John Gormley

174. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children the cost of full medical care eligibility for the over 70’s; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36754/06]

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162. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children if a common waiting list was considered as part of the 2001 health strategy; the reason for its exclusion; her views on whether it would introduce greater equality into the system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35454/06]

177. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children if her Department has carried out studies on the possible impact of a common waiting list; her views on whether this would introduce greater equality into the system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35455/06]

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Mr. Gormley: It is very important that we discuss this topic at length in the House. We have spoken about it in committees, but this is the first time we have done so in the Chamber. At a time of unprecedented economic growth and prosperity, why is there an increase in suicide? There are several answers to the question. If one reads the report, one can get an indication of that. Going back 100 years, Durkheim stated that many suicides occur when the attachments between an individual and society are strained and fragmented. We have an economic system and parties, such as that of the Minister of State, which advocate a certain economic orthodoxy that places the emphasis on the individual as opposed to society. Margaret Thatcher once famously said that there is no such thing as society, only the individual. That is very dangerous and we can see the consequences of that kind of thinking. So much of life has now become a commodity. The rearing of children, child care and looking after older people are now commodities. People are paid to do things and the idea of volunteerism is now gone. The extended family is gone and the type of society that we now have is based on capitalism and the market. We can call it an industrialised society or a consumer society, but it amounts to the same thing; the individual seems to be under enormous pressure. That has led to an increase in suicide, despair, depression and alienation from society as the individual sees it.

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Mr. Gormley: I see Deputy O’Malley is leaving. I was about to be very generous by acknowledging that any Minister for Health and Children has an unenviable task. It is not an easy job.

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173. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to a company (details supplied) carrying out activities in a residential area; her views on whether this activity is in breach of health and safety standards; if she will investigate this matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34741/06]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney): The Deputy’s question relates to a commercial entity for which I have no statutory responsibility. However, I understand that the company has a contractual relationship with the Health Service Executive. Accordingly, my Department has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

428. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children if the Department of Arts, Sports and Tourism has been in contact with her with regard to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34670/06]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney): I can confirm that my Private Office has received the correspondence from the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism referred to by the Deputy. The correspondence has been acknowledged and referred to the appropriate line division in my Department for examination, and a response will issue to the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism in due course.

428. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children if the Department of Arts, Sports and Tourism has been in contact with her with regard to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34670/06]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney): I can confirm that my Private Office has received the correspondence from the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism referred to by the Deputy. The correspondence has been acknowledged and referred to the appropriate line division in my Department for examination, and a response will issue to the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism in due course.

Mr. Gormley: I wish to have the business of the House suspended under Standing Order 31 to discuss an issue of urgent public importance, namely, the revelation by RTE news that between 70 and 100 families whose children were given blood products not properly screened for the hepatitis C virus are to be contacted; and the need for the Minister for Health and Children to determine exactly how the situation arose.

An Ceann Comhairle: Having considered the matters raised, they are not in order under Standing Order 31.

Amendment No. 3: In page 5, between lines 24 and 25, to insert the following: “(5) (a) A person applying for a subvention, or a person acting on his or her behalf, may appeal, to an appeals officer designated by the Minister, on the grounds of— (i) his or her means and circumstances, or (ii) any abatement of the rate of subvention to that person of the maximum rate appropriate to that person’s level of dependency, against a decision of the Executive—

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299. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of meetings she has had with MRSA sufferers and their families; if she has implemented their recommendations; the reason no civic director for tackling MRSA has been appointed; if she intends to appoint such a director; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32627/06]

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