Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I second my colleague's request that the Dr. Scally report be discussed at the earliest possible date. I do not seek an amendment to today's Order of Business but I ask the Leader to place the debate on the Order of Business at the earliest opportunity next week.

This morning, two of the most beautiful little children I ever saw in my life are sitting in wheelchairs in the AV room but they have a death sentence hanging over them because they are two of 25 people who suffer from spinal muscular atrophy, SMA II. I shall not pretend to know anything about the disease. However, a clinician and a pharmacist are in the AV Room and they have informed people that there is a drug that will arrest the disease and increase the life expectancy of these children. I was impressed by a little nine-year old girl who made a presentation. I am a grandfather and I found her words heartbreaking. We should give whatever money is necessary. Lack of money is a matter close to my heart. Day after day, we receive emails about pre-budget presentations, which is a load of bloody nonsense because the budget is well sorted at this stage. Making presentations now that seek adjustments to the budget is a nonsense and they are simply a PR stunt. The kids with SMA II are not engaged in a PR stunt. I invite anybody who does not believe what I am saying to go to the AV room to meet them and their parents. The presentation is the most heartbreaking I have heard in the Oireachtas in a long time. There are only 25 sufferers nationally. I do not know whether my colleague, Senator Reilly, is in a position to comment on the matter and I will not test his knowledge of same. If there is drug therapy available, then, for God's sake, let us spend whatever money is necessary to provide same.

I commend the Members of this House and the Lower House who attended the parade for respect and loyalty that took place yesterday for the Defence Forces. I thank my colleague, Senator McFadden, for mentioning the march here as part of her Commencement debate yesterday.

We have heard about the White Paper forever and about everything and anything under the sun so I have a question for the Leader. Will the Government publish the submission that was made to the Public Service Pay Commission now? We need to see the submission so we can assess the outcome when the final report is published. I make my request because the march was attended by 2,500 veterans. They have put their lives on the line not just for this country but for peace. Yesterday, my colleague, Declan Power, read out the names of the people from this country who have lost their lives serving the Defence Forces and the people of this country. Will the Leader to ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence to publish the submission to the commission as a matter of urgency, or at least circulate it to Members of this House?