Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)

While the assessment is ongoing, this is costing €80 each month for women who do not an alternative option available to them. It has been a constructive move to get free HRT available to people. However, it is almost like it is dangling out there and there is a cohort of women who are not able to avail of it and damn it they have already had a hell of a challenge seeing off their cancer. It does not make to have a game-changer drug available and just not made available. We have what appears to be one of slowest processes for approving new drugs under the DPS. There must be some way of improving that and making drugs available in a more timely manner, especially when we see that the same drugs are being approved in other states across Europe. These women have seen off their cancer but because of their medical condition, they do not have the option to go for HRT. This other option is almost available to them. It is available to women who can afford to pay the €80 over and above the DPS threshold. Is there a way of prioritising it? Is there any indication of a timeline for approval? Will the Minister of State raise that with his officials and give some guidance to women across the country who would avail of Veoza?

See this speech in context