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

A medical breakthrough that can double life expectancy is something that we should embrace and not shy away from. The discovery and emergence of the drug kalydeco is regarded as the biggest single breakthrough in relation to cystic fibrosis, CF, since the discovery of the gene mutation involved in 1989. Forbes has described this drug as "The most important drug of 2012". For all those involved in the treatment of cystic fibrosis, the drug is genuinely seen as a game-changer in terms of the quality of life and life expectancy of persons with the condition. The drug received FDA approval in July last. It is now available in the United Kingdom, Germany and Canada.

It is the first drug to treat the underlying cause of the CF condition, particularly those with the G551D mutation. Some 11% of Ireland's CF population has that particular gene. Ireland has the highest occurrence of cystic fibrosis in the world. It strikes me, to say the least, as very disappointing that we are so late to the game in terms of having this drug available for those concerned, given its impact. There are very convincing arguments for this life-changing drug, but it is still not cleared for use in Ireland. In the clinical trials alone, it decreased relapses by 55% in patients.

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