Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

After years of campaigning and lobbying by the Irish Haemophilia Society, the Irish Kidney Association, Positive Action and Transfusion Positive, we find that representatives of these organisations had to come here yesterday, on the eve of the introduction of this Bill, to make representations and to appeal to Members of all parties to seek the withdrawal of this proposal. After all the years of hard work and co-operation by these groups we find a proposal coming before this House today and tomorrow, to be guillotined tomorrow evening, that will impose conditions on them with such a deleterious effect on their interests. Albeit a small number, where there is one, it is one too many.

The reality is that it is in the gift of the Tánaiste to withdraw the offending sections to ensure this Bill lives up to the rightful expectation of those who have campaigned so long and so hard. I join with colleagues in appealing to the Tánaiste to withdraw this Bill now and to guarantee to this House that she will present a Bill that is truly reflective of the needs of all who should be encompassed within its measures. I ask the Tánaiste to take the opportunity to do so now and not to follow in the footsteps of a former Minister for Health——

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