Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I repeat that the drug is projected to double life expectancy. This is not any ordinary drug coming on the market in terms of advancing incremental interventions or treatments of particular conditions. This is truly a very significant game-changer in a condition which has not witnessed such breakthroughs over a long period of time.

In the United Kingdom, for example, the regime for licensing new drugs has been far stricter with an even stronger regulatory impact than here over the years, yet it is available in the United Kingdom. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, NICE, the authority in the United Kingdom which is responsible for the licensing of drugs, has approved it. In the language coming from the NCPE, it is without question overwhelmingly for budgetary and cost reasons that this drug is being rejected, not for reasons of clinical trials or the health outcomes and impact of this drug.

All such matters require balance. I asked the Taoiseach at the outset if the Minister had met the company. From speaking about quite a number of new technologies and new drugs that became available, I am aware that last year there was a complete delay in engagement on ipilimumab and a range of other drugs.

Disappointingly, from the Taoiseach's reply I get the sense that delay will be the order of the day. In the interests of the patients and the people with the condition, here is a case that justifies the intervention of the Minister and the Government with a company and all concerned to knuckle down and make this drug available. It happened last year with ipilimumab and others when it was raised. It is important that people do not engage in a stand-off on this issue because the quality of life and life expectancy issues are so profound that it demands a proactive response from the Government, one we have not seen on this drug to date.

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