Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge the drive of the Minister, Deputy Varadkar, and his officials in working with the IMO on a new contract. I hope that progress can be made on that front.
If there are areas of research and sums of money are required, it is important to be as inclusive of the stakeholders as possible. I am aware that there will shortly be a meeting between the Irish Haemochromatosis Association, IHA, and the Minister. The Senator has shown an interest, so it would be important were he at that meeting. I can give him the details.
Many people have haemochromatosis.I have it. As I do not know the technical details, I will not go into them. Basically, I must give blood every now and again due to my ferritin levels. Previously, the blood I gave was not used and was instead dumped, so I am delighted that, in recent years, people with haemochromatosis have been able to donate their blood. It is important that their blood can be used. Solutions may be possible at ground level in communities, primary care centres or GPs' surgeries. It is just a question of giving blood. It is not rocket science. It is done to monitor ferritin levels. Science is improving and more companies are getting involved on the monitoring end of things. I will name drop and refer to Randox Teoranta in Dungloe, County Donegal, which is involved in this business and introducing new technologies and sciences to ensure that people with haemochromatosis are diagnosed at an earlier stage.
My only anecdotal advice is this - if people are feeling fatigued, they should go to their doctors to get their blood checked for ferritin levels. They may have haemochromatosis. Since I started giving blood, my fatigue levels have improved immensely. I do not get any sleep anymore in my new job.