Mr. Philip Watt:

At the very least, things like this should be made absolutely transparent.

With regard to cost, one of the things we saw with regard to cystic fibrosis drugs, which is something not put much credence was put on, is that they reduce by 30% to 40% the need for people to go into hospital. Their lung function did not increase that much but their need to go into hospital reduced by more that 30%. This was proved in the clinical trials. Obviously massive savings will be made. It also means that patients are living longer, which is why we are fighting for the 20-bed unit in Beaumont Hospital. Our patients now live into their 30s, 40s and 50s whereas 20 years ago they died at the age of 16 or 17. This is the difference the care has made and we acknowledge the Irish health system in terms of these changes. We speak about all the bad things but when we see how things have moved on for our patients we realise that if the will is there massive positive changes can be made.