Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the witnesses and thank them for their presentations. The witnesses have made a number of recommendations and I believe they know what they need. It is just a matter of getting across the need for resources for a targeted screening programme. It was mentioned that some screening is done at maternity hospitals. Is there screening only at certain maternity hospitals or at all maternity hospitals?

Have the witnesses links with international hospitals? They made the point on the necessity to record the deaths from sickle cell disease in the deaths register. I presume that does not happen at present. What is the current process? How would it relate to international statistics? If SCD deaths are not registered, the incidence of the disease cannot be measured. Is it possible to treat some of the related illnesses locally or do those with the disease have to travel to Dublin for treatment?

The need for a central organisation and dedicated administrative structure was identified. Is this planned? Will it be part of the new children's hospital?

Bone marrow transplants between siblings must be done in London, and there were two cases where people were cured. If we can perform the transplant operations, it seems illogical to send people to London. Would it save the State money if they were performed here?