Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for her reply and commitment to try to facilitate a meeting between the new director of the CRC and the dozen or more families concerned. Several aspects of her response are encouraging, particularly the reference to the development of care pathways, in co-operation with European reference centres, for those ultra rare disorders for which there is insufficient expertise in Ireland. The EU patient mobility directive is due to be transposed into Irish law next year and it will benefit the parents of children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and many others. If the Acting Chairman needs a hip replacement, under the new directive, he will be able to travel to Italy, Germany or France to obtain one.

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