Mary White (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)

I welcome this debate and the opportunity to highlight the plight of approximately 1,100 people in this country who suffer from cystic fibrosis. In the short time allotted to me I want to deal with the question of CF. From under the Blackstairs mountains in rural south Carlow I bring my own stories of the experiences of people I know whose lives are defined, tormented and curtailed by this condition. I do not come to this debate with pat phrases, smart statistics or vapid statements of earnest goodwill. My party's credentials on this issue are strong. The Green Party was the only one that acknowledged cystic fibrosis in its recent election manifesto.

Not far from where I live, a brave young man whom I know well successfully underwent a transplant in Newcastle, which gave him a new life. A few miles further down the road from my home another young man made history by becoming the first Irish patient to have a double lung transplant. I phoned his mother today to know how he was and he is doing fine. In my own family, three children of a cousin have cystic fibrosis. Across the water in my husband's family, another tiny family member has been diagnosed with the condition.

I am pleased to hear the Government's reiteration in its proposed amendment to the motion that it plans significant capital investment in the area of cystic fibrosis services during 2008 and beyond to improve hospital facilities and isolation units. This investment is so vital because the level of services, the risk CF sufferers are exposed to due to a lack of isolation units, and the ensuing low life expectancy of Irish cystic fibrosis sufferers — a life expectancy which is over 20 years shorter than those in the United States — are totally unacceptable. It is also unacceptable in a wealthy country like ours that specialist, isolated care is not afforded to those young people for whom the dice is loaded from the outset.

Seven cystic fibrosis sufferers died over Christmas in Ireland. Recent media coverage of the issue has provoked anger but we should not have to wait for radio and television coverage of our deficient services to kick-start us into action; we should already be busy implementing the recommendations of the Pollock report. Some facts give us hope that the services required for cystic fibrosis sufferers will be delivered and that their needs will be prioritised. The appointment of an additional 44 staff to deal with cystic fibrosis sufferers across a number of hospitals is welcome, as is the knowledge that funding for the recruitment of a further 37 is available. I know the Minister will get them working quickly.

Recently opened facilities in St. Vincent's Hospital for the ambulatory care of cystic fibrosis patients, which provide for segregation for improved infection control, are also greatly welcomed. The additional beds for respiratory-cystic fibrosis patients in the St. Camillus wards will also go some way to helping them.

I return to the case of a neighbour and constituent of mine whose parents told me today that while their child was small the doctors and nurses treating him in Waterford Hospital's paediatric unit were superb. The problem, however, was the fear of catching infection in Dublin. Investment in hospitals in the capital city and around the country for sufferers of cystic fibrosis must be accompanied by well-planned and co-ordinated infection control so that these investments are not undermined. There is now the political will to implement and deliver the necessary services and comforts for cystic fibrosis patients. This issue will not be forgotten — not while I can breathe and act on behalf of those who cannot breathe because of cystic fibrosis.

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