I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. In 2019, the HSE recognised the need for increased awareness surrounding the correct identification and diagnosis of fatal foetal anomalies. The clinical review of termination services, as provided under section 11 of the Health (Regulation of Termination Pregnancy) Act 2018, was commissioned by the chief clinical officer of the HSE. From notifications I receive under this Act, I understand that termination services are provided under section 11 in approximately 100 cases…

I will engage this morning with the HSE and the Department to make sure they have full sight of this. The HSE has acknowledged that this has taken a long time to put together. A very eminent chair, Dame Lesley Regan, has been appointed to this work. She is a professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at Imperial College London. She was identified as suitably qualified to lead the review and is an independent person, which is one of the things that was requested and is very important. Professor Regan was also president…

I will ask the Department to revert to the Deputy with a note on the current oversight situation. She should feel free to get in contact with me to discuss the matter when she has received that note. Two additional things are happening that are relevant. First, in this year's budget I have allocated €1.5 million specifically to perinatal genetic services. We know more needs to be done and that we need more expertise in this area so €1.5 million has been invested in the national women and infants health programme, N…

I am sure he would.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 8, 20 and 21 together. I hope the Deputy will accept my bona fides when I say I want to let all sides engage without interference from the Government, Ministers or whatever it may be. What happened yesterday was welcome and I commend the Medical Laboratory Scientists Association, MLSA, on agreeing to suspend the industrial action because it was having a very significant impact on patient services. As I said yesterday in response to the Deputy or his colleague Deputy Boyd Barrett, I …

To the first claim, about the hands-off approach, our approach is quite the opposite. Officials from my Department were in the Labour Court yesterday, along with officials from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The people involved in these negotiations comprise officials from the Departments of Health and Public Expenditure and Reform, the HSE and the MLSA, so I am not for a moment suggesting this has nothing to do with the Government - of course it does. Nevertheless, given all parties have agreed t…

There are five grades at the moment for medical scientists, namely, basic scientist, senior scientist, chief scientist, specialist scientist and laboratory manager, ranging from €34,429 to €95,320. There is an anomaly, as we discussed yesterday, although it applies only in the first year. The grade of medical laboratory aide was moved up at a time when that of medical scientist was not, so there is an overlap. It amounts to only €82 for the entire year, which is very small and applies only for the first year. Never…

The Government and I have been concerned for some time that medical card patients in some parts of the country have been experiencing problems in accessing dental services. The problem became particularly acute over the last couple of years as a significant number of contracted dentists chose to opt out of the DTSS. I secured an additional €10 million in budget 2022 to invest in the scheme. That is a combination of an increase in fees and the reintroduction of scale and polish. To address the concerns of contractor…

There are dentists employed directly by the State in community health centres across the country. I brought my child to one quite recently. It is an interesting proposal. Should we look at substantially increasing that with more directly employed dentists? It is certainly something I would not rule out and it could be examined. In the meantime, however, the vast majority of care is provided by contracted dentists. I am not sure I would characterise it as a sticking plaster. If we are moving from a €40 million inves…

There is no doubt that more is needed. We have this short-term measure and the review, but more needs to be done. We are also looking at training and retention of dental graduates. We are looking at the numbers graduating and the mix between EU and non-EU graduates who are coming in and training. That has to be looked at. We are looking at that for medical students as well, as I know the Deputy will be aware. Ultimately, I agree with the Deputy. We need a new, sustainable, long-term scheme that makes sure everybody…

If we cannot conclude, if we run out of time, I will make sure the Deputy gets a detailed note.

I have been advised by the HSE that the HSA conducted the unannounced inspection in University Hospital Galway, UHG, on 21 October of last year. I understand the issues that were raised during the inspection were immediately addressed by the hospitals and that any obstructions, for example blocking the fire exits, were actioned to ensure continuous on-site safety. Following subsequent engagement between the hospital and the HSA, the hospital has implemented corrective measures, including in relation to ventilation,…

I move amendment No.1: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "notes: — the dedication, professionalism and commitment of all medical scientists throughout the country, and that they have performed a crucial role in the Covid-19 pandemic response; — that medical scientists are the hidden heroes of the health service, as they are the people who process test samples for Covid-19, who do blood tests, who test urine and stool samples, and they have been under intense pressure during the …

What we want is very clear. We want all sides to engage in the established dispute resolution mechanisms. The Public Sector Agreement Group, PSAG, was used twice, as the Deputy will be aware. The recommendation for PSAG under Building Momentum was that all sides would revert to the WRC, critically without industrial action. We are all aware that it is causing very significant disruption to the acute sector. There are patients waiting on quite urgent surgery who are having that surgery cancelled. The Deputy and I kn…

-----resolution cannot be found at the WRC, we would like to see a move to the Labour Court for the issue to be resolved.

The issue is very much of concern for the 35 children involved and their families. I am engaging with the Department and the HSE on this. As the Deputy will be aware, the HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement on medicines under the community drug scheme and for administration of this scheme. Reimbursement is for the licensed indications which have been granted market authorisation. What is important to me and, no doubt, to the Deputy is that the children get access to the drug …

I agree entirely with the Deputy's sentiment. We need this scheme. There have been multiple reports on it. It is being worked on. Unfortunately, it was delayed somewhat by Covid. I know the Deputy will appreciate that many of the resources of the Department and the Office of the Chief State Solicitor had to be diverted to requirements arising due to Covid. It is being looked at. We need to go further because there has been a growing medical negligence sector. Many doctors report that they have to practise defensive…

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. Both he and Deputy Cahill have raised it with me. Some weeks back, there was a short-term issue. We engaged with the HSE and, to its credit, it responded very quickly. I thank the Deputy for acknowledging that the service was provided. The development in question is of concern to me and of considerable concern to the local community. We are working on it and I will revert to the Deputy with a note on it. He should rest assured that I want to see this fully resolved. What …

It is not.

They did not. They said the State does.