Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

This is an important issue. We do not have a transplant surgeon who deals with pancreatic transplants. At least ten people are waiting for this surgery currently but the waiting list has been suspended. Furthermore, none of these patients have access to transplant co-ordinators in Beaumont. They have been told that if they have an issue they must go to the accident and emergency unit. This is the last place they should go to, as consultants in the accident and emergency unit would say when told this. This is a serious issue and it has been raised by the Irish Kidney Association. The former pancreas transplant surgeon, Mr. David Hickey, was quite public on the issue a number of months ago.

We are being told now that the service will move to St. Vincent's Hospital. If that is correct, that is fine, but the difficulty is that we have not been given a timeframe for the move and no surgeon has been appointed. A patient can transfer to St. Vincent's, but if there is no surgeon appointed to do the work and carry out a transplant, we have a serious issue. I have written to the Minister about this issue. It is an issue that cannot wait until September and I will probably submit it for a Commencement debate as it is appropriate for that. Will the Leader use his good offices to arrange a debate on some broad health matters before we leave for the summer? The Minister has other stuff to do. When he comes to the House and takes a Bill, as he did last week, it is inappropriate for me to raise issues like this one. The Cathaoirleach or Leas-Chathaoirleach would rightly say to me it is not relevant to the Bill and that I cannot raise it. The Seanad can do a job here. We did a job a couple of years ago in regard to organ transplants where the Seanad was recalled for a specific debate. In some parts we got ridiculed for sitting but the debate raised the profile of the issue and brought about some changes. The Minister of State at the time was Deputy Alex White and he attended for the recall. Therefore, I ask the Leader to address the issue and to arrange a debate.

I propose an amendment to the Order of Business, that No. 17 be taken without debate before No. 1. Most Members across the House will agree, or should agree, that the proposed cut to the lone parent's payment is wrong. The cut is due to be made next week which will mean the parents of children aged seven or older will no longer be entitled to the payment. I have listed, along with my colleagues and others-----