Parliamentary questions

1647. Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan asked the Minister for Health the work being carried out to improve labelling of origin on imported food products; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20461/26]

1648. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE HSE employed podiatrist by grade working within Limerick Older Persons Services as of 2 March 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18232/26]

1649. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Health the capacity which currently exists for robot-assisted deep brain stimulation; if additional capacity has been sought; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18233/26]

1650. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Health the estimated full year current costs if the HSE pathfinder services was extended to 12 midnight, seven days a week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18234/26]

1651. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE reproductive medical consultants based at Limerick Regional Fertility Hub as of 2 March 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18235/26]

1652. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Health further to the publication of the draft National Drugs Strategy 2026-2029, to outline the proposed governance, funding flows and accountability arrangements for the regional structures within the HSE Health Regions; whether Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces will retain independent governance and decision-making authority over locally delive…

1653. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Health the way in which funding will be allocated within the proposed regional structures under the draft National Drugs Strategy 2026-2029; whether deprivation, social exclusion and patterns of entrenched drug-related harm will be formally weighted alongside population in determining resource allocation; and if she will publish the criteria to be …

1654. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Health the specific measures which will be put in place to protect the independent, community-led role of Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces under the proposed regional governance arrangements in the draft National Drugs Strategy 2026-2029; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18238/26]

1655. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Health whether, under the proposed regional structures in the draft National Drugs Strategy 2026-2029, all public funding for community-based drug services, including Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces, will be pooled at HSE Health Region level; what safeguards will be put in place to prevent dilution of funding to areas of high deprivation; and if…

1656. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health in light of reports that some pharmacies are now charging patients for the delivery of prescription medications, if she will outline the funding or supports currently available to ensure that patients who are unable to travel to their local pharmacy, particularly older people, people with disabilities, and those in rural areas, can conti…

1657. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the services being provided at Ballyboden Primary Care Centre; the services that remain in deficit there; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18243/26]

1658. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if the HSE is obliged, under existing legislation, policy, service level agreements, or national guidelines, to provide funding to agency care companies to ensure that agency care workers receive appropriate medication handling and administration training in order to organise and administer daily medication for clients who are medicall…

1659. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1103 of 24 February 2026, if she will confirm the process for appointment of the Chair and Review Group members; the timeline for them commencing work upon their constitution; and the terms of reference for same. [18256/26]

1660. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Health if her Department will develop a scheme to allow parents of children who need access to autism assessment to procure an assessment privately, and be reimbursement for such assessment, given the long backlogs in assessment through the public system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18258/26]

1661. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health whether she will review the current position to ensure that patients who are prescribed obesity medication such as Ozempic by their GPs can access it through the medical card or drug payment scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18264/26]

1662. Deputy Gillian Toole asked the Minister for Health the impact assessments which were carried out in 2020 when the developmental assessments of children, by public health nurses, were suspended during SARS Cov 2 and similarly, during the Health Service Executive pay & numbers strategies of 2022 and 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18268/26]

1663. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the publication of the AI for Care strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18278/26]

1664. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Health if consideration has been given to extending free family planning to the provision of vasectomy services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18279/26]

1665. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the preparation and expected publication of the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) (Amendment) Bill 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18283/26]

1666. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Health if provisions of the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Act 2024, once amended, will provide full and equal legal recognition on a retrospective basis for families who have already accessed assisted human reproduction or surrogacy arrangements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18284/26]

1667. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the measures her Department are taking alongside other Departments to protect the legal rights and status of children whose parentage remains unresolved pending the full commencement of the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Act 2024, as amended; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18285/26]

1668. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the specific measures which he will put in place to protect the independent, community-led role of Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces under the proposed regional governance arrangements in the draft National Drugs Strategy 2026-2029; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18290/26]

1669. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health number of additional consultant posts which have been approved for Our Lady's Hospital, Navan in each of the years of 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026, by year, by speciality, in tabular form. [18307/26]

1670. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant paediatric endocrinologists currently filled at CHI Temple Street . [18308/26]

1671. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant in emergency medicine and emergency medicine registrars based at Mercy University Hospital as of 1 March 2026; and the number as of 1 March 2023, in tabular form. [18328/26]