Paul Bradford (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I ask the Leader to inquire about the workings of a new European health directive called the cross-border health care directive. It appears that Irish citizens will be eligible under new terms and conditions to access health care abroad and to have such health care paid for by the HSE.

Will the Leader raise this issue with the HSE and the Minister for Health? This is in the context of a young gentleman from Dublin who is currently in Germany accessing health care. I do not know the young man myself or his family, but the case was brought to my attention by a staff colleague in the Oireachtas, Mr. Noel Rock. The young man suffers with a severe brain injury and the treatment required is only available for three patients in Ireland, in Dún Laoghaire. The young man is now in Germany and undergoing treatment there, but he and his family are very disappointed that he cannot get treatment in Dublin due to a lack of resources. Will the Leader check whether it is possible he can get some assistance under the cross-border health care directive? This is not the treatment abroad scheme, but a new scheme that has been debated and approved by the European Commission recently.

I agree with all those who spoke in regard to the future work of the Committee of Public Accounts and hope and expect Mr. Flannery will come before and co-operate with the committee. Notwithstanding the harsh political climate in which we all now operate, it would be remiss of us not to acknowledge that during the years of service Mr. Flannery gave to Rehab, thousands of people benefited from the services provided by that group. It is appropriate and important to acknowledge that.