Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Murphy for sharing his story. It is always great to hear lived experience because it makes a difference when we engage with and listen to people's lived experiences. I thank Mr. Murphy for that. I also thank Ms Perry for her presentation. The elimination of hepatitis C is an interesting and achievable aim. It is important and appropriate for us to acknowledge the work of a former member of this committee, namely, former Deputy Kate O'Connell, in this area. She has tirelessly campaigned on the issue.

We spoke earlier about prisons. It seems to me an absolute no-brainer that we must deal with the problem in prisons immediately. We need to completely eliminate the virus in the prison community. That seems to make sense.

I see in the useful booklet provided to the committee that there is a section on understanding the challenges of the regions. Our guests might develop that conversation a little more. How would they propose to do that?

I am also interested to know what our guests' relationship with the HSE is like. Are there gaps there? Does the HSE understand our guests' suggestions and recommendations? What is their relationship with the HSE like? What should be done? Where are the gaps? Perhaps the committee should at least ask the HSE to respond to what has been said by our guests today. Perhaps our guests could comment on those points.