Written Answers Nos. 901-915
901. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health if the Government will designate health as a priority during Ireland’s forthcoming EU Presidency; if she will commit to hosting a Presidency-level event on Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan as a flagship initiative for prevention policies across Member States; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32239/26]
View answerIreland’s Presidency Health Agenda will aim at positioning health and competitiveness as mutually reinforcing priorities.
We will promote population health and wellbeing as a vital foundation for European security and competitiveness and highlight how innovation in health systems delivers better health outcomes for European citizens. We will advance the EU Life Sciences agenda and promote innovative and proactive healthcare that focusses on prevention and the roll out of digital health across the EU.
Ireland's Presidency will drive progress on critical EU legislation that advances our health agenda.
The Biotech Act I (published in December 2025) is a strategic priority for EU competitiveness and sovereignty. The Act streamlines regulations across clinical trials, advanced therapy medicinal products, and biomanufacturing. It mobilises €10 billion in investment funding (2026–27) via the Biotech EU initiative with the European Investment Bank. Key measures include simplified clinical trial procedures, innovation support mechanisms, and biosecurity safeguards. This flagship legislation will dominate health policy discussions during our Presidency.
The Medical Devices Regulation & In Vitro Diagnostics Regulation (amendments published in December 2025) will simplify and modernise device approval while maintaining patient safety. Expected outcomes include €3–5 billion in annual cost savings for manufacturers, faster patient access to innovative devices, and reduced shortages of critical medical equipment.
The EU Safe Heart Plan aims to reduce premature cardiovascular deaths by 25% by 2035 through improved prevention, screening, and treatment across all Member States. The plan emphasises shifting from treatment to prevention, and among other things calls for stronger action against tobacco and smoking.
Other ongoing files expected to progress during our Presidency include the Critical Medicines Act, the WHO Pandemic Agreement Annex on Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing, and the EU Civil Protection Mechanism reform, if not completed during the Cyprus Presidency.
We are planning a High-Level Ministerial Presidency Conference on Prevention, Innovation and Health Equity, in November 2026. The issues of cancer and inequalities; policy and practice, Integrating Cancer Prevention as part of Survivorship Care and Cervical Cancer Elimination will be discussed at the conference. Experts from across the EU and Ireland will attend. The issues of vaccination and prevention, cancer screening, targeting health inequalities and survivorship are among the main priorities of the EU Beating Cancer Plan.
In addition, we have received several requests for Presidency Associated Events on the topic. These are currently being reviewed by my Department and the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade.
902. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether a standardised national dataset exists capturing all presentations of suicidal ideation and self-harm across both emergency departments and primary care settings; if not, the steps being taken to establish such a dataset; and the timeline for its implementation. [32242/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
908. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether all adverse incidents related to suicidal ideation and self-harm presentations are consistently recorded within the National Incident Management System (NIMS); and whether a specific classification exists to allow for national reporting and trend analysis. [32248/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
914. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health in relation to the free contraception scheme, the reason commonly used contraceptive medication such as elvina are still excluded; the steps being taken to ensure this scheme becomes genuinely inclusive of all available prescribed contraceptive pills; the processes in place to review and reconsider whether each type of pill is included for funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32262/26]
View answerThe Free Contraception Scheme was launched in September 2022, initially for those aged 17-25. It has been gradually expanded and now includes women aged 17-35 from July 1st, 2024. The scheme is open to women, girls and other people identifying as transgender or non-binary, who are ordinarily resident in Ireland and for whom prescription contraception is deemed suitable by their doctors.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines and medical items, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. Reimbursement is for licenced indications which have been granted market authorisation by the European Medicines Agency or the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA).
In line with the 2013 Act and the national framework agreed with industry, a company must apply to the HSE to have a new medicine added to the formal Reimbursement List. The HSE have advised that no pricing and reimbursement application has been received for the Elvina oral contraceptive pill.
915. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of protected disclosures that have gone missing or have been compromised that have been submitted to her Department or State bodies that are responsible to her Department. [32290/26]
View answerIn line with the confidentiality provisions of the Act, my Department does not comment on individual disclosures. The Department of Health has robust procedures in place to ensure all disclosures received are handled in accordance with the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 including the provision of secure reporting channels and appropriate record management arrangements. These measures are intended to support the integrity of the process and public confidence in the making of disclosures.
I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Details for other bodies under the aegis of my Department are operational matters for the bodies concerned and the Deputy should contact the relevant Director/CEO/Registrar directly.
