Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate that, but he must travel on 1 October and there is no time for an Adjournment motion. His family and 30 friends have borrowed €1,000 each to help fund the treatment, but we are under pressure to raise enough money next week to enable the family to travel. My request to the Deputy Leader which I ask her to put to the Minister for Health is that the treatment abroad scheme be extended to patients travelling to the United States for critical life-saving cancer treatment and that, at the very least, a contribution be made towards the cost of the treatment equivalent to the amount that would be granted if treatment to achieve a similar outcome was available in the European Union. The Ombudsman, Ms Emily O'Reilly, said discretion should be allowed in order that a person's rights could be met. It is a reasonable request. I will take up the Cathaoirleach's suggestion next week, but I am conscious that next Tuesday is 1 October. We are, therefore, under pressure.