Annie Hoey (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank Ms McGrath for that answer. I had a conversation with a person who suffers from a rare disease and who feels the only way it is possible to describe the situation at present is that there is a price on life in this country. The experience of the health system has left the person feeling that way. No treatment is currently available for the condition in question, but there may be in a few years. It will cost a great deal of money, though, and the person does not have much confidence that the money required will be forthcoming. I speak to such individuals to try to get a perspective on issues and I do not want to create the impression that this is how it is for everyone.

It was remarked earlier, however, that a cost, and a cost-benefit analysis, is attached to everything. Does Ms McGrath think perhaps there is a price on life in our health service? We say there never is. Ultimately, however, if people are unable to get the treatments they require, and, as has been stated, if only 16% of orphan treatments are available in Ireland compared with 90% in Germany, then that statistic tells me that some sort of price must be being put on well-being, care and life. I find it hard to hear that. It is really frustrating that there are people in Ireland who feel that a price has been put on their lives and the Government is not willing to pay it.