‘Committee Transcripts’

Dr. Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health

Opening Statement by Dr. Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer of the Department of Health on Poly Implant Prostheses (PIP) Breast Implants to the Joint Committee on Health & Children Leinster House 

I thank the Chairman and the members for this opportunity to speak with them.  I will keep my introductory statement as brief as possible and I will be happy to reply to as many comments and questions that I can deal with.  I am aware that my colleagues in the Irish Medicines Board (IMB) met with you on 29th March last and provided you with a very comprehensive assessment of the current situation in relation to the regulation of medical devices and the IMB’s role in relation to same.  Read the rest of this entry »

The extract below is taken from the Oireachtas website

Symphysiotomy: Statements 

Minister for Health (Deputy James Reilly):    At the outset I wish to explain to the House precisely what symphysiotomy is and to give some context about its use as a medical procedure and specifically its use in Ireland. Symphysiotomy is a medical procedure that was used primarily before the advent of safe caesarean sections. The procedure was carried out in Ireland from approximately 1920 until the early 1980s. It was gradually replaced by caesarean section as the preferred method of delivery in childbirth where required. It is clear that the procedure continued to be used in Ireland for some time after it had been all but discontinued in other developed countries. In this regard within Ireland it continued to be used for a longer period, most notably in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda. Read the rest of this entry »

National Substance Misuse Strategy Report: Discussion

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Róisín Shortall):    I thank the committee for the invitation to appear before it today. I am pleased to have another opportunity to discuss the problem of alcohol misuse in the country and how we might approach tackling it. The committee has produced a report which is a very welcome development. I read it with interest and I very much welcome the committee’s engagement on the issue of alcohol misuse. I know it has had extensive hearings on the matter. It is timely that the report was published shortly before the report of the steering group. We have two very comprehensive reports which will form the basis of future early action in this area. Read the rest of this entry »