Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I again thank the Senator for raising the issue. As I said, I took a similar matter for the Minister in the Dáil last week after a number of Members spoke about fibromyalgia. One of the things that came out of that debate was that I approached the Minister about the issues that were raised, particularly around long-term illness. Some of the issues that were raised in the Dáil, and which Senator Colm Burke has raised, are everyday issues that are making it difficult for people with fibromyalgia to even live out their daily lives.

I will bring the Senator's concerns back to the Minister and ask that a more appropriate process be put in place to care for people with fibromyalgia. I will ask about the prospect of putting a step-by-step model in place, under Sláintecare, for people suffering from the disease. It is debilitating. I know two people who have the disease and I know that, on a daily basis, life can be very hard for them.

I understand, after speaking to him, that the Minister welcomed the agreement on GP contractual reform that will see structures to care for patients with chronic conditions in primary care settings from 2020 and will benefit over 430,000 medical card and GP card holders over the next years.

I reiterate to the Senator that I will do my best to convey his concerns and ask the Minister to come back to the Senator on this.