Medicinal Products

872. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health if her attention has been drawn to significant delays in the sign off of fertility treatment for a family (details supplied); the actions she will take to ensure they are supported; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32101/26]

895. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to clarify the 5 January 2026 memo from the HSE Codeine Working Group instructing that low dose codeine-containing products should not be stocked routinely in clinical areas in any HSE or HSE-funded service, and that they be removed from clinical stock by 5 June 2026; if she will confirm whether this reflects official Department of Health or HSE…

896. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to clarify claims in the 5 January 2026 HSE memo that low-dose codeine combination products are no more effective than paracetamol or ibuprofen alone; to identify the evidence base for this; to confirm current policy on managing chronic pain; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32234/26]

897. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if she will provide details of the HPRA’s engagement with patient groups and stakeholders during its ongoing review of over-the-counter codeine medicines which commenced in November 2022, including which organisations were consulted and the nature of that engagement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32235/26]

898. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if she is satisfied that the HPRA review process on over-the-counter codeine medicines meets the required standards of transparency, proportionality and scientific rigour; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32236/26]

899. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to clarify the basis for the 5 January 2026 memo of the HSE codeine working group on low-dose codeine stating that low dose paracetamol ibuprofen are no more effective than paracetamol or ibuprofen alone for the management of pain; to instruct that low-dose codeine products should not be stocked routinely in clinical areas in any HSE or HSE-fund…

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 fu…

942. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether national clinical guidelines are in place governing access to pharmacological treatments for obesity within the public health service; if so, to provide details of those guidelines and the eligibility criteria applied; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32352/26]

944. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any procurement or reimbursement decisions are under consideration in relation to new pharmacological treatments for obesity; if so, to outline the current status of those considerations and the decision-making framework applied; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32354/26]

1121. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any patients in the State currently have access to omaveloxolone, marketed as Skyclarys, for Friedreich’s ataxia through compassionate use, named patient access, hospital-level approval, exceptional funding, or any other interim access mechanism pending a final HSE reimbursement decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter.…

1122. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of patients in the State known to the HSE or the Department of Health who are clinically eligible for treatment with omaveloxolone, marketed as Skyclarys, for Friedreich’s ataxia; and if this number has informed any budget impact assessment. [32772/26]

1123. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE has a target timeline for completing reimbursement decisions in respect of orphan medicines or medicines for progressive rare diseases; and if no such target exists, whether one is under consideration. [32773/26]

1124. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE has any escalation process where a reimbursement application concerns a progressive neurological condition in which delay may lead to irreversible deterioration. [32774/26]

1125. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE has considered international reimbursement or access decisions in respect of omaveloxolone, marketed as Skyclarys, including decisions in France, Italy, Germany or other comparable European countries, as part of the Irish reimbursement process. [32775/26]

1126. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the Department or HSE has examined the favourable reimbursement opinion issued in France for Skyclarys in Friedreich’s ataxia, and whether such international assessments are considered in Irish rare disease reimbursement decisions. [32776/26]

1127. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the Department or HSE is aware that Italy’s medicines authority approved reimbursement of Skyclarys for Friedreich’s ataxia in December 2025, and whether this decision has been considered in the Irish process. [32777/26]

1128. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE has received a commercial proposal from Biogen Idec Ireland Limited in respect of omaveloxolone, marketed as Skyclarys, since 16 April 2026; and if not, what steps the HSE is taking to progress the matter. [32778/26]

1129. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any statutory, contractual, policy or administrative time limits apply where a marketing authorisation holder has been invited to submit a commercial proposal for a medicine but has not yet done so. [32779/26]

1130. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether she will consider introducing a formal interim access pathway for rare disease medicines where a treatment has European marketing authorisation, there is no alternative disease-modifying therapy available, and the reimbursement process remains unresolved. [32780/26]

1133. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has examined the practice of pharmacies charging additional fees for dispensing medications in blister packs where this is clinically required, particularly for older persons with complex medication regimes; whether any guidance or regulation exists governing such charges under the community drug schemes; if considera…

1134. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding any research being carried out into the viability of providing treatment for people suffering from Friedrichs ataxia in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32792/26]

1136. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the approval process for skyclarys as a treatment for Friedrichs ataxia; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32794/26]

1137. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health her views on whether the delays in the approval of skyclarys as a treatment for Friedrichs ataxia aligns with the "equitable access" as outlined in the National Rare Disease Strategy 2025-2030; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32795/26]

1157. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department receives aggregated national reporting on waiting times for access to PrEP services; and if so, to provide the most recent data. [32892/26]

1158. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether a national register or centralised data system exists to track demand for PrEP services across all providers; and if not, whether one is planned. [32893/26]