Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the 15 Senators who contributed to the Order of Business today. On Senator Mark Daly's amendment to the Order of Business, the Orkambi issue is being discussed tomorrow in the House because the Minister for Health, as we speak, is in Lisbon meeting his EU counterparts in health to discuss, amongst other matters, the issue of Orkambi. I hope that the Senator, rather than divide the House, will withdraw his amendment. The matter has been put on the Order Paper for tomorrow at the request of Senator Daly's party leader last week and new politics is at work. If the Senator can withdraw his amendment, we will even see better politics.

Senator Daly is correct about organ donation. There is a need for a gargantuan change in how we look at organ donation. That is why Government, and the Minister, Deputy Varadkar, in the previous Government was working on legislation around the opt-out system. That is why the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children, of which I was Chair, worked on the issue of organ donation. I appreciate that Senator Daly has as a nominating body the Irish Kidney Association and he is representing it in the House today. He is right to put that issue on the agenda because it is an important issue, not least to those who are on dialysis and awaiting organ donation and their families. It requires a sea change of opinion right across the board. Senator Colm Burke is correct. There was a missed opportunity for a decade where we did nothing, but now we must move forward and put that right.

I refer to the issue of Orkambi which was raised by Senators Daly and Feighan. This morning I met representatives of the drugs company in question who have been meeting Members in Leinster House during the course of yesterday and today. It is important that both Vertex and the HSE, which negotiates on behalf of Government - the Government does not negotiate directly - engage meaningfully. I understand there have been six meetings in the past five months. We are talking here about people's lives and their quality of life. There must be an engagement and a willingness by both Vertex and the HSE to enter into negotiations that can present workable proposals which can benefit those who need this much-needed drug to improve their quality of life. I would hope, as a result of tomorrow afternoon's statements, the Minister for Health being in Lisbon today and the traction the issue has got in the media in recent days and weeks, that we can see movement.

I must admit I expected a different outcome to my discussion this morning with the representatives of Vertex. For what it is worth, I found them to be willing to engage and prepared to go to the table. I would hope that all sides can come to the table and that we can see the quality of lives of people improve. Tomorrow afternoon we will have a debate in the House, with statements on the issue for an hour, in order that we represent the people's views and see if we can bring a resolution to the matter.

Senator Craughwell also referred to this issue, and I am sorry I missed that. I thank the Senator for the remarks he made regarding the Independent News and Media amendment of the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Varadkar.

Senators Gavan, O'Mahony, Feighan and Ó Donnghaile raised the issue of transport and the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Ross. I would be happy to have the Minister come back to the House to discuss the matter. The issue of Bus Éireann is an important one. It is one we need to see resolved in the context of the provision of routes for people from both rural and urban areas. It transcends the urban-rural divide. The Minister has a duty to represent the taxpayer, which he is doing in terms of Bus Éireann in highlighting there is loss-making or a potential crisis emanating. Equally, it is important that the Minister comes to the House to outline his plans in this regard.

I agree with Senator Ó Donnghaile. As a former Chair of an Oireachtas committee, I am conscious that there was significant benefit in us engaging with our colleagues in Stormont in the Northern Ireland Assembly and equally in the North-South Ministerial Council meetings. It is by working together that we can improve connectivity and we can improve the outcomes for people, whether it is in health, which I had the pleasure of doing in the previous Oireachtas, or elsewhere. It is important that we work on that and I would be certainly happy to have the Minister come to the House.

I thank Senator Humphreys for his remarks regarding today's statements on climate action and low carbon development. I hope that it is the first of a rolling series of statements on this because this is an important issue that will not go away and we have responsibilities we must honour, irrespective of who is in government.

Senator Gallagher raised the important topic of the Missing Persons Day. I thank the groups which are highlighting what is an absolute tragedy and heart-breaking situation for many families who are, literally, at every phone call or turn at the door, expecting or hoping it is their loved one coming back. I commend the Senator on raising the matter in the House. I certainly would be happy to ask the relevant Minister for funding for the missing persons helpline.

Senator Maria Byrne raised the matter of Shannon-Cork flights. As a representative from the Cork region, I welcome the Norwegian Air decision to commence flights between Cork and Boston. I am sure the Cathaoirleach will join me in that. It is an important development for Cork and one that will open up the region and be of considerable benefit. I welcome the new jobs in Limerick today as well.

Senator Devine raised the matter of the fine on Pfizer. While the company refuted that this morning in a statement and it is a matter that is the subject of an ongoing appeal, it is one of which we need to keep abreast. Senator Colm Burke raised the issue of the cost of drugs. We have an agreement on the price reduction of drugs in many cases. While the cost of a basket of drugs has come down in recent years, I accept we have a long way to go. In regard to the issue of dampness and housing funding, I will ask the Minister to come to the House on the matter.

Senator Mulherin rightly raised the matter of Small Business Saturday last weekend. I hope our small local businesses can be supported. Equally, she raised the matter of both An Post and the AddressPal card. It is worrying that one would have An Post advertising through a UK linkage when one can have the same value for money through small and medium enterprises and businesses in our own local towns. It would be far better for An Post to engage in a strategic plan with local initiatives or businesses in order that they can develop a plan to stay relevant and to be focused in their own small local towns. I hope they can do that in the future. Senator Mulherin is correct. I will happily have the Minister, Deputy Naughten, come to the House.

Senator Davitt raised the issue of poison awareness day and liquid detergent tablets. He highlighted that 700 children a year are affected by taking such tablets. I would be happy to have the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Zappone, or the Minister for Health come to the House.

Senator Conway-Walsh raised the issue of coding. I am glad the Senator welcomes the Action Plan for Education which the Minister, Deputy Bruton, was in the House recently to discuss. I commend the former Minister of State, Deputy Ciarán Cannon, who did a significant amount of work around coding, and Deputy Bruton in terms of putting it on the curriculum. I would be happy to have the Minister come back to the House with an update on the issue of coding.

Senator Colm Burke raised the issue of the cost of a drugs basket and also organ donation, which I have touched upon.

Senator Mark Daly praised the Garda for its involvement in the location of Clares Rocket. I am pleased the greyhound was found. It is a source of concern that people can think, for whatever reason, they can apprehend a greyhound, a horse or a person for the sake of whatever. It is important we recognise that the Garda does a considerable amount of work in communities and its members put themselves at risk. I commend them on their work.

Senator Daly also referred to the issue of Orkambi.The drugs company would be better employed if it went on the public airwaves and explained the position rather than hide behind a press statement. All of us are getting e-mails and telephone calls from patients and their family members, and we want to see all of them have a better outcome.

Senator McDowell referred to the article today in The Irish Times. I have not seen the article. The Senator has the right of reply to The Irish Times. He can put pen to paper to the editor, which he is very good at doing.