Statement from Ministers for Health

Following the standing up of the Health Threats Advisory Committee and escalating patient safety concerns, the Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD convened a high-level meeting this evening to assess the current disruption to healthcare and risks to patient safety caused by the ongoing fuel blockades.

Minister Carroll MacNeill was joined on the call by Minister for Mental Health Mary Butler TD, Minister for Older People Kieran O'Donnell TD and Minister for Public Health, Well Being and the National Drugs Strategy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor, along with Secretary General, Robert Watt.

The Ministers were briefed by the Chief Medical Officer, Mary Horgan, and the CEO of the Health Service Executive, Anne O'Connor, on the significant disruption the ongoing fuel blockades are causing to ambulance operations, the provision of vital home care to older people, meals on wheels services and critical respite care for children and adults with mental health challenges.

The Ministers noted the regional variation in the impact of the cut-off of fuel supplies with the West, Mid-West and South West the most significantly impacted at present.

Minister Carroll MacNeill has requested up-to-date briefings at regular intervals over the weekend, and the group will meet again tomorrow and Sunday to monitor the situation as it evolves.

The serious risks to patient safety caused by the blockade of fuel supplies are completely unacceptable and the four Ministers called on the protesters to reflect on their actions and cease the restriction of access to critical fuel infrastructure immediately.