Committee Reports::Report - Annual Report 2004 and Work Programme 2005::01 May, 2005::Appendix

In accordance with Standing Order 84(4) of Dáil Éireann and Standing Order 69(4) of Seanad Éireann the Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children hereby presents its Work Programme for 2005.

Orders of Reference of the Joint Committee on Health and Children

(i)such public affairs administered by the Department of Health and Children as it may select, including, in respect of Government policy, bodies under the aegis of that Department;

(ii)such matters of policy for which the Minister for Health and Children is officially responsible as it may select;

(iii)such related policy issues as it may select concerning bodies which are partly or wholly funded by the State or which are established or appointed by the members of the Government or by the Oireachtas;

(iv)such Statutory Instruments made by the Minister for Health and Children and laid before the Houses as it may select;

(v)such proposals for EU legislation and related policy issues as may be referred to it from time to time, in accordance with Standing Order 91(4);

(vi)the strategy statement laid before each House of the Oireachtas by the Minister in charge of that Department pursuant to section 5(2) of the Public Service Management Act, 1997, and shall be authorised for the purposes of section 10 of that Act; and;

(vii)such Annual Reports or Annual Reports and Accounts, required by law and laid before either or both Houses of the Oireachtas, of bodies specified in paragraphs 2(a)(i) and (iii), and the overall operational results, statements of strategy and corporate plans of these bodies, as it may select;

Provided that the Joint Committee shall not, at any time, consider any matter relating to such a body which is, which has been, or which is, at that time, proposed to be considered by the Committee of Public Accounts pursuant to the Orders of Reference of that Committee and/or the Comptroller and Auditor General (Amendment) Act, 1993;

Provided further that the Joint Committee shall refrain from inquiring into in public session, or publishing confidential information regarding, any such matter if so requested either by the body concerned or by the Minister for Health and Children; and

(viii)such other matters as may be jointly referred to it from time to time by both Houses of the Oireachtas,

and shall report thereon to both Houses of the Oireachtas.

Accordingly, the items listed in this Work Programme will be considered by the Joint Committee within the parameters defined by it's Orders of Reference, as amended from time to time.

Order of Consideration of Items and amendment of Work Programme.

It should be noted that the issues listed above for inclusion in the Joint Committee's Work Programme are not set down in an order of priority. The Joint Committee will decide on individual areas for review in light of its assessment of a particular need during the year. In that context it is also probable that other relevant issues, not included in the Work Programme, may arise from time to time, which will require urgent attention by the Joint Committee. In these circumstances, it shall, if necessary, amend this work programme to include further items or delete or revise existing items. Any such amendment of this work programme shall be laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas as soon as may be following such amendment.

Joint Committee: Items for consideration

General

•Proposed deregulation of the Pharmaceutical Industry (in conjunction with the Joint Committee on Enterprise and Small Business).

•Progress made in the reforming and restructuring the Health Service with particular regard to the Brennan, Hanly and Prospectus Reports and the establishment of the Health Service Executive.

•The cost of insuring medical professionals and the introduction of Enterprise Liability into the Public Hospital System.

•Such other matters under the Orders of Reference of the Joint Committee as it may decide.

Safety of Blood Products.

•Possibility of contracting a new variant CJD from blood products through blood transfusion.

•Role of the Department of Health and Children in ensuring the safety of blood products.

Hospital Services.

•Improvements in the services provided in Hospital Accident & Emergency Departments.

•Present and future needs of the Neurological Services (both Neurology and Neuro-Surgery).

•Progress made in implementing the recommendations contained in the Report entitled ‘Development of Radiation Oncology Services in Ireland'.

General Medical Service.

•Specialist Training for GPs treating patients with mental illness, alcohol and/or drug addictions and those at risk of committing suicide.

Skills shortages in the Health Services.

•Recruitment and retention of qualified Medical Personnel to include Doctors, Nurses, Physiotherapists, Speech and Language Therapists and Occupational Therapists by Health Boards.

•Review of progress made in implementing the recommendations contained in the Report of the Joint Committee on Restrictive Practices in Medical Training in Ireland.

Treatment of Infectious Diseases.

Treatment of Addictions.

•Availability of appropriate referral treatment for alcohol, drug and other substance abuse addictions.

Health Services for the Elderly.

Disability Issues.

•Present and future needs of the physically disabled, particularly wheelchair users.

•Progress made in providing life-long health services to people with autism and related disorders (in conjunction with the Joint Committee on Education & Science).

Men and Women's Health Issues.

Cancer.

•Screening and treatment available for Cervical, Prostrate and Breast Cancer to include a review of the national roll-out of the ‘Breast Check' Programme.

Health Education and Promotion.

•Education Programmes for young people on Alcohol and Drug Misuse and suicide prevention (in conjunction with the Joint Committee on Education and Science).

•Effectiveness of National Health Promotion Campaigns high-lighting the dangers of smoking.

Mental Health.

•Community care facilities available for people recovering from a mental illness to allow them re-integrate back into society.

•Facilities available for patients with a Dual Diagnosis (a Mental Health problem and an addiction to alcohol or drugs)

Water Fluoridation.

•Benefits of the Water Fluoridation Process and the public concerns about possible risks and side effects to include a further review of the Report of the Forum on Fluoridation.

Children.

•Review of progress made in implementing the recommendations contained in the National Children's Strategy.

•Current vaccination policy and practice, poor take-up rates and public concerns regarding risks and adverse effects.

•High levels of childhood obesity and the possible link with TV advertisements promoting nutritionally deficient, highly calorific foods.

Scrutiny of EU Business.

•Scrutiny of EU legislative proposals pertaining to the Department of Health and Children.

Strategy Statement and the Strategic Management Initiative.

•The Joint Committee will consider the S.M.I. documents relating to the Department of Health and Children in detail during the year and report annually on progress made by the Department.

Travel

Subject to Standing Order 78A and Standing Order 62A, the Committee may decide to undertake travel as necessary in the context of the matter under consideration.

Select Committee on Health and Children

Under Paragraph (1) of its Orders of Reference (Dáil Eireann) the Select Committee will consider such Bills and Estimates pertaining to the Department of Health and Children as shall be referred to it by Dáil Éireann from time to time.

APPENDIX 10

JOINT COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND CHILDREN

WORK PROGRAMME 2005

Introduction