David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I understand it is a process and has to be somewhat independent. My point, however, is that we should be looking at international comparisons in terms of what other countries are doing and what screening is being done in other EU countries that is not being done here. It is like the reimbursement process we discussed earlier. The process can be cumbersome and there is a need for reform to make it quicker and more efficient. I appreciate the NSAC is only up and running since 2019 but the legislation proposed by Senator Norris would introduce more accountability in this regard and more urgency in terms of how it reports to the Minister for Health. That is probably not an issue for our guests; it is more for the Minister and the Department of Health to consider it. I appreciate that the NSAC does its work, and I assume it does good work. The Government put a 12-month stay on the Bill, which is the kiss of death for any Opposition Bill as far as I can see. The Bill seemed to have value when I looked at it again but it appears to have fallen off a cliff.

I recommend that we come back and look at the substance of that Bill.

I will also touch on a number of things Mr. Woods said earlier. He indicated that the HSE intends to work closely with the Department of Health on developing an updated plan for rare diseases. Is it correct that the national plan for rare diseases was published in 2014?