Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I can. We had a useful session yesterday. I might organise a briefing for members of the health committee who are interested as well. There is a lot of important work under way.

As to the treatment abroad scheme or whatever it might be, we have been very clear with CHI in saying if it can find what our surgeons say is clinically appropriate care for the children, be that in Boston's hospital or the UK, Germany where it was done before, Stockholm or indeed anywhere, this Government will fund it. CHI has been given a very clear direction on that. It does not have to comply with the treatment abroad scheme, which is an EU scheme. If we can find this treatment in the United States, Canada or wherever it may be, CHI has been told that as long as it is clinically appropriate for these children the State will fund it, we will fund their families going over and we will support the whole thing.

I will respond to the Deputy's second point when I come back in.

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