Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Senator Darragh O'Brien and several other speakers spoke about water charges and the investment in infrastructure for a water supply. I am arranging to have a debate on the matter on Tuesday next. I hope everyone will have an opportunity to attend. We must bear in mind that the Minister was present for a debate on the matter in recent weeks, but I assure Members that the new proposals will be debated in the House on Tuesday next.

Senator Darragh O'Brien also proposed an amendment to the Order of Business. He has raised the matter of the drug, fampridine, on a number of occasions. He also indicated that he had raised the matter with the Minister himself only last week. The Minister, Deputy Varadkar, is abroad today and cannot come to the House for statements and I cannot therefore amend the Order of Business to suit the Senator's request. However, I will give some background to the matter. I remember reading about fampridine a number of months ago. The manufacturer of fampridine supplied the drug free of charge to some patients who were prescribed it by their clinician. The manufacturer recently decided to stop supplying the drug free of charge and, as a consequence, the patients affected are now faced with financing the drug themselves if they wish to continue with the drug treatment.

Fampridine was never available to multiple sclerosis patients under the community drug schemes. The HSE has received an application for the inclusion of fampridine in the general medical services scheme and community drugs schemes. The application was considered in line with the procedures agreed with the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association. In accordance with these procedures, the National Centre for Pharmaeconomics, NCPE commenced a health technology assessment, HTA, of the project is May 2013 which was completed in August 2013. The HTA provides detailed information on the potential budget impact of the medicine. It also assesses whether the medicine is cost-effective at the price quoted by the manufacturer. In the report the NCPE concluded that fampridine is a high-cost drug which requires intensive neurological assessment both initially and throughout longer-term follow-up. An assessment of the cost-effectiveness of fampridine was not presented in the submission made by the manufacturer nor was any of the other evidence of cost-effectiveness of fampridine found. While it is as yet unknown what impact improvement in walking speed has on quality of life, studies are ongoing to assess the wider impact of fampridine on both walking and quality of life.

As the manufacturer was unable to demonstrate the cost-effectiveness of fampridine in the Irish health care setting, the NCPE was unable to recommend the reimbursement of the drug under the community drug schemes. The NCPE report was an important input to assist decision-making and helps inform the next stage of the process, which involves further discussions with the manufacturer of the drug in accordance with the aforementioned procedures agreed with the pharmaceutical industry. The report is available on the NCPE's website.

The HSE's assessment process is intended to arrive at a decision on funding of the new medicines that is clinically appropriate, fair, consistent and sustainable. It is open to the supplier at any time to submit a new application to the HSE incorporating evidence which demonstrates the cost-effectiveness of fampridine. The HSE will then reconsider the application in line with the agreed procedures and timescales.

The issue is being considered at length. I agree it is taking a long time for a decision to be made. Even though Senator Darragh O'Brien raised the matter with the Minister last week, I will try to ensure the Senator is forwarded a written reply to update him on the position. I am unable to amend the Order of Business for the reasons I have outlined.

Senator Bacik raised the matter of having a debate on gender equality among staff in the workplace, especially in the universities. She raised that issue yesterday but I did not comment on it then. Senator Healy Eames also raised that matter this morning. I will bring the matter to the attention of the relevant Minister.

Senator Bacik also called for a debate on crime statistics and the Garda Inspectorate report. She also called for a debate on third level education in general. Senator Craughwell also called for such a debate. Senator Cullinane called for a similar debate with specific reference to the Waterford Institute of Technology. I will contact the Minister to try to facilitate such a debate for the Members.

Senator Leyden raised the matter of reactivating his Registration of Wills Bill. He raised this matter in the previous Seanad and the Government turned it down but he is quite clear that this matter can be resumed and I will see what I can do.