Mr. Gerry O'Dwyer:

I thank the Chairman and other members of the joint committee for their comments. As I mentioned, the newborn screening is really important. Deputy Catherine Byrne referred to that.

As regards Deputy Ó Caoláin's question on paediatrics, we are in discussion with the association on that matter. Yesterday morning, I met with Professor Alf Nicholson, the lead in paediatrics through the clinical care programmes, and Mr. Colm Costigan, who is the clinical director for the three paediatric hospitals in the Dublin area, with a view to putting in place a small working group to work with Professor Gallagher. The latter has also started to work on the whole question of paediatrics. Given the numbers we identified earlier, there is a need to ensure that we have a similar robust arrangement for paediatrics.

We have been working closely with Crumlin and Temple Street hospitals. There have been one or two issues but we have dealt with them. We are reviewing those in paediatrics as well. In the coming weeks, we will be having another focused meeting with the association, Professor Gallagher and Ms Godfrey concerning paediatrics. It is essential that we get it right in the new paediatric hospital from day one. The input of the experts is really important to ensure that when that hospital is completed we will have a state-of-the-art facility for our children after they have been diagnosed through our programme.

Professor Gallagher may want to say a little more on this because it is something on which we have started work.