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Local Elections in Ireland 2004

The Local Government Elections in the Republic of Ireland are scheduled to be held on Friday 11 June 2004 on the same day as European Elections and a further amendment to the constitution with a referendum regarding a citizenship issue and asylum seekers.

ISAT calls on it's membership in the four provinces to highlight the plight of people suffering from Sleep Apnoea in Ireland when prospective electioneering candidates call to seek a vote for their election or re-election to local authorities.

We must draw attention to and demand the following:-

1. The provision of full and proper professional medical Sleep Diagnostic Centres and facilities throughout Ireland for the professional diagnosis, treatment and care of people suffering from sleep apnoea and related sleep disorders.
   

2. Adequate funding to ensure that fully qualified and accredited professional medical personnel are provided on a full-time basis to staff sleep diagnostic centres.
   

3. Recognition that a sleep disorder such as sleep apnoea is a debilitating disorder comparable with all other recognised medical disorders.

Facts to back up ISAT demands

A Recent study has been conducted in the United Kingdom, Belgium, Australia, the United States of America and Canada on sleep study rates per 100,000 population and waiting time for diagnosis and treatment with continuous positive airway pressure.

Brief periods of breathing cessation (apnoeas) or marked reduction in Vt (hypopneas) are common in adults during sleep.  Prospective studies indicate that sleep apnea contributes to systemic hypertension (1), is a modifiable risk factor for motor vehicle accidents (2), and that its adverse impact on quality of life is treatable (3).  As a result, there is substantial and growing demand by patients to access diagnostic studies and effective treatment.  Wait times result when demand exceeds capacity.  Demand is influenced by (1) prevalence and incidence of sleep apnea, (2) cost and patient reimbursement policies, (3) patient and primary physician awareness, and (4) wait times.  Capacity is dictated by (1) availability of sleep laboratory beds determined by funding policies, (2) adherence to guidelines for diagnosing sleep apnea and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) titration (3) availability of sleep specialists, and, (4) policies about who can order/interpret diagnostic polysomnography and CPAP titration studies.

This table represents information from five countries regarding their population, annual number of sleep studies performed and the range of wait times patients experience (Table 1)

Based on research conducted by the Irish Sleep Apnoea Trust (ISAT) we are able to show you where Ireland fits into this equation (Table 2).

The comparison shows, that outside the UK, we don't have enough clinics and we don't do enough tests. 

Let it be known that we will not accept any short-term quick-fix measures and that we will not accept any resolution that might try to be brought about by the employment of non-accredited and non-professional medical personnel or so-called experts from outside the Country.

Good Luck.

Grateful appreciation is hereby expressed to Christopher Took and Seán Donnelly for allowing us link to their excellent and informative website ElectionsIreland.Org

Local Elections are held at least every five years, as determined by the 20th Amendment to the Constitution of Ireland, which was confirmed by the Referendum of 11th June 1999, as follows:-

A referendum was held on 11th June 1999 on a proposal to insert the following Article 28A in the Irish Constitution:

It was carried by a YES vote of 77.83%. The NO vaote was 22.17%.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT
1. The State recognises the role of local government in providing a forum for the democratic representation of local communities, in exercising and performing at local level powers and functions conferred by law and in promoting by its initiatives the interests of such communities.

2. There shall be such directly elected local authorities as may be determined by law and their powers and functions shall, subject to the provisions of this Constitution, be so determined and shall be exercised and performed in accordance with law.

3. Elections for members of such local authorities shall be held in accordance with law not later than the end of the fifth year after the year in which they were last held.

4. Every citizen who has the right to vote at an election for members of Dáil Éireann and such other persons as may be determined by law shall have the right to vote at an election for members of such of the local authorities referred to in section 2 of this Article as shall be determined by law.

5. Casual vacancies in the membership of local authorities referred to in section 2 of this Article shall be filled in accordance with law.

Irish Sleep Apnoea Trust/Iontaobhas Apnoea Codlata na hÉireann

Mission Statement
The Irish Sleep Apnoea Trust promotes awareness, understanding and treatment of Sleep Apnoea through education, research and fund raising.

Organisation Profile
The Irish Sleep Apnoea Trust is a non-political, non-profit making Patient Support Group for sufferers (and their families) of Sleep Apnoea.

The ethos and management style of the Irish Sleep Apnoea Trust is one of transparency in its decision making process coupled with a commitment to serve and deliver benefits to the members. Effective communication is a cornerstone of this style.

To ensure delivery of these and our principal aims, our Committee is elected annually and is governed by membership approved Rules, and Accounting and Administrative Procedures and Controls. This is in addition to the normal regulations governing corporate bodies.

Contact ISAT

Telephone

Tel National (086) 605 3891 - Tel. International + 353 (86) 605 3891

Postal address

PO BOX 8440
Dublin 24
Ireland.

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