Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to address the following matter of national importance, namely, the appalling decision by the Minister for Health and Children and the Health Service Executive to renege on their commitment to develop the cystic fibrosis unit at St. Vincent's Hospital, Dublin, to the standard required to save the lives of cystic fibrosis patients; and the immediate need for the Minister to reverse this decision to ensure the development proceeds as promised and that the unit is fully operational by 2010, especially given that these developments should have taken place long before now, that the delay has cost the lives of cystic fibrosis patients, that Ireland has the highest prevalence and most severe types of cystic fibrosis in the world and the poorest resources for patients in Europe, and that if this decision, described as "devastating and soul-destroying" by the Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland, is not reversed patients will undoubtedly die unnecessarily.

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