Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I wish to add my voice of congratulations on and support for the Windsor Framework, as published yesterday. This certainly marks a new phase of both EU- UK relations and Irish-UK relations. It also solidifies a strong partnership that is necessary to face global challenges as they arise. I congratulate in particular the Tánaiste, Deputy Micheál Martin who, as Minister for Foreign Affairs, was central to these negotiations. I repeat our appeal and our hope that those who were elected as MLAs to Stormont will finally have the opportunity to take their seats and work for those who elected them, in an appropriate manner.

Today is rare disease day. In Ireland, it is estimated that 300,000 people are living with a rare disease. However, Irish rare disease patients are forced to wait over one third longer than their EU counterparts to access approved orphan drugs. This is an appeal on behalf of those who need better access to life-saving treatments. I want to give a shout out to a number of people. I have spoken here many times about my friend, Pat Tinsley, who sadly passed away last year from amyloidosis. The patisiran drug just did not come in time for him. I also want to shout out to Stephen Sheil, who worked here in the Houses of the Oireachtas, and who is not just surviving but is thriving. Stephen was diagnosed with intestinal neuronal dysplasia, IND, when he was just six months old. He and his family had to make many sacrifices but it was wonderful to see his post on Twitter this morning. I also want to pay tribute to my colleague, Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan who is doing a lot of work in this area, as did former Deputy John Brassil.

I also want to raise the issue of human rights NGOs calling on EU countries to join the European Commission's court case against Hungary over a controversial law adopted by that country. It is basically a Russian-style anti-LGBT+ propaganda law and is almost a carbon copy of Putin's 2013 law. The European Commission rightly says that this law violates Internal Market rules, the fundamental rights of individuals and EU values. Three NGOs have come together to launch a petition to remind EU member states of their commitments. They are expecting at least 20 EU countries to engage in these proceedings, which could be the largest human rights infringement proceedings ever brought in front of the Court of Justice of the European Union, and I am calling for Ireland to be one of those countries.

Finally, I wish to mention somebody that I called to yesterday, a lady called Ms Natalie Stout who runs a community preschool in Caragh, County Kildare. She provides a highly valued service for those that use it. On behalf of many smaller community, rural-based operations like hers, Ms Stout spoke about the real threat of closure next September.While we are grateful for what the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputy O'Gorman, did for parents in reducing fees, we must have that for those who operate the early childhood care and education, ECCE, schemes. I call for the Minister to come before the House for a debate on the matter