Eileen Lynch (Fine Gael)

I welcome the group from Dromahane National School today. I am delighted to have them here.

I thank Minister of State for his reply. I acknowledge and completely accept this is not within his Department's remit, so I again thank him for taking this Commencement matter today. He referred to section 59(3) of the Health Act, regarding long-term illness, but what that provision actually states - again, while the Act has been amended, it still refers to the health board - is that the "health board may make arrangements for the supply without charge of drugs, medicine or medical surgical appliances to persons suffering from a prescribed disease or disability of a permanent or long-term nature.” That provision does not specify conditions as to the inclusion of other illnesses. It says they may be included. To my mind, there is no legislative barrier to improving, increasing or reviewing the long-term illness scheme. It seems the provision actually allows for further inclusion by use of the word “may”. It is simply political will that has prevented this.

I note the other measures outlined in the Minister of State’s response in terms of things that are available but, as I outlined in my initial statement, IBD is a disease that can flare up. A patient might be absolutely perfect today and incapacitated tomorrow. He or she may be unable to work for a week. While he or she may be working, potentially earning more than the means-test allowance for the medical card, that does not mean he or she can continue to work. As I said, when we see the statistics from Crohn's & Colitis Ireland, there are so many people suffering from Crohn's or colitis or another form of IBD who are afraid to take time off work and are saving their medication because they cannot afford to buy more. It is not fair to say a person can go for medical card. They can, but these people are working and contributing, and while they may be working today and be in perfectly good health, they could absolutely be incapacitated tomorrow, which could lead to them taking time off work. That difference has to be recognised.