill was published on 19 November and, as Deputies will be aware, successfully concluded its passage through the Seanad on 26 November. I welcome the support received in that House for the core principle of community rating, which is a long-established and well-supported Government policy for the health insurance market. This is a short …

I thank Deputies for their contributions to the debate on this Bill. Health insurance is held by a large proportion of people in Ireland relative to other countries, as has been stated by many Deputies. It is important that we took the opportunity to discuss this Bill and the positive effect that community rating and other aspects of health insurance regulation have on people's daily lives. The voluntary health insurance system in Ireland operates on the basis of community rating, meaning people who are old or sick…

I thank the Deputies for giving me the opportunity, on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, to update the House on the Covid-19 immunisation programme. The Government is committed to the roll-out of a Covid-19 vaccination programme as soon as suitable products have been authorised and supplies are available. In this regard, a high-level task force has recently been established, under the chairmanship of Professor Brian MacCraith, to support and oversee the development and implementation of the programme. The ta…

We all agree that recent news from the vaccine developers is a beacon of hope after a very difficult year. Vaccination is a hugely effective intervention for saving lives and promoting good health. The safety and effectiveness of vaccines is our absolute priority and any Covid-19 vaccine administered in Ireland will have to be authorised by the European Medicines Agency. While we await news on whether these vaccines comply with all the EMA's requirement of quality, safety and efficacy, the Government had been worki…

I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. The NMBI is the regulatory body for the nursing and midwifery professions. Its role in setting standards and providing guidance for approximately 79,000 registered nurses and midwives focuses on public safety. The board is an independent body answerable to the Oireachtas with responsibility for ensuring that it has the financial capacity to fulfil all of its legal obligations. The NMBI has a number of statutory obligations: to protect the integrity of the practic…

It has long been the practice, both in this country and internationally, that registered health professions pay an annual registration fee to their respective regulator allowing it to perform its functions independently of State support. The regulation of the healthcare sector and its professionals has become increasingly important over recent decades to ensure the compliance of set standards of healthcare and administration. As I said, the NMBI has a number of statutory obligations to fulfil to protect the integri…

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue today. I again take the opportunity on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, to recognise the outstanding contribution our front-line workers make every day to enable the country to respond in the way it does to the Covid-19 pandemic. No profession is more front line than our paramedics. To move on to the particular issue raised, we are talking about a branch of the Psychiatric Nurses Association called the National Ambulance Service Representative Association or NASRA. …

It is important to reiterate the position in respect of this dispute. NASRA, which is affiliated to the PNA, is not recognised by the HSE and, therefore, does not have negotiating rights. Furthermore, the PNA does not have negotiating rights for ambulance personnel. The legal position is very clear. The HSE and the National Ambulance Service have no obligation to recognise NASRA or the PNA in the context of representing ambulance personnel. The National Ambulance Service is committed to maintaining positive industr…

The Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, is aware of the research article to which the Deputies refer on foetal medicine specialists' experience in providing a new service of termination of pregnancy for fatal foetal anomaly. The research article to which the Deputies refer reports on interviews carried out with ten foetal medical specialists in Ireland. Foetal medicine focuses on the management of high-risk pregnancies and includes the assessment of foetal growth and the diagnosis of foetal illness and abnormality. …

In concluding the debate on the issues raised by the Deputies, I would like to clarify again, on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, that to provide a termination of pregnancy under section 11 of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018, two medical practitioners must have previously certified the reasonable opinion formed in good faith that the foetus concerned is likely to die either before or within 28 days. It is essential that we have in place a medically delivered safe and reg…

I thank the Senator for his remarks. The national AIDS strategy referred to by the Senator was published in 2000. Its most recent successor is the National Sexual Health Strategy 2015-2020, published in 2015. That strategy aims to improve the sexual health and well-being of the population and to reduce negative sexual health outcomes, including unplanned pregnancies and the transmission of STIs, including HIV. These aims are being addressed by the delivery of a programme of work to improve education and prevention …

Some 23 public STI services nationally provide free STI and HIV testing. HIV testing is also available as part of the national antenatal screening programme, with almost 100% uptake. The HSE sexual health and crisis pregnancy programme funds and collaborates with community partners to expand HIV testing among higher risk population groups such as gay men and migrants in order to identify those living with undiagnosed HIV. The two most important partners are HIV Ireland and the Gay Health Network. I was delighted to…

I thank Senator Doherty for raising this important issue. I recognise the importance of student nurses and midwives completing their essential clinical placements in a safe environment and the potential hardship that might arise for students on placement due to Covid-19, as the Senator outlined, such as maintaining part-time employment, increased travel and additional accommodation costs. Student nurses and midwives are not paid for clinical placements in years one to three, inclusive, and year four from the period…

I thank Senator Doherty for raising this important issue. I reiterate our gratitude and pay tribute to student nurses, midwives and their healthcare colleagues who continue to deliver care right across the system during this unprecedented time. The past nine months have demonstrated, more visibly than at any other time in our recent history, the dedication, skill and commitment of our healthcare workers. I am acutely aware that this was not without risk, particularly for everyone on the front line. In order to prot…

I thank Senator Warfield for raising this issue. I am aware of the petition which has been launched. Sexual health is a priority for the Department of Health. This was evidenced by the publication of the National Sexual Health Strategy 2015-2020, the first major strategy to tackle this vital area. We have made good progress with implementation of the strategy since 2015. The Department of Health, along with the HSE's sexual health and crisis pregnancy programme, have worked hard to build important partnerships with…

I would like to highlight, in more detail, some of the recent actions of my Department and the HSE with regard to tackling HIV infection. The most significant development in 2019 was the introduction of a national programme of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis which involves the pre-emptive use of anti-retroviral medication to prevent HIV infection within a holistic prevention service which includes regular monitoring and testing, as well as advice and counselling on safer sex practices. Funding of €5.4 million was prov…

I understand negotiations are ongoing. One company was mentioned. There is confusion about the figures. Some have said €650 and others have said it could be down to as little as €160. It is still a lot of money. I understand the departmental officials can meet people such as the Senator to discuss whether there is a way around it.

I thank the Senators for their contributions on the Bill, which is discussed every year. During the Second Stage debate on Tuesday, I outlined that the objective and basis of Government policy in the area of private health insurance is to ensure that people have access to affordable private health insurance regardless of their age, gender or health status. This means people who are old or sick do not have to pay more than the young and healthy, whereas in other health insurance systems the level of risk that an ind…

I thank the Cathaoirleach for the opportunity to update the House on the Government's response to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and to the approach to reopening Ireland. As Senators will be aware, this country has been developing and reframing our response to Covid-19 for almost a year. Our country moved swiftly to establish the mechanisms to respond to the disease and this was undertaken on a cross-Government basis. Senators will be aware that a National Public Health Emergency Team, NPHET, was established, as wel…

How much time do I have?