John Dolan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am very pleased to mention that this Thursday, 18 May, the pontiff will hold an audience for people and their families with Huntington's disease from around the world. Pope Francis has a particular interest in this disease because a lot of people in certain countries in South America are affected by it. The huntingtin gene was identified by a Galway-born doctor Professor Michael Conneally in 1993 in the United States. I wish the folk who are travelling to Rome the very best on Thursday. I should mention that 18 May is also the birthday of John Bruton. I thought that might be useful to know. It was also the date of birth of a former Pope, namely, Pope John Paul II. Huntington's disease is a difficult condition. Many people have the huntingtin gene and a great many people live with the possibility of the condition. When it hits, Huntington's disease has a significant effect on families because it happens at a time when people are in young adulthood. This is an important issue as we look the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, CRPD, the budget and things ahead.

I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach for the opportunity to speak on it.