Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I second Senator Mooney's amendment to the Order of Business. As colleagues are aware, last summer over €1 million was raised for the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association through the ice bucket challenge and tens of millions of dollars were raised throughout the world in less than a year for the motor neurone disease cause.

As colleagues are aware, motor neurone disease is the name given to a group of diseases in which there is progressive deterioration of motor neurones in the brain and the spinal cord. Over 100 people are diagnosed with this disease in Ireland annually and currently, over 300 people are suffering from this horrific debilitating condition. Last week, a major new DNA mapping project which aims to discover the causes of motor neurone disease was launched in Ireland jointly by the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association and Trinity College. The Irish research is headed by a woman who has dedicated her career to research in this area, Professor Orla Hardiman. I wish her and her team well with this research.

The reason I have raised this issue this afternoon is that the research group is seeking donations from the public towards this important mapping. While from 10% to 15% of cases are easily identified, the cause of motor neurone disease in over 90% of cases is difficult to determine. This research is important and is being conducted worldwide and I am delighted Dr. Hardiman and her team are involved in it. The research group is badly in need of funds and I would appreciate if colleagues would inform people of the research so that members of the public can make a donation to it.

I agree with colleagues and welcome the group established by the Government to consider Seanad reform. However, I believe current Members of the Seanad, including the Leader, should be involved in that group. I wish the group well with its deliberations.