1817. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if consideration has been given to including the shingles vaccine (Herpes Zoster Vaccine) in the national immunisation programme, specifically for those with immunocompromising conditions, as recommended by NIAC in February 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58694/25]
Topics / Medicinal Products
A subject heading for parliamentary questionsMedicinal Products
1,233 questions from 132 TDs, between 22 January 2025 and 22 October 2026.
1,233
questions
1,229 written, 4 oral
132
TDs have asked
11
parties and groups
Independents counted together
4
departments asked
Questions per month
The record holds no questions for August, when the Dáil does not sit.
Jan 2025Oct 2026
Show as a table
| Month | Questions |
|---|---|
| January 2025 | 17 |
| February 2025 | 66 |
| March 2025 | 28 |
| April 2025 | 35 |
| May 2025 | 43 |
| June 2025 | 58 |
| July 2025 | 56 |
| August 2025 | 0 |
| September 2025 | 36 |
| October 2025 | 38 |
| November 2025 | 58 |
| December 2025 | 27 |
| January 2026 | 18 |
| February 2026 | 70 |
| March 2026 | 142 |
| April 2026 | 87 |
| May 2026 | 156 |
| June 2026 | 127 |
| July 2026 | 82 |
| August 2026 | 0 |
| September 2026 | 62 |
| October 2026 | 27 |
Who asks, by party
The party each TD belonged to on the day, in alphabetical order. Parties differ a lot in size, and members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them, so this shows who raised it, not how much a party cares about it.
The TDs who asked most
Members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them. Each question counts once.
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196
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75
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43
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42
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39
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26
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26
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26
Asked of
Debated under the same heading
Debates whose official heading is exactly these words.
The questions
1819. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to ensure a life changing prostate cancer medication (details supplied) will be made available to medically suitable patients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58715/25]
1994. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health when a medication (details supplied) will be available again here, for prescription for patients of the menopause hub; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59569/25]
1995. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 766 of 21 October 2025, if she will provide a detailed update on the progress of the best value medicines programme in achieving its stated target of at least 80% of individuals being in receipt of the best value medicine; if she will provide a breakdown of uptake levels by each target area; and if she will make a statement …
1996. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health if there are any policy proposals or changes planned that will assist how the best value medicines programme contributes to reducing the financial burden on the HSE’s medicines budget and assists in securing access for patients to new and innovative treatments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59593/25]
1997. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health to outline the expected policy changes planned to achieve the Programme for Government commitment to “ensuring that patients have access to new innovative new medicines and treatments as quickly as possible”; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59594/25]
233. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Health if her Department is considering the inclusion of ozempic on the long-term illness and medical card schemes for purposes such as the maintenance of kidney function and not for the treatment of diabetes or weight management; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57673/25]
678. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on the Government’s response for Irish survivors of thalidomide; the engagements she has had with representative groups or individuals since coming into office; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56682/25]
757. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health the total budget allocated for spending on medicines by the HSE in each of the past five years; the outturn expenditure on medicines in each of those years; the projected allocation for 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56629/25]
758. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health the HSE expenditure on medicines for each of the past five years, by category (including high-tech medicines, biologics, biosimilars, generics and community drug schemes); the projected spend for 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56630/25]
759. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health her plans to revise the national uptake targets for each medicine in the best value medicines programme; if so, the targets and the date she expects them to be met; the reasons for the targets not being met; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56631/25]
760. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health the uptake rates for each best value medicine by hospital group or clinical site; to identify those that are underperforming against the targets set by the HSE to save money for the HSE; the specific actions she will take to bring prescribing into line with HSE policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56632/25]
761. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health the total additional cost to the HSE resulting from sub-optimal uptake of best value medicines since the programme was introduced; and the impact this has had on access to new medicines for patients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56633/25]
762. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health if she is aware of clinicians that continue to prescribe higher-cost originator medicines contrary to the HSE's best value medicines guidance; the measures which will be introduced to ensure adherence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56634/25]
763. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health if she will consider introducing sanctions for hospital groups that fail to meet best value medicines uptake requirements, or alternatively strengthening gain-share incentives to ensure the savings target is delivered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56635/25]
764. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health the communication and support provided to patients being switched to best value medicines; the monitoring which has been undertaken on patient outcomes and acceptance of switching; and if she will publish the data annually; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56636/25]
765. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health the way in which the best value medicines programme contributes to reducing the financial burden on the HSE's medicines budget and assists in securing access for patients to new and innovative treatments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56637/25]
766. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health if she will report on the progress of the best value medicines programme in achieving its stated target of at least 80% of individuals being in receipt of the best value medicine; if she will provide a breakdown of uptake levels by each target area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56638/25]
330. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Health if she is aware of changes to blister packed medication (details supplied) that will cause difficulties for older persons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56086/25]
283. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health to prioritise the provision of the planned online drug payment scheme refund application system to allow online application and document upload capabilities and allow the delivery of refunds by electronic fund transfer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55531/25]
305. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health if she will reconsider the decision to introduce a €5 weekly charge per patient for blister pack preparation from January 2026, in light of the impact this will have on elderly patients, many of whom rely on blister packs to safely manage complex medication routines; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55679/25]
350. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the position in relation to a drug (details supplied); if it will be available through the HSE; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55951/25]
351. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the measures her Department is taking to stop novel nicotine products, such as nicotine pearls, from entering and being sold on the marketplace; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55963/25]
352. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the powers she has to prevent novel nicotine products being sold on the market before they have been regulated as genuine tobacco cessation products; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55964/25]
804. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health for an update on a matter regarding medication (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54593/25]