Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

Is the Minister aware that since 1983 all newborn babies in Northern Ireland have been screened at birth for cystic fibrosis? Is she aware this not only allows an early diagnosis, but allows at an early stage for appropriate treatment to be commenced? Is she aware the average age in Ireland for discovering whether a child has cystic fibrosis is two years? There is also a gender gap as girls are diagnosed later than boys. Will the Minister acknowledge there is an urgent need to introduce a neonatal screening programme?

In the context of the Minister saying the issue is a priority, can she explain how it is that while her Department was asked to commence such a programme in 2003 and it was promised in 2005, it has not yet been introduced? How is it that the HSE is now intimating that it may or may not introduce such a programme in 2008? Will the Minister indicate whether a neonatal screening programme will be commenced in 2008?

To return to St. Vincent's Hospital, will the Minister acknowledge that the number of rooms that will be provided by the short-term initiative now being taken are grossly inadequate to meet the need in this area? Will she explain why the suggestion of a prefabricated unit on an emergency basis with a far greater number of rooms has been turned down? Will she acknowledge she has now told the House something different about the proposed facility? It was announced recently that within two years the construction in St. Vincent's would be completed and the single rooms necessary would be available. Today she has told the House that sometime later this year contracts will be signed. It will take 24 months for the construction to take place. Presumably, the new unit will then have to be commissioned. Will the Minister confirm we are probably four years away from the new extra badly needed facilities being available and will she admit this is unacceptable?

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