Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 May 2026
1180. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the specific evidence of Hantavirus risk in Ireland that prompted its addition as a notifiable disease under the Infectious Diseases (Amendment) Regulations 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38986/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra1182. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if the inclusion of updated references to Covid-19 variants and influenza in the 2026 Regulations indicates any planned reintroduction of enhanced surveillance, testing or public health restrictions for respiratory viruses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38988/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra1183. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the circumstances in which a person diagnosed with Hantavirus could be subject to detention or isolation under the amended regulations; the safeguards in place to protect the rights of the individual and the appeal mechanisms available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38989/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra1185. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if the Government has assessed the potential impact of the Infectious Diseases (Amendment) Regulations 2026 on farmers, rural communities and people working with rodents given that Hantavirus is primarily rodent-borne; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38991/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra1187. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the reason Hantavirus has been prioritised for mandatory notification and potential isolation powers at this time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38993/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra1188. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if she will confirm that the expanded powers in the Infectious Diseases Regulations will not be used to impose restrictions similar to those experienced during the Covid-19 period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38994/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra1189. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health to provide a full breakdown of all diseases added to or removed from the notifiable list in the past ten years; the rationale for each change; the criteria used to determine which diseases warrant mandatory notification and isolation powers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38995/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1180, 1182, 1183, 1185, 1187, 1188 and 1189 together.
All medical practitioners, including clinical directors of diagnostic laboratories, are required to notify the Medical Officer of Health/Director of Public Health of certain notifiable Infectious Diseases. This information is used to investigate cases, thus preventing the spread of infection and further cases. The information is also used to monitor the burden and changing levels of diseases, which provides evidence for public health interventions.
The 1947 Health Act entitles the Minister for Health to specify by Regulation the diseases that are Infectious Diseases and covered by legislation, so-called notifiable diseases. The Principal Regulations are the Infectious Diseases Regulations 1981. The list of diseases (and their respective causative pathogens) that are notifiable diseases is contained in the Schedule to the Infectious Diseases Regulations. The most recent amendment to the Regulations is the Infectious Diseases (Amendment) Regulations 2026 (S.I. No. 209 of 2026).
The Infectious Diseases (Amendment) Regulations 2026 amend the Regulations only to provide for the inclusion of hantavirus disease and do not introduce any changes in relation to COVID-19 or influenza.
Over the past ten years, the following diseases were added to the notifiable diseases list: Zika virus infection (2016); carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae, herpes simplex (neonatal), MCR-positive Enterobacteriaceae, and novel or rare antimicrobial-resistant organisms (NRAO) (2018); COVID-19 (2020); mpox (monkeypox) (2022); and hantavirus disease (2026).
A limited number of diseases are included amongst the list of Infectious Diseases for which a person who is a probable source of infection may, as a necessary safeguard against the spread of the disease, be detained and isolated in accordance with Section 38 of the Health Act 1947. To justify an order under Section 38, a person cannot be effectively isolated at their home, and their detention must be necessary to safeguard against the spread of infection. Orders made under Section 38 are subject to statutory safeguards, and a detained person has the right to have the order reviewed and to avail of appeal mechanisms provided for under the Act.
Following public health assessment and engagement between the Department of Health and the HSE, Hantavirus disease was added as a notifiable disease, to be immediately notifiable and included among those diseases to which Section 38 powers may apply. These changes were made in response to a cluster of hantavirus cases linked to the cruise ship MV Hondius. The inclusion of hantavirus disease is intended to support rapid public health response and control measures. The inclusion of diseases within the notifiable diseases framework does not, of itself, provide for or signal the introduction of public health restrictions. Decisions to include a disease as notifiable are based on a precautionary, evidence-informed approach, enabling timely detection and effective public health response.
These Regulations do not impose direct new obligations on farmers, rural communities or individuals working with rodents. Rather, they place responsibilities on medical practitioners, laboratories and public health authorities to notify and monitor cases. As such, no impacts on these groups have been identified.
