Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I concur with Deputy Colreavy in that I had a view about what lung disease was and it was certainly not like what was presented this morning. I thank the delegations for their presentations in this regard. Ms Sharon Cosgrove spoke about the inequality of treatment on a national basis.

What is causing that and what needs to be done to rectify it? Also, she stated that certain parts of Ireland do not have access to the drugs that are of considerable benefit. Why is that so?

Mr. Watt spoke of the 13 adults beds that are desperately needed in Beaumont Hospital. Has an application been made for funding by his organisation to the hospital management? Has the application by the hospital management been made to the RDO? Has it even been applied for in the service plan? Was it ever in a previous service plan and was it that it merely did not get delivered? Where stands the matter?

With regard to the Alpha One Foundation, while I will not admit my age - I am not young anymore - I have never even heard of the Love Your Lungs campaign. What are we doing wrong? I do not mean The Alpha One Foundation. What is the Department of Health doing wrong for everybody in the country to know how to love their lungs? We all will be aware of other campaigns. Obviously, this one seems to have been missed. When one looks at the figures, they are far more stark than I would have considered. It is something we need to address. Would they give their advice as to how we or the Department can help get that campaign more exposure?

I have two questions for Mr. Smith. He spoke of St. Joseph's in Raheny being closed since December last. Was it subject to a HIQA inspection? Was that why it was closed?