Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Can I join with the Cathaoirleach in welcoming the delegation led by Dr. Abdullah Al Qubaisi. I hope that they have a very pleasant, beneficial and informative visit to the Houses of the Oireachtas.

I thank the 23 Members who have contributed to the Order of Business. If I can reply to Senator Daly about Orkambi. This morning I spoke with representatives from Vertex. I fully agree with the Senator that this matter must be resolved. The HSE and the Minister have been engaged and are working to bring the matter to a resolution and to a successful conclusion. The Minister is on record as saying that he hopes it will be concluded in the next couple of weeks, that his priority is to ensure that agreement is reached, and that we can provide certainty to the cystic fibrosis patients who require not just Orkambi but Kalydeco and other drugs now and also for the future. There has been engagement. I am led to believe that the process is coming to the final part of the negotiations which I hope will resolve the matter conclusively and successfully. I was very heartened by my conversation this morning with Vertex. However, as I said yesterday on the Order of Business, it is through engagement and negotiation that we can reach a resolution. That requires both sides, the HSE and Vertex, to sit down and negotiate and thrash this out properly.

In regard to matters the Senator raised about legislation and statements on the Irish Sign Language Bill, I can tell the Senator I would pass the Bill tomorrow morning. I am not objecting or obstructing the Bill being passed. What is incumbent upon the Senator and I as Members of this House is to act responsibly as to how this legislation can be progressed. What the Senator and I both want to see is a Bill that can be enacted from day 1, from this House. The Senator has been engaged with my office and the Department and he knows well there is a process under way. The Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath, whom I have spoken to on the matter, is hoping to be in a position to bring a memo to Government soon.I cannot give a particular date in that regard. I note from comments in an e-mail to me that the Senator has put the dates at 15 March and 29 March. I will not oppose that because I will not play politics with the issue. I want a Bill that can be passed-----