Marie Moloney (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I do not need six minutes as I am not an expert in this field. I had no intention of speaking on the motion and have come to the House to relieve our party spokesperson on health. I was listening to the debate in my office and the only reason I am going to speak is because I am now asthmatic. I was diagnosed when I was pregnant many moons ago. I would not even consider myself an asthmatic because I could go for two or three years without ever having to use an inhaler. It is just something that crops up every now and again.

This summer, however, when I was working here I began to get worse and worse. It got to a point where I could not even climb the stairs outside without stopping at the top to cough and get my breath back. I was doing all the usual things we all do involving nasal sprays, nasal washes and using the normal inhaler that I always keep in my bag just in case, but none of it was working. I went to the doctor saying "Flip this for a game of soldiers, there must be something more wrong". I was prescribed a new inhaler which cost €85. I am not complaining about the cost which I can afford, but there are many people out there who cannot afford it. It is quite expensive for people when they are put on something as strong as that. People have been lobbying, including the Asthma Society of Ireland and ordinary people who suffer from asthma, to have asthma placed on the long-term illness scheme. I can understand the problems that would arise if that was to be done because there is a question as to where one would draw the line. Does one go from the child with croup up to those people with full-blown asthma which threatens their lives? In any event, I emphasise the cost of the medication, which is very costly for people.

I have been in a country where one can walk into a shop and buy these medicines over the counter without the need for a prescription. I cannot understand why one has to have a prescription in one country but not in another, notwithstanding that it is the same medication which will have the same effect. I remember when I was diagnosed first, I was taking the medication in liquid form. One got it over the counter and took it with a spoon. I remember the doctor saying to me that it really needed to go on prescription because it was so dangerous. People do not realise how dangerous it is because it opens the airways. One can take too much and collapse on the street. I had never realised how dangerous it was. I went onto the inhaler and I do not think it is even possible to get it in liquid form anymore. I am not sure because I do not use it.

I thank the Senators for raising the issue. While to some it might seem like a very mild illness compared to other illnesses out there, for the person who suffers badly with asthma and cannot breathe, it is dangerous. A friend of mine was walking along the street one day and could not find her inhaler. When she got to her car she had to hold on to it because she started to collapse. She fell on the street. Luckily, someone came along who had an inhaler and gave it to her. I think that girl would be dead today had that stranger not come along with an inhaler in her bag. We hear all the time of people dying from asthma and it is very sad. I acknowledge that the Minister has a whole clinical programme going on. There is a long briefing before us and Senators have put forward a very detailed motion for which I thank them. I welcome the debate and await the Minister of State's reply with interest.