Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)

I wish to refer to the proposed 100-bed special unit in St. Vincent's Hospital which I raised as a Topical Issue last week and which has also been mentioned by Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett. There is serious concern in an already beleaguered hospital system that the overspend will have an impact on the special unit which was supposed to open last month. In February, the Minister, Deputy Reilly, announced that it would open in June. There is no communication between St. Vincent's Hospital management, the Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland or the CFAI, the consultants and hospital staff about when the unit will open. How are they going to sign off on the protocol that was promised and agreed between the three groups some months ago? This should be announced today. The Taoiseach said yesterday that the Minister for Health would be here tonight to make a statement on the matter. I am hoping that he will attend the House for this debate. I can understand the pressure on him this evening concerning his own personal business, but he is the Minister for Health so he should be here to respond to the concerns of families and the CFAI about this matter. It is scandalous that the building has been built and is waiting for patients to move in, while at the same time Cystic Fibrosis patients are waiting four or five days to access beds in St. Vincent's Hospital.

The Minister may try to avoid the issue but the CFAI has contacted the Minister's office over the last week or two to try to get a response. There seems to be some ducking and diving on the matter. The families want a resolution now, as I do. A family member of mine is a CF sufferer. I want to hear when that 100-bed unit is going to open. The Taoiseach promised that the Minister would attend the House tonight.

There was a meeting earlier today of Fibromyalgia sufferers. I would like the Minister to outline his position on this subject. This medical condition is new on the agenda but is not recognised as a sickness or illness. The matter has been in the Minister's hands for the last eight months but nothing has been done due to the beleaguered state of the health service. I would like to know what is happening in this regard.

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