Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)

I strongly support the motion and compliment Deputy Reilly on bringing it forward. The plight of cystic fibrosis sufferers and their families has been completely ignored by successive Fianna Fáil-led Governments. The Pollock report was published three years ago and then simply placed on a shelf and forgotten. Three years is a long time in anyone's life but for a person suffering from cystic fibrosis it is an eternity. The Government's attitude to the Pollock report sums up its overall attitude to cystic fibrosis. Those in the Republic who suffer from this condition have a life expectancy that is ten years less than their counterparts in Northern Ireland. This is a damning indictment and unless the Government changes its attitude, it will remain so.

I recently met representatives of the association which represents cystic fibrosis sufferers in County Clare. The group has a number of questions to which it requires answers. First, when will a cystic fibrosis specialist consultant be appointed at Limerick Regional Hospital? This appointment has been promised for many years but nothing has happened. Second, when will the two additional nurse specialists be appointed at Limerick Regional Hospital? Third, when will additional adult isolation units to cater for the requirements of cystic fibrosis patients be built at the Mid-Western Regional Hospital, Limerick?

It is simply not acceptable that patients, particularly those with cystic fibrosis, should be obliged to travel long distances in order to avail of specialist facilities. The level of specialist resources is limited. While I welcome the proposed provision of 14 new rooms at St. Vincent's Hospital, this progress must be mirrored outside the Pale. A key recommendation of the Pollock report is that adequately staffed, fully equipped cystic fibrosis support centres be located throughout the country. What is the state of play as regards this recommendation?

I am asking that a cystic fibrosis specialist unit similar to the unit for children built, with the assistance of money donated by J. P. McManus, at Limerick Regional Hospital be developed for adult cystic fibrosis sufferers at the same location. Why is it that during Ireland's so-called Celtic tiger boom, private money was used to build the facility to which I refer? The Government must use the fruits of the Celtic tiger to provide facilities for adult cystic fibrosis sufferers.

I recently spoke to the parent of a young boy from County Clare who sufferers from cystic fibrosis. He informed me that he was going to purchase an apartment in Belfast in order to avail of the services available in Northern Ireland, which are far ahead of those on offer in the Republic. One must own a house or residence in Northern Ireland to gain access to the services there. This man is being forced to do this in order to prolong the life of his child. He informed me that one thing cystic fibrosis sufferers do not have is time.

It is time the Minister took action in the interests of the people concerned who are crying out for help and for the Pollock report to be implemented. I commend the motion to the House.

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