Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Government will make announcements to try to resolve some of the issues surrounding the debacle of Irish Water and water charging. We await with interest to see what those announcements will be. Most of them have been in the media so I reckon we have a fair idea of what will be involved. I understand there will be a full debate in the Dáil and Government a motion on the issue of Irish Water will be put to the Dáil tomorrow evening. Therefore, I assume that a motion will be brought to the Seanad and there will be a debate in the Seanad on the revised proposals from Government. I ask the Leader to clarify the position.

It is important that we have a debate on water services. Last year we had a debate with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform on the public expenditure side in terms of the investment on water infrastructure. He promised certain things then that have not come to fruition, in particular a review of the greater Dublin drainage scheme, which is €1.9 billion that the State plans to waste. We did put forward alternatives. Over the next few weeks or early in January we should have a debate on water services investment and infrastructure with the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. I am not sure why the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform came here for the last debate.

Last week the Minister for Health came here for a debate on health in which many Senators, from across the House, participated. I got two and half minutes to contribute but was restricted in what issues I could raise. One area I raised, and which I have consistently raised in here, is the review on the multiple sclerosis drug called Fampyra which has been pending since 25 July. During the debate I asked the Minister directly whether he would simply call the review section in the HSE to inquire where the review is at. I remind colleagues that the drug only costs €270 per month and 1,500 MS sufferers benefit from it but they have been unable to access it since July. The drug improves mobility and many of the people who suffer from MS, in particular women, cannot go back to work.

The Minister said last week that it would be inappropriate for him to intervene. I did not ask him to pull a stroke or intervene. I simply asked him to do his job which entails asking the officials in the Department why are they sitting on the review of a multiple sclerosis drug since 25 July. It is now November but 1,500 people cannot access life changing drugs that they need. That is a disgrace and I am tired of raising the matter. At least I can stand on my own two feet and raise the issue on behalf of people who cannot stand because they cannot get a drug that costs €270 a month. I wish to table an amendment to the Order of Business that the Minister for Health comes in here, for just half an hour, to provide us with an update, bar the same answer I have received since July that it is up for review. I want him to provide us with an update and give us a timeframe for when the drug will be made available to 1,500 people with multiple sclerosis in this country.