Robert Dowds (Dublin Mid West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Ó Caoláin for allowing me to go first and I thank the Chairman and the committee for agreeing to put this topic on the agenda. I should express my interest in this because Lora approached me some time ago and asked me to be patron of Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Ireland. For that reason, I may know more about this than most people. If most come from where I came from at the beginning, they will know nothing about the issue.

In response to questions, it may be useful if Dr. McMahon or Dr. Conneally can indicate the extent to which there is cover to find out the extent of the problem in hospitals across the country. From what I know, it is hit and miss and we need a much more comprehensive situation to prevent this from becoming a major problem, which it will undoubtedly become if we do not act. Does the committee agree to send these three papers to the Minister and ask him for a direct response on how he intends to deal with the matter? From what Dr. McMahon says, a small intervention will save a great deal of money down the road and will be more effective in tackling this disease.

The one point not mentioned by the people making presentations is that a country like Nigeria has 40 million people with the sickle cell trait in their system to some degree. This is indicative of the extent to which it could become a big problem. The most important thing we should try to achieve is a comprehensive screening programme, particularly aimed at women and babies at the time of birth. I would like the committee to agree to send that message.

It is particularly valuable that the initiative has come from people in the immigrant community. That is where most of the problem lies and it is particularly good that the response is coming from that community.

In this regard I would like to point out to the committee that Lora has done a great deal to reach out to people in those communities. As she said herself, many of them are unaware of the condition and it is important that people who might be vulnerable to it are aware of it so that they can deal with it. I commend her and her group for the work they have done.

I have two questions, one for the witnesses and one for the committee. First, to what extent is there proper cover at present? My suspicion is that it is quite limited. Second, is the committee agreeable to sending these papers to the Minister for Health and asking him how he intends to act?

I also commend Dr. McMahon, Dr. Conneally and Lora for the huge amount of work they have done in educating people and highlighting the significance of this issue.