David Cullinane (Sinn Fein)

I welcome the Minister of State. This is a short and technical Bill but I take this opportunity to thank all those who give blood in this country.

I welcome any legislation that allows for streamlining of services and improved efficiencies in the health sector. I support the Government's efforts in this regard. The Bill shifts responsibility for procurement of clotting factor concentrate products used in the treatment of haemophilia and other disorders from the Irish Blood Transfusion Service to St. James's Hospital, which is the location of the National Haemophilia Centre. This follows from an agreement reached last year on facilitating the transfer arrangements agreed between the IBTS, St. James's Hospital, the HSE and the Department of Health. The change is accepted and supported by the Haemophilia Society and I understand from my colleague, Deputy Ó Caoláin, that it will offer significant savings of approximately €3 million. These savings show that if we go through expenditure line by line we can achieve efficiencies without impacting on front line services. In the general scheme of things, €3 million is a relatively small sum but if we can achieve similar savings across all Departments we will have done a good day's work.

The question arises of why this was allowed to continue for so long when it could have been resolved a long time ago. That is not the Minister of State's responsibility, however. We support her efforts to save money and achieve greater efficiencies.