Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for giving me a little of her time. I also thank the Ceann Comhairle for giving his time yesterday evening to mark International Day of Persons with Disabilities, and I thank the House for turning Leinster House purple.

I thank Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan for introducing this Bill. This matter is something about which I am passionate. On the Opposition benches, I saw the great work we did with Orkambi and Kalydeco in respect of cystic fibrosis and the difference that work made to people's lives. It was a battle no different than the one Deputy Colm Burke mentioned, given the length of time it took us and all the hoops we had to jump through. All the while, we could see people's lives disintegrating because they did not have access to those drugs.

It is important that the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, has given his support to the Bill and to us understanding the process and why it takes so long to turn drugs around when we know that we have fantastic drugs in the system. I am here to lend my support and I see the value this Bill can have. The House should support it collectively.

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