Written Answers. - Parliamentary Debates - Houses of the Oireachtas

Questions— 14 February 2012. Written Answers
Medical Aids and Appliances
662. Deputy Patrick O’Donovan asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a
medical appliance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will
make a statement on the matter. [7777/12]
Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kathleen Lynch): As the Deputy’s
question relates to service matters I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health
Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
Food Safety
663. Deputy Peter Mathews asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter regarding
safe food (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7806/12]
Minister for Health (Deputy James Reilly): SafeFood (or the Food Safety Promotion Board)
has run upwards of 10 major media campaigns in the last 12 years. These are aimed at increasing
awareness on the importance of food safety and on healthy eating. In the last 2 years their
campaigns have focused on the importance of proper food hygiene practices when handling
and preparing food, the necessity of avoiding cross-contamination in food preparation, and on
healthy eating. All of their campaigns are evaluated on an ongoing basis using independent
consumer market research, which uses a nationally representative sample. In each case, the
research has shown that the SafeFood media campaigns have helped to considerably raise
awareness of the issues raised among consumers.
Ministerial Appointments
664. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Health if he will list all appointments to
State boards and agencies made by him since he came to power; the persons appointed; the
boards and agencies to which they have been appointed; the remuneration details of each
appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7824/12]
Minister for Health (Deputy James Reilly): Where fees are approved, there are four categories
payable to chairpersons and directors of Non-Commercial State Agencies. The “one person
one salary” principle provides that public servants acting as chairpersons or directors of statesponsored
bodies do not receive additional remuneration for undertaking such duties. Members
of Boards are entitled to claim travel and subsistence as governed by the Travel and Subsistence
Circulars issued by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Instead of the fees
mentioned above, members of the Hepatitis C and HIV Compensation Tribunal are paid a
briefing fee of €17,526 when they take up their appointment and a daily rate of €992.68.
The approved annual rates in respect of those Boards to which I have made appointments
and where board fees are payable are:
Category Chair Director
1 €29,888 €14,963
2 €20,520 €11,970
3 €11,970 €7,695
4 €8,978 €5,985
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