Report of Working Group set up by the Tanaiste in March 2006 to examine the nature and extent of Haemochromatosis in Ireland and to advise her on the action necessary to address the problems caused by Haemochromatosis

It was agreed at a meeting on 15th February, 2006, between Ms Mary Harney, TD, Tanaiste and Minister for Health and Children and Dr Maurice Manning that a Working Group would be set up to examine all of the issues relating to haemochromatosis in Ireland and to advise her on the actions necessary to address these issues. Read the Report (PDF, 709kb)  

Core Functions of the Health Service Report

The Government Decision1 on the Structural, Organisational, Financial Management and Systems Reform of the Health Sector of June, 2003 acknowledged that in order to increase the effectiveness of the health service generally, and its capacity to deliver the reform agenda, it was important that the service was fully concentrated on addressing its core health objectives. The Minister for Health and Children and Minister for Finance felt that there could be scope to transfer certain functions out of the health service and locate them more appropriately within other functional areas of Government. As part of the overall decision, it was agreed that a working group would be established, to include the Departments of Health and Children, Finance and An Taoiseach, to examine the scope for transfer of certain activities to other, more appropriate, Departments and agencies and that on completion of this review, the Minister for Health and Children would bring proposals to Government. Read the Report (PDF, 70kb)  

A Framework for Major Emergency Management

Major emergency management is a key challenge and a priority issue for Government. Clearly, the world in which we live is constantly changing and we need to develop our major emergency management architecture to enable us to deal effectively with the possibility of new risks and threats. In the last few years most European Countries have engaged in review and development of their major emergency or civil protection arrangements. This new Framework for Major Emergency Management moves in line with international trends in this field. Read the document (PDF, 1.9mb) Read the Appendices document (PDF, 1.3mb) A series of additional Framework Guidance Documents designed to support specific areas of major emergency management are currently under development. These documents will initially be posted here as Working Drafts for comment by practitioners involved in the implementation process. The first two guides: A Guide to Risk Assessment in Major Emergency Management and A Guide to Preparing a Major Emergency Plan are now available and further guides will emerge at intervals during the development programme. A Guide to Risk Assessment in Major Emergency Management (PDF, 387kb) A Guide to Preparing a Major Emergency Plan (PDF, 158kb)

Framework for Corporate and Financial Governance for Regulatory Bodies under the aegis of the Department of Health and Children

The document should be read as supplementary to existing requirements as set out both in statute â?" particularly legislation specific to your organisation, the Health Acts 1947-2004, Ombudsman Act, 1980, Data Protection Acts 1988 & 2003, Freedom of Information Acts 1997-2003, Ethics in Public Office Acts 1995 & 2001, Ombudsman for Children Act, 2002 and the Comptroller and Auditor General (Amendment) Act, 1993 – and in Government approved guidelines, including the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies (2001), Public Financial Procedures, The Role and Responsibilities of Accounting Officers (2003) and Risk Management Guidance for Government Departments and Offices (2004). Read the report (PDF, 1.4mb)  

Framework for Corporate and Financial Governance for Agencies funded by the Department of Health and Children

Corporate governance is the system by which organisations direct and control their functions and relate to their stakeholders in order to manage their business, achieve their mission and objectives and meet the necessary standards of accountability, integrity and propriety. It is a key element in improving efficiency and accountability as well as enhancing openness and transparency. A significant element of the Governmentâ?Ts programme for health service reform is the strengthening of governance and accountability arrangements across the health system. Read the Report (PDF, 1mb)

Quality And Fairness: A Health System for You - Action Plan Progress Report 2005

The National Health Strategy Quality and Fairness â?" A Health System for You was launched by the Government in 2001 to provide vision and strategic direction for health and personal social services. This report provides: Read the Report (PDF, 1.37mb)  

The Lourdes Hospital Inquiry: An Inquiry into peripartum hysterectomy at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda

Report Of Judge Maureen Harding Clark S.C., This non-statutory private Inquiry was established by a decision of the Government on the 6th of April 2004. Read the Report

Medical Education in Ireland: A New Direction

These two reports make a series of comprehensive recommendations for the development and reform of medical education Read the Report (PDF, 1.3 mb) Read The Cost of Medical Education in Ireland, commissioned by the Group and undertaken by Indecon Consultants (PDF, 1.5mb)  

Preparing Ireland's Doctors to meet the Health Needs of the 21st Century (Buttimer Report)

The Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Group's vision is that Ireland's postgraduate education and trainingenvironment will be attractive to all medical graduates and deliver high-quality programmes that will result in a sufficient number of fully-trained, highly competent doctors to deliver a patientcentred, high-performance health service for this country.â?Âù Click here to download the document View Factors affecting Career Choices and Retention of Irish Medical Graduates, commissioned by the Group and undertaken by the Department of Public Health Medicine and Epidemiology, UCD

Health in Ireland, Key Trends 2007

This booklet provides an overview of selected key trends in health in Ireland in recent years. Tables and graphs are presented which summarise information on demographics, on health status and on health care in order to give a quick reference guide in major areas of health and health services. The past decade has been a time of rapid change in many aspects of life in Ireland. The evidence presented in this booklet reflects this period of change with respect to health. Download document here

Annual Report of the Elder Abuse National Implementation Group, 2006

Annual Report of the Elder Abuse National Implementation Group, 2006 The specific function of the Elder Abuse National Implementation Group (EANIG) is to overview the implementation of Protecting Our Future (Department of Health and Children, 2002) by various government agencies and other bodies. Protecting our Future became official health policy in November 2002. The group met on four occasions during 2006. I would like to thank the following members who retired from the Group for their hard work and contribution to the elder abuse programme: Ms Mary McDermott, Cllr Eibhlin Byrne, Mr Shay Costello, Ms Anne-Marie Ross and Mr Tom Leonard. A full list of current members is provided at Appendix A. Click here to download PDF 157kb

First Annual Report of the Independent Monitoring Group on "A Vision for Change"

First Annual Report of the Independent Monitoring Group on “A Vision for Change” In January 2006, the Government adopted the Report of the Expert Group on Mental Health Policy "A Vision for Change"Âù as the basis for the future development of mental health services. In March 2006, the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Mr Tim Oâ?TMalley, T.D., with special responsibility for mental health services, established the independent Monitoring Group to monitor progress on the implementation of the report recommendations. Click here to download PDF 255kb

Influenza Pandemic Preparedness in Ireland Joint Assessment Report 2007

Influenza Pandemic Preparedness in Ireland Joint Assessment Report 2007 Evaluating the readiness of the European Union and its Member States for influenza are integral components of the overall process of improving overall pandemic preparedness in Europe. A starting point for improving pandemic preparedness was a workshop on preparedness planning organized jointly by the European Commission (EC) and WHO EURO in Luxembourg, March 2005. Click here to download PDF 471kb

National Pandemic Influenza Plan

National Pandemic Influenza Plan The purpose of this document is to tell you about pandemic influenza (flu), to explain what the Government and the health services are doing to prepare for a possible pandemic and most importantly, to advise you what you need to do if there is a pandemic. Click here to download PDF 614kb

Private Medical Insurance in Ireland

Private Medical Insurance in Ireland On 17 January 2007 The Minister for Health and Children announced that she had appointed a three person group comprising Colm Barrington (chair), Seamus Creedon and Dorothea Dowling (the Group) to carry out a business appraisal of the private medical insurance (PMI) market in Ireland and to report back to her on the subject by 31 March 2007. The Ministerâ?Ts announcement included the following terms of reference for the Group: Click here to download PDF 351kb