Dáil debates

Wednesday, 7 November 2018

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation

 

12:35 pm

Photo of Jim DalyJim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have addressed this previously and I know Deputy Curran and Deputy Aylward have raised it numerous times previously. A decision is imminent but it is not a political decision. The Deputies opposite are well aware of that. It is an independent process underpinned by the law passed in this House. The decisions are not taken by the Minister of the day. They are taken by the HSE on the basis of a process to be gone through with the companies, which are charging vast amounts of money.

The amount of money we are spending on drugs is a serious challenge for the overall health service. It is a difficult process to get the balance right. We keep in the centre of that process the children who are impacted by this and the urgency to get the drugs.

Deputy Curran asked about a compassionate programme. That is something I will have to raise with the senior Minister. I will come back to him on that point and on the possibility of progressing something like that.

I appreciate the urgency attaching to this, as does the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris. We have to let the independent process come to what it a difficult decision to get the balance right between value for money, while ensuring the process is expedient and addresses the needs of these children.

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