Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I raised this in an Adjournment matter a number of weeks ago and the response from the Minister then was the same as his speech today. Senator Darragh O'Brien has been campaigning on this issue for a long time because he has been contacted by people for whom this drug has worked. I was contacted by a lady who lives in Dublin who has received enormous relief from this drug. All we can do is rely on the testimonials of the people who contact us. If there are people for whom the drug does not work, that is fine. I am sure there are many drugs on the list that do not work for people depending on their conditions, circumstances, levels of illness and so forth. I believe there is an overwhelming case here.

Of course, it is appropriate that the Minister cannot get involved in the micromanagement of what drugs are and are not accepted. There is a process in place. However, the Minister can express his wish that this would be fast-tracked and examined as a matter of urgency, and perhaps report back to the House. Certainly it is not the Minister's responsibility to make a decision, nor should it be, but he can influence the process, if one can put it that way.