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

I thank the deputation for its presentation. It was the second to be made today and extremely compelling and very emotional. In particular, I thank Ms Tufts for relaying her personal story. When we hear someone's personal story, it brings it home to us. She painted a picture of sick people travelling abroad, depending on others to travel with them and having to foot the bills themselves. What happens to those who cannot afford to travel and do not have the means to do so? What is the cost of ongoing medication treatment for those who cannot afford to access this service? If people could access the service, would there be cost savings? What happens to those who receive initial treatment and then, owing to a change in circumstances, perhaps financial, health-related or otherwise, are unable to return to the United Kingdom?

I wish to highlight the issue of voluntarism. We seem to have a great number of fantastic volunteers within services here; this is certainly true in the case of Parkinson's disease.

Reference was made to the 2012 HIQA health technology assessment. Aside from the fact that the report stated it would be cheaper to send people abroad, it also stated it would place extra demands on existing resources. Like Senator Colm Burke, I am keen to know if the position has changed since 2012.