Jerry Buttimer
Cork South-Central · Fine Gael · Ireland
“Its priority is to provide scheduled public transport services on the TFI network. It works with event organisers, operators, local authorities and An Garda Síochána to provide additional transport supports where it is possible to do so.”
“I commit to relaying the points the Senator has made on the floor of the House, and has conveyed to me in private, to the Department of Transport. To be fair to the Senator, it was not only this morning that he has articulated this. The travelling supporters of Kerry and Mayo deserve additional transport.”
“I understand from the company that the Expressway team is currently examining whether additional services on route 22 will be added on the morning of Sunday, 26 July.”
“In this case, for Kerry and Mayo, as the Senator rightly said, it will see a high demand for scheduled and additional services. The Senator has outlined the volume of tickets sales. This is the busiest time for scheduled intercity services anyway, given that it is peak summer time, and that is a priority.”
“I understand from speaking to Irish Rail that it hopes to be in a position to confirm the number of additional services later this week - I am hoping this will be today or tomorrow - and it will advise customers as soon as these services are available to book.”
“The Senator mentioned Sneem and Ventry. He and I will remember our great friends, the late, great John Egan and Paudie O'Shea, as well as the Senator's brother Tim. I get emotional because they were great GAA people. Cork and Kerry have the best supporters of the GAA.”
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“Such slots will be added every day and the new system has seen the overall percentage of testing slots utilised increase from 95% to 98%. Deputies may wish to note that the RSA transparently publishes detailed monthly information on the driver testing service on the CSO website, including the breakdown of waiting times and the distribution of testing capacity by test centre. Separately, while new testers will bring much needed additional capacity in the short term, in the long term, there are two significant initiatives that should help to improve delivery of the service. The first of these is to reform the RSA, informed by the recommendations of the 2024 Indecon review presented to the Government in November last year.”
“However, it is also important to recognise the steps taken by the RSA and efforts made by individual testers to mitigate the impact on customers to the greatest extent possible where the current recruitment campaign is ongoing. There was extensive voluntary working of overtime by driver testers last year to help to meet demand and this is continuing, including at weekends. To support this, the RSA ran an incentivisation programme for overtime last year and a similar offering is under consideration for this year. The RSA has introduced IT system improvements to maximise the number of test slots utilised and reduce the number of tests lost to cancellation and no-shows. Once a person has been invited to book a test, slots released at short notice following a cancellation can now be booked on the myroadsafety.ie portal.”
“In the event that it misses its targets, it will also immediately commence work on a contingency plan to add additional capacity to the system should the need arise. Deputy Toole asked who would take responsibility and drive it. I am confident that the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, will. We have to get this right. The contributions of all Deputies today illustrate the importance of this. With the report every two weeks and publishing the progress report, I hope real accountability will lead to changes and proactivity. Additional capacity will help to address the systemic mismatch between supply and demand that has developed in recent years as our population has grown.”
“The Minister of State, Deputy Canney, in his opening statement referenced the initial RSA plan for restoring waiting times to ten weeks, which it was required to develop as a condition of its staffing sanction. It targeted restoration by November of this year. The Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and all of us in the Department of Transport and in this House deemed it to be unacceptable when he met the RSA at the beginning of May. New proposals were brought to him today on the delays. To reiterate a point made by the Minister of State, the RSA believes it can achieve the ten week target in September by introducing efficiencies in the tester training programme, while avoiding anything that undermines training or safety standards. It will publish its plan later this week and report again in a fortnight.”
“Members' suggestions on different times, cancellations and operating on different days, including weekends, should be actively considered and pursued. As the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, previously mentioned, interest in the recent competition was extremely high, with 1,400 people applying at the initial stage and more than 300 making it through to the final driving assessment stage. Members should be aware that the first tranche of new testers was deployed into service in late April and I understand the next tranche begins training this week, with a further tranche of testers to begin their training before the end of this month. As additional testers enter the system, testing capacity will increase and progress should be seen in reducing wait times in the months ahead.”
“Deputy Timmins's proposal merits real consideration and I hope the ADIs, RSA and the Department can engage further on this suggestion. The progress that was made under the previous sanction before the loss of testing capacity should give us confidence that the additional capacity now entering the service on a permanent basis will deliver improved waiting times on a sustained basis going forward. The RSA, in its meetings with the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, has been confident that the permanent positions now on offer will attract and retain more testers than was the case with the temporary sanction. The fact it remains in place permanently will allow the RSA to build the vacancies as they arise in response to demand up to the ceiling of 200 on an ongoing basis going forward.”
“The operation of the service is under the statutory remit of the RSA and we have sought to support it in meeting this increase in demand through a number of staffing sanctions in recent years. Most recently, 70 additional driver testers were sanctioned on a permanent basis in September last year, with a sanctioned headcount of 200 today, which has been a near doubling of staff sanctioned in just two years. This reflects the Government's commitment to addressing this issue. Prior to this, the RSA requested sanction for 75 testers on a temporary basis, which was approved by the Department in March 2023. This temporary sanction was the correct decision at the time. Under the temporary sanction, significant progress was made between August 2023 and April 2024, with wait times halving from 30 to 15 weeks.”
“Not only is achieving the ten-week target time important for learner driver experience of the service, it is also a vital component of delivering on our road safety strategy and the ambition to halve the number of road deaths and serious injuries this decade. Ensuring drivers are well trained and equipped to deal with the challenges of modern driving makes us all safer on the roads. As the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, outlined, our population has significantly increased in recent years, putting additional demand on the driver testing service with a record number of applications received last year. I accept that is no crumb of comfort to those waiting, but it is a fact.”
“I reiterate that the Government recognises the need to address the long-standing issue with service provision and to ensure that a reliable, high-quality driver test service is available throughout the State. The Government and I understand the unacceptable wait times for driver tests is having a profound and significant impact on people. Ordinary people are trying to get a job or go to college and exist. It particularly affects those in rural Ireland where the public transport, despite advances, is in some cases limited. We are all in agreement that we need to deliver decisively on the long-standing issues relating to service provision and ensure that a reliable, high-quality driver test service is available throughout the State, regardless of where people live.”
“Gan amhras, nílimid sásta maidir le tréimhse fanachta na dtástálacha tiomána. Tá an tAire Stáit, an Teachta Canney, ag obair leis an Aire chun tréimhse fanachta na dtástálacha a laghdú. I recognise that my response to the debate will probably be no different from what was said by any of the Members who have spoken. We are all frustrated by the delay. As Deputy Timmins said, the diagnosis is well documented, but this debate is important because I hope it will lead to ongoing change. I commend the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, on his proactivity with the RSA. Members are genuinely frustrated and have raised real, legitimate frustrations on behalf of their constituents. Like me, no day goes by that we do not get a phone call about or request for a driver test.”
“What the Senator put forward, both in her detailed and comprehensive submission and today in the House, certainly adds value to the offering we can provide in Limerick.”
“Senator Ryan makes a good case and in her letter to the NTA she set out in a detailed way, illustratively and in writing, how the route can be of benefit to everybody. I will bring her contribution to the Department, the Minister and the NTA. It is important that all of us join in the celebration of the roll-out of the redesigned bus routes across Limerick city and county. It is about ensuring we have improvements under the Connecting Ireland programme, including Annacotty Business Park. I will bring the Senator's contribution back. It is about taking more people out of cars and using public transport more. If we can have creative, innovate ways of doing that, let us do it.”
“I welcome the group to the Gallery. I share Senator Ryan's positivity regarding BusConnects and public transport in Limerick. As a country, we are redesigning our bus network and Limerick is at the forefront of that in terms of the provision of more public transport. As I said, there has been a 70% increase in bus services in Limerick city and suburbs, shorter waits, more direct routes, simpler network and scheduling, additional services at weekends and a new 24-hour bus route between UHL, the city centre and the University of Limerick. In addition, following feedback from the public, the NTA and Bus Éireann are currently considering how best to provide the bus service to Annacotty Business Park as part of the Connecting Ireland programme.”
“I thank the Senator for her contribution. The reply may not be what she wants, but she has made a good case in the House today.”
“The strategy also recommends a number of improvements to rail infrastructure in the area, including a new rail station in Moyross, increasing the frequency of services on the Ballybrophy line up to two trains per hour, dual track between Limerick Junction and Colbert Station and the upgrading of Colbert Station. In addition, the final report of the all-Ireland strategic rail review, which will inform the development of the railway sector on the island of Ireland over the coming decades and was published in July last year, calls for proposals to improve rail services in the Limerick area, including the electrification of the route between Dublin and Limerick, an upgrade to Limerick Junction and the Limerick Junction to Waterford line, along with a spur from Sixmilebridge and Cratloe to Shannon Airport.”
“The NTA is currently working with Bus Éireann to identify how and when this need will be met and officials in the Department of Transport continue to engage with the NTA on the matter. Senator Ryan made reference to that. In her letter to the NTA, she wrote about the trial experience, which we should look at again. I will bring her concerns to the Department. More generally, improvements in bus services in Limerick city proposed via BusConnects and the Limerick Shannon metropolitan area transport strategy will ensure a range of sustainable transport options are available to the people of Limerick.”
“Regarding the matter raised by Senator Ryan in respect of the design of the network and the exclusion of Annacotty Business Park, the new bus network was published in draft form in March 2023 for public consultation, during which in excess of 650 responses to this consultation were received. This feedback was taken into account in the design of the final new network plan. During the public consultation process, the NTA received feedback about the potential to extend the service to Annacotty Business Park. On review, it was decided that the provision of service to Annacotty Business Park through the Connecting Ireland programme would be a more efficient way to connect the business park with public transport.”
“The new bus network will enable more people to avail of public transport, resulting in increased access to a greater number of schools and workplaces across Limerick city. Overall, approximately 41% of residents will live within 400 m of a high-frequency bus route, running every 15 minutes or better. In addition to the above, the first phase of battery-electric bus charging infrastructure came on stream at Bus Éireann’s Roxboro depot in Limerick last year, allowing 34 double-deck battery-electric buses to enter passenger service in Limerick also in 2024. The second phase of battery-electric bus charging infrastructure was substantially complete at the end of 2024, and an additional 21 double-deck battery-electric buses are expected to enter passenger service throughout this year.”
“Significant progress has been made in delivering key projects detailed in the Limerick-Shannon region, including the BusConnects Limerick programme, as the Senator indicated. BusConnects will be transformative for all five of our cities, including Limerick. Two years ago, the NTA carried out an extensive review of the bus network in Limerick, in collaboration with Limerick City and County Council, Clare County Council, and Bus Éireann, and with the specialised expertise of transport designers Jarrett Walker and Associates. Following public consultation, the NTA published its final new bus network for Limerick in December 2023. The redesign of the bus network is one of the nine key elements of BusConnects Limerick that aims to transform the city’s bus system, making public transport more useful to more people.”
“I thank Senator Ryan for her ongoing advocacy. I know she wrote to and communicated with the NTA last month regarding Annacotty Business Park I commend her on that. I am taking the matter on behalf of the Minister for Transport. It gives me an opportunity to provide Senator Ryan and the House with an update on sustainable mobility options in Limerick. The Limerick-Shannon metropolitan area transport strategy has been developed by the NTA to deliver an accessible, integrated transport network that enables the sustainable growth of Limerick up to 2040, allowing it to take its place in Europe as a city of its size, as Senator Ryan said, including the upgraded bus system for the area.”
“I do not say this as an excuse but, as Members will know, there has been extraordinary demand for the service in recent times and this post-Covid period. To reiterate, last year, 253,850 driving tests were conducted. That is an increase from 196,853 in 2023. That is an increase of 29%. It was a record year for the delivery of tests. I accept that people are not getting their tests. I recognise that we have an issue. Our target is ten weeks. We all look forward to meeting the demand the Senator has laid out this morning.”
“The Senator is right again. It is about being creative and ensuring that the very important and serious matter of this long-term and long-standing issue in service provision, which the Government understands and recognises, is addressed. We must ensure we have a reliable, high-quality driving testing service. We understand that these unacceptable waiting times have profound implications for those waiting for a driving test. It is important that the Government commit to doing two things. The first is tackling the issue and the second is improving public transport for those in rural Ireland. I reiterate that the Department is working with the RSA to manage the backlog in the driving testing service.”
“I thank the Senator and assure her that the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and I have spoken about this issue with the Department. We are engaging with the RSA. There have been a number of meetings on this topic. There was a commitment to restore waiting times to ten weeks. Any additional levers to accelerate timelines will be used. I again thank the Senator for raising the matter. She is right; this is about people and people in rural areas sometimes require a car more than anything else.”
“The Senator is right that if there are cancellations, the RSA must allow such appointments to be available to candidates on the MyRoadSafety portal. If that is too difficult, we must make it easier. I will take the Senator's views on that point back to the Minister. While new testers will bring additional capacity in the short term, in the longer term it is intended that the RSA will be reformed consequent to a Government decision of November 2024. This reform will be carried out on a phased and planned basis. A departmental group, led by the Department and comprising relevant stakeholders, is tasked with developing a comprehensive implementation plan, including required legislation, to ensure the delivery of real reform, road safety benefits and an improved customer experience.”
“I hope we will see steady progress on reducing waiting times in the coming months. To further alleviate pressure on the service, driver testing is offered on Saturdays where driver testers are available to do overtime and there are also additional morning and evening test slots available where daylight allows. This has been the case since the current backlog in driving tests started to build up. Sunday overtime is not offered, as the RSA would be required to offer a day in lieu for such testing, thereby adding no additional capacity to the driver testing service. Additionally, to further assist with reducing waiting times, in October 2023 a change was made to the system to allow any unused slots to be made available for anyone to take up at short notice.”
“The Department of Transport, the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and I have sought to support the RSA in meeting rising demand through a number of staffing sanctions in recent years. In September 2024, 70 additional permanent positions for driver testers were sanctioned. This increases the total permanent sanction for testers to 200, which represents a doubling since 2022. As a condition of sanction, officials requested the RSA to put a plan in place to restore waiting times to ten weeks as soon as possible. A recruitment process is under way, with the first tranche of new testers being deployed into service this month. New testers will begin to come in over the coming months. I appreciate that needs to be expedited and fast-tracked.”
“I assure the Senator that the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and I are taking the matter seriously. We are considering how to address the issue. As the population has grown, the demand on the driving test service has similarly increased, with last year being the busiest year in the history of the service. A total of 253,850 driving tests were conducted, which was an increase from 196,853 in 2023. This increase in demand for driving tests and the time to invitation for learner drivers has a number of contributing factors. As the Senator said, Covid-19 was one. There has also been an increase in the number of learner permits in circulation, increased capacity in the driver theory test and an increase in advanced driving instructors’ capacity to deliver lessons to learner drivers.”
“I thank the Senator. She is right that the delays are too long. It is a serious matter and I thank her for raising it, and for highlighting the pressure on young people and their families. She is correct in that regard. I am smiling at the notion that the driving test is a rite of passage. It is. I would have loved to have taken the Senator for a driving lesson. One can imagine the fun we would have had. It is a serous matter. As the Senator knows, under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority has statutory responsibility for the national driving tester service. At the end of March, as the Senator said, the average waiting time was 24 weeks. That is far higher than the accepted service level agreement of ten weeks.”
“It is about ensuring that we deliver a healthcare system that is better, more agile and supports women and girls to enjoy a healthier and equal life.”
“It is about a commitment to listening, investing and delivering, and about consistently raising the issue of women's health in the Department of Health. It is about ensuring that the focus remains on the matters that the Senator has addressed this morning regarding women's health. It is a commitment backed up by €180 million in additional funding for targeted women's health supports in a five-year period. That has allowed for a good start to the genuine lasting change that is being delivered for women in our healthcare system. I assure Senator Stephenson that the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, wants to ensure that the voices of women are not just heard but amplified and understood, and that their asks, including the asks made by Senator Stephenson this morning, are acted upon.”
“I again thank the Senator. I will bring her concerns and questions back to the Minister. The Government and the Minister share her commitment to providing women in Ireland with a healthcare system that is agile and responsive to the needs of the women of Ireland today. With regard to the women's healthcare questions the Senator has posed, I do not have the answers, as she will appreciate, but I will take them back to the Minister and ask the Department to engage with her. Women are 51% of our population. It is about all of us getting to a point in the conversation where this will no longer be necessary and we can have appropriate and timely care for women across all aspects of healthcare. I think the Senator and I have a similar view on that. It is important that the framework of the women's health action plan protects our ambitions.”
“This will see the cost burden of this period of a woman’s life reduce significantly. The Minister has also written to all community pharmacists, asking them to sign up to this arrangement, which will commence on 1 June this year. Too often we hear talk about women being dismissed or not listened to in our health service. Again, the Senator has very eloquently raised that matter, and I thank her for that. The voice of women is paramount. The Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, is committed to hearing those voices, progressing the action plan and advancing women’s health in Ireland. I thank the Senator most sincerely for raising the matter. I look forward to working with her and the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, in delivering the outcomes we all want.”
“A breastfeeding steering group has been established to design and develop a new whole-of-government breastfeeding policy for Ireland and the folic acid steering group has also been established to address instances of neural tube defects in newborns. Crucially, the Minister for Health is passionate about increasing the research available to us in the area of women’s health to build a robust evidence base in a long-underrepresented area. As the Senator knows, most recently, the Minister announced a hormone replacement therapy arrangement for menopause treatment, as announced in budget 2025, will be progressing but with the addition of professional fees being paid to pharmacists, which will make the HRT completely free in respect of participating pharmacies for women who rely on it to treat their menopause symptoms.”
“If she has not been there previously, I invite the Senator to come to Cork, where we just opened a phenomenal facility. It goes back to what she said about women being listened to and supported. It is a fantastic facility. I am very proud of it as a Cork person. Six HSE-run regional fertility hubs are in operation and referrals for publicly funded, privately provided AHR treatment commenced in September 2023. There has been continued expansion in the network of “see and treat” ambulatory gynaecology clinics to provide necessary care across 21 sites. A total of 18 clinics are now operational and will offer 24,000 appointments to women next year. Last year, the Department of Health published Ireland’s cervical cancer elimination plan with an aim of eliminating cervical cancer by 2040.”
“Major improvements are happening across services, including: the development of additional post-natal hubs to support women in the weeks after birth, with funding now available to bring a total of 13 hubs on stream nationally; the national maternity experience survey will be conducted in July this year, whereby women who recently gave birth will be invited to share their experiences of our maternity services, which will inform and improve the safety and quality of care provided to women and their babies; increased hours within the specialist menopause clinics will see capacity increase in this valued service; and funding has been allocated to allow for more staff in the two specialised centres for endometriosis care in Tallaght and Cork and the five regional hubs to support the important care provided to women experiencing endometriosis.”
“Many of the actions contained within the second action plan are completed, for example: free contraception is now available to all women aged 17 to 35; termination of pregnancy services are available in all 19 of our maternity hospitals in line with legislation; there are increased period poverty supports for some of the most vulnerable women and girls in the country; and earlier this month, the Department of Health completed a women’s health listening forum which brought women into the Department of Health to share their experiences with our healthcare services - both positive and negative - so we can work to make changes that women want to see. In addition, the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, is committed to the full implementation of the second action plan, and this work is ongoing.”
“I am taking this matter this morning on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. I thank Senator Stephenson for raising it as it gives me an opportunity to update the House on the ongoing work to improve women’s health outcomes and experiences. The Senator is correct that women deserve to be heard, respected and believed. The Minister for Health has previously said, and I will repeat it, that we cannot be satisfied with anything less than a health service that provides true equality of care and treatment and where gender is not a barrier or a disadvantage. Unfortunately, until we get to that place, this conversation must continue. The Senator very eloquently highlighted some of the issues this morning. The women’s health action plan phase 2 and our continued commitment in the programme for Government is part of this conversation.”
“There have been significant investments to enhance the HSE's pricing and reimbursement process for medicines. A total of 34 new staff were hired across the pricing and reimbursement system last year and will support faster access to new and innovative medicines for patients. To support transparency in this process an application tracker has also been developed and launched. I assure the Senator that the Department of Health will continue to engage with all involved to ensure that all patients have access to new and innovative treatments.”
“I thank the Senator and agree that it is urgent. She is right that we all need to work together, including the European Commission, the authorities here and the company in question. As a former Chairman of the health committee and someone who was involved in the passage of the 2013 Act, I assure the Senator that I genuinely appreciate the importance of ensuring that patients with DMD have access to the latest drugs. We are, as a country, very much open to that avenue of new drugs being made available. I assure the Senator that once the drug is granted marketing authorisation, the Department, along with the HSE, will strongly encourage all pharmaceutical companies to apply for reimbursement here. The pharmaceutical company has a critical role to play in that regard.”
“I agree completely with Senator Costello that the process must be expedited. We cannot have this going on forever. There are people like the young boy the Senator mentioned and other families who need help and support. I thank Senator Costello for her advocacy and for raising this matter. She right to say that the clock is ticking. People are racing against the clock and I hope we can all see this matter expedited.”
“The Health Service Executive has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines and medical items, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. In line with that Act, a company must submit an application to the HSE to have a new medicine added to the formal reimbursement list. Reimbursement is for licensed indications which have been granted marketing authorisation by the EMA or Ireland’s Health Products Regulatory Authority. As givinostat has not been granted marketing authorisation by the Commission, an application for pricing and reimbursement cannot be made to the HSE. If marketing authorisation is granted and the company chooses to apply, the HSE will give fair consideration to the application, with consideration for the criteria detailed in the 2013 Act.”
“Givinostat, which is sold under the brand name Duzyvat for the treatment of DMD in patients aged six years or older, has recently undergone assessment by the European Medicines Agency. The EMA is a centralised agency of the European Union responsible for the scientific evaluation, supervision and safety monitoring of medicines in the EU. The EMA plays an integral role in the authorisation of medicines in the EU. The company marketing this treatment applied for marketing authorisation from the EMA and its evaluation concluded with a recommendation that it be granted conditional marketing authorisation. The European Commission will consider this recommendation from the EMA and make a final decision on granting marketing authorisation for the treatment. At this time, givinostat does not have marketing authorisation in the EU.”
“In 2023, the State spent over €3.2 billion on medicines, which represents nearly €1 in every €8 of public funding being spent on health. This level of investment is unprecedented in supporting patients through the availability of new and innovative medicines. Senator Costello is right to highlight the challenges and the issues faced by people with DMD, and I thank her for doing so. The budgets of 2021 to 2024 have included dedicated funding for new medicines of €128 million. This has enabled the HSE to approve reimbursement for 194 new medicines or new uses for existing medicines, including 74 for treating cancer and 49 for treating rare diseases. Last year's budget allocated €30 million of funding for new drugs to be generated by efficiencies to be identified by the HSE.”
“I thank Senator Costello for raising this very important matter. I am taking it on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. I thank the Senator for highlighting the case of a young boy from Tallaght. She is right that it is a race against time. I am conscious that my reply probably will not give her the answer that she needs and that the young boy deserves. I hope we can all work together to ensure we can progress the matter she has spoken about. Duchenne muscular dystrophy is, as the Senator said, a rare disease affecting fewer than 200 people in Ireland. The State acknowledges the importance of access to medicines and is aware of the plight of patients with DMD. The State has made considerable investment in new medicines in recent years.”
“The focus of the group was to review and assess implementation of the recommendations as set out in the CMO's report and assess the appropriateness of resuming urogynaecological mesh procedures, cognisant of international developments and approaches in this complex area. I have noted the Deputy's comments regarding services in other jurisdictions. The Department recently received a report from the HSE's national vaginal mesh implant oversight group. Officials are actively liaising with the HSE on all aspects of this work to ensure comprehensive implementation of the CMO's recommendations. I again thank the Deputy for raising this very important matter. I will convey the points he raised to the Minister for Health.”
“Implementation of the report's recommendations will provide significant assurance that all patients presenting for treatment for stress urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse, and all women who develop mesh-related complications, receive high-quality, patient-centred care in accordance with accepted evidence and supported by robust clinical governance mechanisms. In 2023, the HSE established a national vaginal mesh implant oversight group to oversee vaginal mesh implants in HSE acute hospitals in terms of both primary implant surgery and tertiary complications services.”
“In November 2018, the CMO's report on the use of urogynaecological mesh in surgical procedures was published. It contains a number of recommendations regarding the safe and effective provision of mesh procedures in urogynaecology and an appropriate response to women who suffer complications as a result of undergoing such procedures. The CMO's report included 19 recommendations across four key areas, namely, patient information and consent, aftercare for women suffering complications, clinical and professional recommendations, and information systems. In 2018, the HSE commissioned a review of the CMO's recommendations. In 2019, it began work on the recommendations, providing regular progress updates. The Covid-19 pandemic subsequently delayed that work.”
“However, as the Deputy noted, concerns about the safety of mesh devices have arisen in many countries because of the frequency and severity of complications associated with their use. In November 2017, in response to public and patient concern about the ongoing safety of mesh devices, the then Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, requested the Chief Medical Officer to prepare a report for him on the clinical and technical issues involved in ensuring both the safe and effective provision of mesh procedures in urogynaecology and an appropriate response to women who suffer mesh complications. In July 2018, the CMO asked the HSE to pause all mesh procedures where clinically safe to do so, pending confirmation of the implementation of specific recommendations in the CMO's report.”
“I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Health. I congratulate Deputy Ward on his appointment as Chair of the European affairs committee and wish him well in the role. He has raised a very important matter regarding women's health and the healthcare provided to them. The urogynaecological transvaginal mesh is used in the surgical treatment of stress urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse in women. Such mesh devices have been widely used to treat those conditions over the past two decades. For many women suffering the distressing symptoms of stress urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse, surgical procedures using synthetic mesh devices have provided a more effective and less invasive form of treatment than traditional surgical procedures.”
“The OPW is committed to working with all locally to ensure this will continue to be the case. It must be acknowledged that, for now, the OPW cannot comment further on the award of permits for the season given that the competition process to award such permits is subject to judicial proceedings.”