Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

I sincerely thank Deputy O’Sullivan for having put this issue in the spotlight so many times. It really is important. He is right that I am familiar with it as a result of the advocacy of an incredible person I know, a constituent of mine, in County Wicklow. This advocacy has really helped to move the dial.

The Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, is also very committed to addressing this issue. She would have met and engaged with the Deputy on it. We have the rare diseases strategy, which, as the Deputy said, is very clear on the expansion of newborn screening. It is a cause of collective frustration that we still have not seen this expansion. To say the screening is transformational and life-altering is quite an understatement. I do not have an answer to the direct question, but let me talk to the Minister to see if we can get a specific timeline for delivery. I will ask the Minister to revert to the Deputy directly.

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