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Vol. 587 Tuesday, No. 5 22 June 2004 DI´OSPO´ IREACHTAI´ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES DA´ IL E´ IREANN TUAIRISC OIFIGIU´ IL—Neamhcheartaithe (OFFICIAL REPORT—Unrevised) Tuesday, 22 June 2004. Ceisteanna—Questions Taoiseach …………………………………1141 Business of Da´il………………………………1142 Minister for Health and Children Priority Questions ……………………………1142 Adjournment Debate Matters ……………………………1183 Leaders’ Questions ………………………………1183 Requests to move Adjournment of Da´il under Standing Order 31 ………………1193 Order of Business ………………………………1194 Personal Explanation by Minister …………………………1203 Treaty of Amsterdam: Referral to Joint Committee ……………………1203 Estimates for Public Services 2004 …………………………1204 National Monuments (Amendment) Bill 2004: Second Stage (resumed) ……………1211 Message from Select Committee …………………………1241 Private Members’ Business Nitrates Directive: Motion …………………………1241 National Monuments (Amendment) Bill 2004: Second Stage (resumed) ……………1268 Message from Select Committee …………………………1297 Adjournment Debate School Staffing ………………………………1297 Schools Building Projects ……………………………1300 University Entry Criteria ……………………………1302 Decentralisation Programme …………………………1305 Questions: Written Answers ……………………………1309 1141 1142 DA´ IL E´ IREANN Imports less Exports of Fossil Fuels 2000-2003 2000 2001 2002 2003 ———— \(000) \(000) \(000) \(000) De´ Ma´irt, 22 Meitheamh 2004. Tuesday, 22 June 2004. Coal 90,808 144,854 93,792 97,791 Gas 264,308 332,866 238,601 210,044 ———— Oil 1,673,268 1,477,365 1,174,015 1,334,211 Total 2,028,384 1,955,085 1,506,408 1,642,046 Chuaigh an Ceann Comhairle i gceannas ar 2.30 p.m. ———— Mr. Eamon Ryan: I am glad to see that my little question has brought a number of Ministers Paidir. and backbenchers out to hear the Minister of Prayer. State’s answer. I appreciate the Minister’s response in providing more detailed information ———— than may have been originally asked for. There appears to have been a doubling of oil prices in the past two years and the figures are increasing Ceisteanna — Questions. dramatically. Does the Department have any mechanism whereby the Central Statistics Office ———— would contact line Departments to inform them of a noticeable trend if it occurred? Will the Mini- Fossil Fuels. ster of State say if her Department has any role in 1. Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Taoiseach the the whole emissions trading system for counting value of fossil fuels imported into the Irish econ- carbon, which in a sense is related to the question omy in 2003. [16678/04] I am asking? Will it publish data on the use of carbon by different sectors in our economy, the Minister of State at the Department of the cost of carbon trading as it occurs? Will her office Taoiseach (Ms Hanafin): The value of fossil fuels or another Department have responsibility for imported into the Irish economy in 2003 was reporting the exact figures in that regard? I know \1,782 million. For comparative purposes, follow- the Environment Protection Agency has a ing are supplementary tables to show data for the responsibility in setting up the scheme, but does years 2000 to 2003, inclusive, identifying import the Minister envisage that the CSO should have values for the three main fossil fuel categories, a role in monitoring what is essentially a statisti- the corresponding export values and the overall cal operation? value of net imports — that is. imports less exports — for the three categories. Ms Hanafin: The data, as presented, are derived from a combination of customs based Imports of Fossil Fuels 2000-2003 non-EU trade statistics and estimates based on the Interstat survey of Irish traders engaged in 2000 2001 2002 2003 trade with other EU member states. I have no information as to other facts raised by Deputy \(000) \(000) \(000) \(000) Ryan. These will come under the responsibility of Coal 98,721 147,344 96,990 101,018 the various relevant Departments. I can inquire as to further information that may be available. Gas 266,709 336,075 244,341 212,584 Oil 1,913,584 1,714,217 1,462,620 1,468,055 Business of Dail. Total 2,279,014 2,197,636 1,803,951 1,781,657 Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Ms Hanafin): It is proposed, not with- standing anything in Standing Orders, that we now move on to questions to the Minister for Exports of Fossil Fuels 2000 — 2003 Health and Children, which shall conclude at 4.15 p.m. 2000 2001 2002 2003 An Ceann Comhairle: Is that agreed? Agreed. \(000) \(000) \(000) \(000) Coal 7,913 2,490 3,198 3,227 Gas 2,401 3,209 5,740 2,540 Priority Questions. Oil 240,316 236,852 288,605 133,844 ———— Total 250,630 242,551 297,543 139,611 National Treatment Purchase Fund. 2. Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health 1143 Priority 22 June 2004. Questions 1144 [Ms O. Mitchell.] on the basis that hospitals collected the patient and Children if each consultant has been data for the purpose of patient treatment, the requested to provide the national treatment pur- commissioner was of the view that disclosure to chase fund, NTPF, with the list of public patients the fund is compatible with the purpose for which awaiting surgical treatment; if so, if such requests patients gave the details in the first instance. The have been universally refused; his views on commissioner has considered, therefore, that the whether the provision of the lists of public Data Protection Acts do not prohibit the disclos- patients to a State agency providing health ser- ure by a data controller — the hospital, in this vices breaches patient confidentiality consider- case — of patient data to the treatment fund. ations; and if he will make a statement on the Information supplied to the national treatment matter. [18518/04] purchase fund is treated in the strictest confidence. Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin): The fund does not request or retain the medical The national treatment purchase fund was estab- histories of patients. Medical notes associated lished to identify patients who have been waiting with patients are not sought by the fund. It is in longest for surgical treatment and to arrange the best interest of patient care that details sought treatment for those patients. The NTPF works by the fund are provided by health boards and closely with health boards and individual hospitals so treatment can be arranged for the hospitals to obtain information on patients and patients concerned. the specific surgical procedure required in each case. Currently, the information collected by the Ms O. Mitchell: I recognise that some hospitals NTPF is collected by hospital and specialty rather are co-operating with the treatment fund, but fol- than by individual consultant. lowing the Minister’s reply it is not clear to me The NTPF carried out a validation exercise on whether hospitals or consultants are providing patients reported to be waiting for surgical treat- lists of patients. I find it utterly ludicrous that a ments. As a result of this exercise it became clear State agency has to spend enormous sums of that the number of patients reported to the money on advertising on national radio to iden- Department includes those who are not immedi- tify those public patients who are waiting for a ately available for treatment or who would be public service, and that we cannot identify such unable to accept an offer of treatment for medical people without recourse to advertisements on or other reasons. Therefore, the figures reported national radio. It seems to be a total waste of to the Department overstated the actual position money. If consultants are not co-operating with at hospital level. the treatment fund, they are denying patients the In collecting and providing data to the NTPF, opportunity to choose. They are making decisions hospital management depends on the co-oper- on behalf of patients. ation of individual consultants. To date, the The Minister should take a strong line on this NTPF has treated some 15,000 patients. This issue. Does he agree that the lists do not belong could not have been achieved without the co- to consultants? The patients do not belong to the operation of hospital consultants. It would be fair consultants. As patients of the State, they are to say that the NTPF did not receive universal co- entitled to receive treatment in whatever way the operation in the beginning. There were difficult- State can deliver it to them. It is totally ies with James Connolly Memorial Hospital and unacceptable that such money — over \1.5 mill- the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital, Dublin, ion last year — has to be spent on advertising. I as regards the small number of patients being do not know what the relevant sum is this year. referred by these hospitals to the NTPF. The My question was prompted by hearing advertise- NTPF is hopeful of a positive outcome following ments for the national treatment purchase fund recent discussions with these hospitals. However, every time I turn on the radio. the NTPF is concerned at the very low level of referrals from St. Vincent’s University Hospital, Mr. Martin: I disagree with the Deputy’s com- Dublin, and the Mid-Western Health Board. If a ments on the advertising, which is necessary and higher number of patients were referred by both good. St. Vincent’s and the Mid-Western Health Board more patients would have been treated and their Ms O. Mitchell: It would not be necessary—— respective waiting lists could have been reduced dramatically. Mr. Martin: It acts as an additional lever for It should be remembered that patients who the system and helps people to know what they have been waiting more than six months for treat- are entitled to.