Press release
Minister Donnelly receives government approval to publish General Scheme of Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023
From Department of Health
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Health
Published on
Last updated on
The Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has today (Tuesday 3 October) received government approval to publish the General Scheme of the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023.
The Bill, when enacted, will amend current legislation to enhance the Minister’s power to make regulations for management of and access to medicinal products, and will provide for Rent-a-Room income up to €14,000 per annum to be disregarded in medical card income assessments.
Announcing publication of the General Scheme, Minister Donnelly said:
"I am delighted to receive government approval to publish the General Scheme of this important Bill.
"The Bill is necessary to prepare the way for some much-needed changes around oversight of medicines supplies and access to medicines. I have been clear that I want to further enhance the contribution that pharmacists make to our health services, and this will be an important step forward in that regard.
"I have established a Taskforce on pharmacy and will be getting recommendations later this month. This legislation will allow us to implement changes quickly and increase access for patients, while taking pressure off our GPs.
"This Bill, when enacted, will also progress commitments under Housing for All, to remove potential barriers to participation in the Rent-a-Room scheme.
"I’d like to thank officials in my department and look forward to working with the Office of the Attorney General and the Oireachtas to get this legislation progressed as a matter of priority."
The General Scheme will now be referred to the Office of the Attorney General for priority drafting of the Bill. The text of the Bill will be finalised as a matter of urgency, and it is intended to progress the legislation through the Houses of the Oireachtas as a priority in the coming months.
The General Scheme will be published on the Department of Health’s website shortly.
Following publication of the General Scheme, officials from the Department of Health will work with officials in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and in the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, to finalise priority drafting of the legislation and publication of the final text of the Bill at the earliest opportunity.