Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I was not suggesting we change precedent and that the Deputy give me notice of questions. I am just saying I would have liked to have given him a more accurate answer. I am conscious of this issue. It is being considered by the HSE for approval right now but it needs to go through the process to ensure that the same procedures apply to this drug as to others. I am very familiar with the pressures that families are under while waiting for decisions such as this. That is why they come to Leinster House on days like today to try to push that process along. I hear that and I will speak to the Minister, Deputy Harris, who is not the decision-maker here. There is a process that needs to be gone through for a drugs approval. As I said, many other drugs have been approved through a similar system this year, and a decision will be made on this drug as soon as we can make it.

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