Shane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)

I am thankful for the opportunity to speak on the motion on this subject, the impact of which is probably felt in every parish in the country. When it was publicly highlighted two years ago that we were lagging behind in terms of the provision of necessary facilities, we thought then that the proposed unit would certainly be built at this stage. I congratulate our spokesperson on bringing forward this motion. I was delighted to hear the Minister give a guarantee this morning that this unit will be built. I am not too worried, nor I am sure are the people with cystic fibrosis, about how it will be paid for as long as it is built.

I urge the Minister to stick to her word. No conflicts should arise about the building of this fantastic facility to which these young people are entitled. When it is built these people will be able to attend the unit and have no fear of contracting infection. By 2011, hopefully, people suffering with cystic fibrosis can look forward to normal life expectancy.

I would like to highlight another issue, that of donor cards, which is related to this issue. The organs of a donor card carrier who unfortunately dies in an accident could, if suitable, prolong the life of a person with cystic fibrosis. I will give an example of such an instance. A young girl, Kiara Duncan, who worked in the shop next door to me in Duleek went to Australia on 7 September 2007 and was involved in a car accident as a result of which she ended up in a coma. Her mother flew out to see her and discovered that Kiara, who was 20 years old, was carrying a donor card. She had carried the card from when she was 18 years of age. Her mother and family made a decision to donate her organs. Today Kiara lies in a grave in Kentstown but a 30 year old man with cystic fibrosis in Australia sends the family a letter every few months and updates them on his progress. Before the unit is opened the Minister perhaps the Minister would consider a campaign to urge young people, in particular, to carry donor cards. In the event of a fatal accident, there is an opportunity for a person with cystic fibrosis to receive an organ donation. We have a poor record in terms of the donation of organs for transplant. It is crucial that an organ donor card campaign be run in conjunction with the provision of these services. There is not a parish in Ireland in which there is not a person suffering from cystic fibrosis. I know a family outside Slane in which two of the daughters were sufferers. Both the father and mother made enormous efforts to try to extend their lives beyond the age of 19 or 20, but sadly both girls died. I welcome the Minister's decision to go ahead with this. I sincerely hope there are no hiccups as regards contracts with the builder. I do not know who the builder is, but one way or another this unit has to be built. If there is a new Government in office before then, we will ensure that it is finished.

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