Health service query
A health service issue is raised and referred to the HSE for direct reply.
Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
We all understand that all matches cannot be televised. There is a potential win-win scenario here if we can identify the big matches to be televised on RTÉ and TG4, with other matches that would not otherwise be available being shown through the app. Let us allow RTÉ, TG4 and the GAA to talk about that.
Deputy Mattie McGrath asked about the nitrates directive. Let us not forget that we in Ireland have no entitlement to a derogation to the nitrates directive. We are one of only five countries out of 27 that have it. We are working hard to ensure we maintain that derogation. That means ensuring we satisfy what is required in the context of our water quality. That is the work the Government and the Minister are doing at the moment.