Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I hope that what the Tánaiste is saying is the case in terms of the Government's keenness in wanting to see this resolved. I charge that those who are representing the Government and us in terms of the engagement with Biogen are not demonstrating the same commitment. Make no mistake about it, the figures that Deputy Calleary has shared with the House are accurate. I have also met Biogen and I can state that an imaginative proposal that would leave the cost for those aged under 18 alone - just dealing with children - at approximately €9 million for two year's provision has been put forward. Figures have been bandied about and put out on the airwaves. The Government must take direct responsibility on this engagement because trusting and not exploring the full facts makes it complicit in the failure. If the Tánaiste was at the gates of the House but an hour ago to speak to those families and meet those children, he would not give the answers he is offering. He would instead make this matter his number one priority. I ask him to commit to doing exactly this from this moment forward.

See this speech in context