Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

As Deputy Byrne noted when she was in the Chair, we had a very useful and informative engagement with representatives North and South and indeed with a sufferer with Parkinson's disease who has had DBS and whose testimony was powerful. Dr. O'Connell speaks of the costs of providing the service in Ireland. My head works in an all-island dimension and I was saying, "No, that can't be right because there are savings to be made". I understand that it related to establishing the service in this State. I am clarifying that for colleagues who may also on first reading Dr. O'Connell's presentation have understood that there were no savings to be made. Dr. O'Connell goes on to clarify later that in his presentation in terms of access to the North of Ireland and the service there. There is no hospital called Queen's University in Belfast. I know it very well. It is the Royal Victoria Hospital and we should just acknowledge it for what it is and what it is known. However, Queen's University would have an interest in the Royal Victoria Hospital and that is, of course, a positive.

It is very important to note that Dr. Quigley and his colleagues there have already performed a very small number of cases. My understanding is that this was where people were not in a position to travel for complicated circumstances relating to Parkinson's disease for whom the journey or flight was just not a prospect. They shared some of that detail with us here. Dr. Gavin Quigley indicated some of that. However, they have had the experience and are up for the task. Without any question in my mind, making DBS available on the island of Ireland is a powerful and positive development for everyone who regards this island as home. This must be a great encouragement to us to facilitate this development.

I take from Dr. O'Connell's position as national director of acute hospitals that he and the HSE are supportive of this access being provided at the Royal Victoria Hospital. Could he clarify whether this is the case in his response? That is my interpretation of his contribution. As he said, it is not about just the saving that can be made. There is an estimate of some €7,200 per case. There is also the significant saving to the individual themselves that is not reflected in his contribution. They no longer have to book flights and make hotel arrangements. For somebody facing a first surgery or consultation involving DBS and even subsequently for battery changes, the challenge of airport terminals is quite something. It is a challenge for any of us who are in full health. The people affected usually cannot travel alone so there is a multiplication of cost in terms of travel, hotel accommodation, etc. That is a huge improvement for people here.

It was indicated by Dr. Gavin Quigley that critically what was required at the outset to facilitate the establishment of an all-island service based at the Royal Victoria Hospital was the appointment of two DBS nurse specialists - one based at the Royal Victoria Hospital and another presumably based at the neurological institute at the Mater hospital. It would be a case of one north and one south. Their role would be in assessment and, very importantly, follow-up as it is crucially important. Could Dr. O'Connell indicate to us his expected response to that identified need? On the last day, a panel appeared before us on this issue. Is that being provided? Can we have certainty that this is included in terms of the national service plan for 2015?

I know this matter was addressed earlier this week with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in the broader context of neurological issues. I am not sure if it involved Dr. Carroll but I know it was attended by Dr. Gavin Quigley, Dr. Richard Walsh and Professor Tim Lynch. I regard that engagement as very positive and indicative of good intent. While it had a wider remit in terms of neurological issues, my understanding is that DBS was addressed in the course of that engagement.

Are Ms Fitzgerald, Dr. Carroll and Dr. O'Connell in a position to expand on the opening statement to give us the certainty with regard to the HSE's support for the establishment of this all-island service with the resultant savings to our health budgets and significant improvements in convenience for sufferers seeking access to this procedure and its follow-on supports? I again that the witnesses for their presentation and I look forward to hearing more in their response to our respective questions.