Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising the issue of diabetes. I am not sure if it has been raised with me in the House before. It is such a common illness that it is good to hear it being raised. It is extraordinarily common. Most people will have a family member who has diabetes. There are many different types, and people who have diabetes often have many other illnesses or co-morbidities. However, if it is managed well and looked after, people with diabetes can live long, healthy lives and avoid those co-morbidities, which is why it is so important it is treated well.

I agree with the Deputy that we need better data. A national patient register would help in many ways, including allowing us to track patients so they do not get lost to follow-up and allowing us to carry out better research. I will definitely speak to the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, about it.

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