Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute, albeit briefly, to this important debate on the provision of services for people with cystic fibrosis in Ireland. While I strongly support the Government motion, I thank Fine Gael for providing us with an opportunity to discuss what is for many young Irish citizens - just over 1,000 of them - an issue of life and death. Given the prevalence of this chronic illness in Ireland, every Member of the House has ongoing personal experience of people directly affected by the condition. We have seen at first hand in our own communities and constituencies the devastating impact this disease can have on the lives of young sufferers and their families.

The manner in which we deal with the issue highlighted in the Government amendment challenges us all directly in terms of our relevance and efficacy as individual politicians and members of political parties. Most of all, however, it challenges the Government, even in the difficult economic climate in which we now find ourselves, to do what is right, decent and humane. Since 2006, as other Members have said, significant progress has been made in terms of additional medical, paramedical and financial support for sufferers. It is generally accepted - with the exception of the isolation units, which the Minister has now confirmed will proceed-----

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