John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for taking the question. On a similar theme, Members may be aware that I chair an informal all-party Oireachtas committee on rare diseases. We held one of our regular meetings yesterday. Ireland used to be a world leader in newborn blood screening, or the heel-prick test as Deputy Tully referred to it. Countries in eastern Europe seem to have leapfrogged us notwithstanding the work we are doing. I very much welcome the significant increase in the number of diseases that are tested for. Some countries test for up to 37, so the Minister will agree that we have a long way to go. One test was mentioned yesterday specifically by one of the experts present, which is severe combined immunodeficiency, SCID. If not tested for early, this can be fatal. However, it is actually very treatable if it is tested for early. Live vaccines can be dangerous for babies who have SCID. Can the Minister give us a little more hope that the number of disease we screen for will be significantly increased in the years ahead?

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