Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I understand. I will try to get one quick question in because my time is almost up. We are talking about private companies and we have mentioned a little about the new frontier of science and medicine being genetic treatments. I know some very important work and research is being done, particularly in the area of retinal research and certainly, some treatments seem to work. That is incredibly exciting.

What are the witnesses' estimation or thoughts on how the HSE navigates new treatments, particularly in the area of genetics? What are their thoughts on the timing of when it accepts treatments and the process by which it does that? How we can encourage it?

In terms of the FinnGen project, about which Ms Daly spoke, there is a real focus on supporting and working with the biomedical community. It is an opportunity for them and for pharmaceutical companies. How could we, as a country, encourage pharmaceutical companies to develop unique treatments?

Although I am critical of it in some ways, the US has that orphan drug scenario where particular priority is given to drugs or treatments that will not necessarily impact a large portion of the community. In that area, how are those new genetic treatments navigated? How do we get them into the HSE and what is the timing of that?