It is very important that we have a focus on men's health, just as we have, correctly, had an emphasis on women's health. The funding is spread across a number of different streams. I will have to ask my officials to pull the information out for the Deputy and update him. I assure him this issue continues to be a priority for my Department.
TDs / Jennifer Carroll MacNeill
Jennifer Carroll MacNeill
Minister for Health
Portrait: © Houses of the Oireachtas (Oireachtas (Open Data) PSI Licence) · source file
0
questions asked
Members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them
182,871
words spoken in the chamber
179,569 as a minister, 3,302 as a TD
355
votes recorded
Each Yes, No or Abstained in a recorded vote
From the Dáil chamber only: committee meetings are not in this archive.
Members of the Government answer parliamentary questions rather than ask them, so this page lists none of theirs.
Month by month
Low months are usually recesses, when the Dáil does not sit. The archive runs to 22 October 2026.
Contributions to debates 710 in all
Dec 2024Oct 2026
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| Month | Contributions |
|---|---|
| December 2024 | 0 |
| January 2025 | 0 |
| February 2025 | 19 |
| March 2025 | 40 |
| April 2025 | 20 |
| May 2025 | 52 |
| June 2025 | 52 |
| July 2025 | 44 |
| August 2025 | 0 |
| September 2025 | 7 |
| October 2025 | 59 |
| November 2025 | 56 |
| December 2025 | 11 |
| January 2026 | 57 |
| February 2026 | 9 |
| March 2026 | 51 |
| April 2026 | 45 |
| May 2026 | 11 |
| June 2026 | 14 |
| July 2026 | 60 |
| August 2026 | 0 |
| September 2026 | 12 |
| October 2026 | 91 |
Debates they spoke in most
Plus 567 contributions in the regular slots, such as Leaders' Questions and Priority Questions. Speech from the chair is not counted.
Party, constituency and offices
- constituency Dún Laoghaire 29 November 2024 to now
- party Fine Gael 29 November 2024 to now
- office Minister for Health 23 January 2025 to now
Hear, hear.
I thank the Deputy for his ongoing engagement on this issue more broadly. He is right that the drug has been approved by the EMA. The next stage is that the drug company must make an application to the HSE. I checked this morning to see if that had happened. It has not happened yet. Perhaps it has happened in the period I have been in the House, but it had not happened when I checked. I will be watching it very close…
I thank the Deputy. I recognise the extraordinary impact long Covid can have on people. It is my understanding that this scheme has been extended on a number of occasions and there is no proposal to extend it further. People are entitled to illness benefit but there is no proposal to extend the scheme further at this time.
Hear, hear.
I have said that-----
I was aware of the briefing and was sorry I was not able to attend yesterday on an otherwise busy day. As the Deputy is aware, the process for processing, authorising and reimbursing drugs is managed by the HSE, which considers all of the different factors involved, including the European position and the effectiveness and broader reach of a drug at a given time. I will examine the case raised by the Deputy. I know t…
I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. I have met a number of the groups that are impacted by this. This is something on which we have been working together for at least ten years. Prior to that, it related to families that were impacted by inequalities in adoption. We are well aware of the inequalities that are there.
The Act was passed last year. It needs amending legislation. Apart from anything els…
I thank the Deputy. As she said, the rationalisation of the hospitals is something that goes back some time. The purpose is to provide the best care that can be provided among the different model 4 and model 3 hospitals. I note that Cavan has had a good performance over the past number of weeks in terms of trolley numbers and the organisation of its staff. There have been a few little blips, but in general it has bee…
I welcome the opportunity to update the House on the response under way following publication of the clinical audit into developmental dysplasia of the hip, DDH, surgery on children in CHI and National Orthopaedic Hospital Cappagh, published last Friday, 23 May. This follows on from our debate on 29 April where we said we would revisit this and it is appropriate we continue to work on these issues together in the com…
It is not finished yet.
We are all parents. I thank the Deputy so much-----
No, I am not-----
They can be included later.
I thank the Deputies for their questions and contributions. I will answer as many questions as I can and I can provide a further briefing for Deputies on a technical basis. I am very happy to come to the committee where we can do more back and forth. It is important Deputies have the opportunity to contribute in the House and, as I always try to do, I will answer as many questions as I possibly can, recognising there…
Yes, I will work on that with the HSE.
I thank the Deputy. I will update the House that I have now met all of the advocacy groups representing the children, young people and families affected by spinal conditions. I thank them sincerely for their time and their honesty. I have heard directly from them about the impact that gaps in communication and long waiting times can and do have on children and families and I have assured them of my commitment and the…
I will respond to the second part of the Deputy's question. In respect of both reports the Deputy and I await, which are very important reports that everybody is entitled to see, I am given to understand by CHI that it expects to receive them very shortly and in the next number of weeks. I feel as though I have said that before, however, and I really do expect to receive them. As I have said to the House previously, …
We are making the same case with regard to CHI and spinal surgeries. I am simply making the point that surgeons have to respond to the investment that this Government and this House has put into the services. I expect them to do that.
On CHI and the hip dysplasia, it is a matter for CHI to give that number and to be able to confirm that. I will use every power I have to make sure they do that. I will request they pu…
I thank the Deputy for the question; it is an important one. I thank colleagues for their support on the approach taken to date. I want to be absolutely clear in relation to the intention with regard to the HRT initiative. Budget 2025 aimed to continue the good work ongoing to improve women's healthcare, and in particular to support women on their menopause journey. It was originally intended the State would pay for …
The first thing is that I issued a press release in relation to this and then went on a media outlet. I must check when the Deputy last went on a media outlet and whether she regards that as an effective way of communicating either her party's position or to her constituents in any way.
It is certainly a way for the Government to communicate, as we often do. The fact that we go on a different show means what, exactl…
I did.
I did.
That is just not true.
A diktat.