John Brassil (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

When Mr. Shaun Flanagan came before the committee he was asked that question.

His response was that the HSE has pushed the legislation as far as it can. He was basically saying that what is in place and what it is doing with it is the reason for the decisions it is making. As the witnesses know, I have tabled an amendment to the Bill, which I am trying to get to Second Stage; I will give a copy the witnesses a copy of it. It lists nine criteria but I have extended that to 12 to include three small additions, which the witnesses spoke about previously, taking into account patient advocacy groups and giving orphan drugs a specific criteria, namely, if they are not quantitatively assessed that they would be so assessed.