Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
Question:194. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health if a person is entitled to attend a service (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24267/24]
View answerHospital Services
Questions (194)
Written answers
Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Health Services
Questions (195)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:195. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when funding for an individual’s placement with resilience care to be provided by a charity will be approved by the HSE (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24283/24]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Hospital Staff
Questions (196)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:196. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if a doctor will be replaced in Bantry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24333/24]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Xeputy directly, as soon as possible.
Assisted Suicide
Questions (197, 198)
Jim O'Callaghan
Question:197. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health his views on whether he has any role to play under section 9 of the Medical Practitioners Act 2007 arising from the removal of the restriction on euthanasia and assisted suicide from the 9th edition of the ethics guide that was published recently by the Medical Council. [24376/24]
View answerJim O'Callaghan
Question:198. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health whether he has any concerns about the recent removal of the restriction on euthanasia and assisted suicide from the 9th edition of the ethics guide that was published recently by the Medical Council; and his views on whether it was made with adequate consultation within the medical profession [24377/24]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 197 and 198 together.
As part of the Medical Council’s role, and to support doctors to meet high standards, the Council produces guidance on a wide range of scenarios related to professional conduct, ethics and aspects of practice which are likely to arise over the course of a doctor’s professional career. The Guide to Professional Conduct and Ethics for Medical Practitioners (‘the Guide’) outlines the values and principles that underpin professionalism and good medical practice in the interests of patients and the broader population.
The Medical Council is an independent statutory body and I have no role in the Council’s production of the Guide to Professional Conduct and Ethics for Medical Practitioners. Under section 9 of the Medical Practitioners Act 2007, I am precluded from giving policy directions to the Council in relation to the performance of its functions relating to the professional conduct and ethics of registered medical practitioners.
I am advised that the rationale applied in the Council’s drafting process of the 9th edition of the Guide was to remain at a high level in relation to legislation and produce supplementary Guidance where necessary, which I understand is in keeping with the approach taken by other international regulatory bodies. The decision was made by Council to remove the selected references and add an overarching reference to a doctor’s duty to comply with laws and regulations pertaining to their practice. The Guide is very clear and states that the medical profession must comply with, and operate within, the law.
As per legislation, it is illegal for all individuals, including doctors, to take part in the deliberate killing of a person, or to assist a person to end their own life. A doctor also has the ability to consciously object to partake in the carrying out of a lawful procedure which conflicts with their moral values, subject to compliance that is outlined in page 42 of the Guide.
Question No. 198 answered with Question No. 197.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (199)
Brendan Griffin
Question:199. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be called for an appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24385/24]
View answerWritten answers
Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Grant Payments
Questions (200)
Fergus O'Dowd
Question:200. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 285 of 23 May 2024, if the case and correspondence will be further reviewed (details supplied); if the required statutory instrument could be amended or reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24260/24]
View answerWritten answers
Section 7 of the Student Support Act 2011 outlines the position with regard to approved institutions for the purposes of the Student Grant Scheme.
As the education provider in question is an approved Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) centre it is comprehended within Section 7(1)(d) of the Act as an “education institution in the State in receipt of grants out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas for the provision of post-leaving certificate courses”.
Under the Student Grant Scheme Further Education Centres are not designated as approved third level institutions for the purposes of providing higher education awards.
If a change was to be considered this would be a policy change which would have wider impacts than the Student Grant Scheme. The Department reviews policy on an ongoing basis, having regard to overall resource constraints and other competing demands in the further and higher education sector.