Mary Seery Kearney (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank all the witnesses. I appreciate that they are sharing their very personal experiences. As Deputy Canney said, the committee is very united in supporting and advocating and very respectfully treating everything that is exposed to us. It is a very vulnerable experience for the witnesses but it is very much appreciated. We really value it.

If I were to look for a trend across all the contributions, it would be cost and a lack of joined-up thinking. It is shocking that the list has not been updated since 1972 given how far medical science and diagnosis and so on has come on in 50 years. I will give out about that in the Seanad later. There will be chronic illnesses that we might not have the specialism or that has not yet evolved or it is newly diagnosed or new thinking. However, there is a formula of using an multidisciplinary approach. I am not a medical person and am learning on my feet in the Oireachtas. However, the organiser in me would draw up a spider diagram and consider the A to Z of issues. Having a template of considerations for novel illnesses should not be beyond the abilities of people in the HSE. I fail to understand why that has not been done and why there is not a formula in central office for newly emerging illnesses. Take long Covid. While we are learning on our feet, literally, and it is new, there should be a formula that we are able to apply. The common theme I hear from everyone is the idea that an illness comes forward and there is no adequate response. It is up to the person who is grappling with the consequences of living with that illness to find out all the solutions for themselves. The concept of a one-stop-shop or office that could be set up to provide that information and orchestrates co-ordinated thinking should be feasible. I really do not understand that.

I know that each of the witnesses are here as individuals rather than representative organisations but are there organisations that support their particular illnesses? I know in the case of Parkinson's disease there is. Do we have any idea of numbers? When we are talking to gurus in Departments, it is useful sometimes to turn around and quantify and say this is how many people there are. It further exacerbates the shameful lack of thinking by being able to quantify. One person is enough for us to have an adequate response as a State. I am not trying to minimise it in any way. I am just saying it gives us an idea. I think I have covered it all. I have not gone anywhere near the remotest outrage I felt when I was reading the witnesses' statements but I think from that perspective, those are the sorts of things. On that medical card issue and the lack of not being disabled enough, I have a very close supporter who equally is an amputee and has never qualified. Again, the idea of that is absolutely shameful. I am aware there is not really a question in that; it is just me venting. If there is anything the witnesses want me to take on board they should please feel free to say so.