Teresa Costello
Agricultural Panel · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“For example, in Tallaght, Firhouse and Ballyroan, people are telling me that the road and junction narrowing has led to increased congestion, longer journey times and frustration on the part of motorists, while also making it more difficult for buses, delivery vehicles and larger vehicles to navigate safely.”
“Likewise, long-acting reversible contraception such as implants and intrauterine devices will continue to be provided through appropriately trained medical professionals. These safeguards ensure that patient safety remains at the heart of this new service. The legislation represents good use of public resources.”
“I thank the Minister of State for being here today. Over the past few years and during my time as a councillor, there have been many changes to the roads in my area. It led me to ask the Minister to undertake a comprehensive review of the design manual for urban roads and streets, commonly known as DMURS.”
“I am not the first to raise this and I will not be the last but I am constantly receiving reports - one as recently as this morning - about the huge number of dumped nitrous oxide canisters in the community. If there is a car park that does not have a gate on it is left full of these. I have had to clear up car parks with people.”
“While I acknowledge the council's position, many local people's lived experience has been different from what has been said about DMURS. We are seeing queues building up at peak times, greater difficulty accessing side roads and a road network that is becoming less efficient for everyone who depends on it.”
“I looked at one particular junction where cars were constantly overshooting white lines. It was very confusing and difficult for motorists. The proposed removal of village car parking under DMURS creates significant challenges.”
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“When I was diagnosed in 2013 I received a triple assessment on the day of my first appointment and my chemotherapy was organised almost immediately. I was at stage three and swift action saved my life. I must ask again, as I have done previously, if the process or policy has changed? If so, why has it changed? What is the point of the first appointment if no scan takes place? Most women attending breast clinics will require a scan so why not perform it that day? Stories from younger women are devastating. The Too Young to be Heard campaign highlights how young women feel that they are being dismissed because of their age and, when they finally reach a clinic, delays continue. They are not asking for special treatment but for timely, appropriate care.”
“Key performance indicators state that urgent referrals should be seen within ten working days and non-urgent referrals within 12 weeks. In 2024, compliance nationally was 76% but this varied hugely by hospital. It was as low as 29% in some and as high as 91% in others. That is an unacceptable gap. Scans for new patients should take place within 12 weeks of a consultant's assessment. Compliance with this was reported to be 92% but here is the real problem: many younger women who see a consultant are examined but not scanned. They are then sent away to wait for another three months for imaging, with some ending up waiting six months or more for a full assessment. For aggressive cancers, that delay could mean the difference between early detection and a late-stage diagnosis.”
“Approximately 23% of them are under 49 and 37% are aged between 50 and 64, while 39% are over 65 years of age. Since the 1990s, breast cancer diagnoses have increased by 120%. Survival rates have improved. The five-year survival rates are now around 85% compared with 70% two decades ago. For younger women, cancers tend to be more aggressive, making early detection critical. For those with metastatic disease, survival is far lower. This is why timely access to diagnostics and equitable care across all regions must remain a national priority. I welcome the updated GP referral guidelines from 2023 because GPs are often the first step in saving lives. I know because I have my own GP, Dr. Barry Quinn, to thank for my timely referral. However, guidelines only matter if the system delivers.”
“I thank the Minister of State for being here today. October is breast cancer awareness month so it is very timely that I am raising this issue today, the same day that I will attend my annual mammogram. I will most certainly be repeating myself today as I have spoken previously about the delays in scanning in symptomatic breast clinics. I will continue to repeat myself because the situation really concerns me. I am speaking both as a breast cancer survivor and as the founder of one of Ireland's largest online support communities for people affected by breast cancer. Every day I hear of the challenges and fears people face, from the moment they have a concern to when, if they are unfortunate, they receive a diagnosis. Breast cancer cases are rising, with almost 3,600 women diagnosed in Ireland each year.”
“It will place Ireland's mental health legislation on a far stronger, more human rights compliant footing. With greater clarity on the rights of 16- and 17-year-olds, stronger commitments to independent advocacy and complaints mechanisms, we can ensure it delivers the fullest possible protections for those who rely on our mental health services.”
“Yes, I am not finished. I was acknowledging numbers have decreased but it is still far from ideal and runs contrary to international best practice. While the Bill sets out new safeguards, it does not appear to explicitly prohibit admission to adult wards. My worry is when Deputy Butler is not the Minister of State and another person is her post who may not have that focus whether he or she will be as passionate about keeping those numbers as low as she is? I worry about when the Minister of State is not in the role. Where emergency admission to an adult unit is unavoidable, will strict time limits be in place for such submissions, with a requirement for immediate transfer to an age-appropriate setting? The Bill is a landmark in the development of our mental health system and demonstrates Fianna Fáil's ongoing commitment to reform.”
“I ask whether it is intended to bring forward amendments to provide such a right, ideally on an opt-out basis, so that every person has access to advocacy from the moment of admission. Similarly, there is a need for a clearer, independent complaints mechanism, separate from service providers, to give people confidence that their concerns will be investigated and addressed fairly, without fear of reprisal. On the admission of children to adult wards, despite progress under the Minister of State's watch, children under 18 continue to be admitted-----”
“How will disputes be resolved where there is disagreement between the young person, their parents and the treating psychiatrists? I had concerns about a 16- or 17-year-old who might not get the help they need because of this introduction. As a parent, I feel that at 16 and 17, children need the input and guidance of their parents; even more so when dealing with mental health issues. On advocating and complaints, while the Bill provides stronger rights and safeguards, it does not yet establish a statutory right to independent advocacy. Those who have experienced mental health services first-hand consistently tell us that advocacy is essential to navigating the system, protecting rights and ensuring people's voices are heard.”
“Its passage through the Seanad marks a significant milestone in the delivery of recommendation 92 of the Sharing the Vision plan and a key Sláintecare priority. That said, there are three areas where I would like further clarity. The first relates to young people aged 16 and 17. The Bill introduces a presumption of capacity for this group to make decisions about their admission, care and treatment. It is a welcome development, aligning mental health law more closely with the assisted decision-making Acts. However, I would like clarity on how this presumption will operate in practice, specifically in circumstances where the will and preference of the young person differs from that of their parents or guardians and what safeguards or mechanisms will be in place to ensure the voice of the young person is respected and given effect?”
“Among its many strengths are a modernised framework for involuntary admission and detention with revised criteria and stronger safeguards, an overhauled approach to consent to treatment, closely aligned with the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Acts, 2015 and 2022, and an expanded regulatory remit for the Mental Health Commission, extending for the first time to community residences and services, including CAMHS. Importantly, there will be a new dedicated Part dealing with children and young people, recognising for the first time the capacity of 16- and 17-year-olds to consent to or refuse mental health treatment. This Bill is forward-thinking, person-centred and informed by years of consultation with stakeholders, including people with lived experience of our mental health services.”
“I welcome and support the Bill, which represents an important opportunity to modernise our mental health legislation and strengthen the rights of people who access mental health services. It is the most comprehensive overhaul of our mental health laws in more than 20 years. The Bill builds on the foundation of the 2001 Act but goes much further in ensuring our mental health laws reflect a rights-based and person-centred approach. The Bill introduces significant reforms, including revised criteria for involuntary admission, enhanced safeguards relating to seclusion and restraint, statutory care plans and a stronger regulatory remit for the mental health commission. These are all steps in the right direction.”
“I would understand if it takes overtime to get this moved as quickly as possible. To be honest, we do not have until Christmas. There are little children whom I have met and seen and I will not be able to look their parents in the eye if I have been working on this and those children do not qualify for that medication. It needs to be done quickly.”
“I thank the Minister of State for his answer. With regard to the questions that I asked, is the pathway through the North a realistic option? It has been flown, so to speak, as a bespoke pathway. At present, there is a delay somewhere because the NCPE is waiting for a HTA to be submitted while the manufacturer is telling me it has a meeting next week. These are children whose parents sat in the room with the Minister. Those children will not qualify for this drug if this takes the timelines it normally takes. Even with the best will in the world of it moving fast, we are sitting on our laurels for a month here. That is one month gone. That is children failing. Where is the delay coming from? Why has this HTA not been submitted and why is work not going on? I am reading about extra staff being allocated.”
“The CUP is overseen by Belgium's Federal Agency for Medicines and Health Products, FAMHP, ensuring safety while bridging the gap between clinical trials and full market access. There is also talk of approval of an early access programme being signed off on up North. There have been suggestions of getting the drug into Ireland that way. Can the Minister of State clarify if this is a realistic option? We have parents with children who are so sick. They are failing and I do not want unrealistic options being put forward. We cannot follow regular timelines because DMD is not abiding by these timelines. This disease chips away at these boys every day as their families watch while feeling helpless. I cannot express how important it is that we develop a bespoke pathway to early access to Givinostat.”
“The manufacturer tells me it has a scoping meeting with the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics, NCPE, on 30 September and it will submit a health technology assessment, HTA, in October. The company has not confirmed an exact date, but I was under the impression the NCPE was ready to receive this submission now. Can I get clarity on this issue so the parents waiting will have a clear picture of what is going on? There is still a long way to go before Givinostat will be available in Ireland, which is why I am seeking early access. Our EU counterpart, Belgium, is providing early access to Givinostat through its compassionate use programme, CUP. This allows eligible boys to receive the drug before a national reimbursement.”
“I held a briefing in Leinster House in June to educate TDs and Senators alike about this illness. At the same time, hundreds of people gathered outside the gates here to raise awareness and show support. Anyone there that day saw the impact this disease has not only on the children living with it but also on their families. That was 105 days ago. While that might not seem that long to me and you, to the families affected by DMD, time is muscle. Their children's abilities and strength are failing every day. Since then, a rapid review was completed on 15 August. It was completed in eight days. This timeline shows there is an ability to move through the reimbursement process at an accelerated rate.”
“Breathing problems often emerge by their late teens or early 20s, making the condition life-threatening. There is hope, though. A life-changing drug called Givinostat can slow the progression of the disease and keep boys on their feet for longer. Even if a boy is wheelchair-bound, Givinostat can slow the progression of the disease to the organs, providing a better quality of life. This drug is a symbol of hope for these families affected by DMD. I acknowledge the work of the Minister for Health so far on this matter. She has met with families to discuss a pathway to access Givinostat, along Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan and me. The Minister has also engaged with the HSE and everybody involved to get this medicine to patients in Ireland as quickly as possible.”
“To refresh memories, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, DMD, is a progressive neuromuscular disease that causes the weakening of muscles over time. It almost exclusively affects boys, with symptoms typically appearing between the ages of one and three. In Ireland today, around 110 people are known to be living with DMD and most of them are under 18. A child living with DMD struggles to walk, run or jump like their peers. They have difficulty standing up and need help to climb stairs. These children can also suffer with delayed speech and sometimes face behavioural or learning challenges. As the disease progresses, most of these children will need a wheelchair by the time they are 12. Some will develop scoliosis, and by their mid-teens they may experience heart complications such as dilated cardiomyopathy.”
“The IPH report reveals that children as young as ten years of age have used sunbeds here in Ireland. Let that sink in. This is illegal. It is a criminal offence to sell or hire a sunbed to any person under the age of 18, yet this law is being breached and children are being exposed to carcinogenic UV radiation as a result. I will send a clear and direct message; the health of our young people is not negotiable. This is not just a beauty fad or a harmless indulgence. It is a gateway to serious illness and lifelong consequences. We in Fianna Fáil are beginning to work on a campaign to explore legislative options to fully ban sunbeds in Ireland. This is about more than regulation; this is about protecting lives.”
“That is a shocking statistic that we just cannot afford to ignore. The UV rays emitted by sunbeds can be up to 15 times more intense than the midday Mediterranean sun. These are levels of exposure that no person would encounter in Ireland or anywhere else in Europe without the artificial and hazardous intervention of a sunbed. That is why I welcome the comments by An Taoiseach last week. He said the Government is actively considering a ban on sunbeds. I commend the Minister of State, Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor, on her swift and serious engagement on this issue. Her announcement of a cross-departmental working group to examine the banning of commercial sunbed use is both timely and necessary. In the meantime, we are facing an even more urgent danger, which I find deeply disturbing.”
“I raise a matter of urgent public health concern, which is the continued use and abuse of sunbeds in Ireland. Last week, the Institute of Public Health published a troubling report that provided an overview of sunbed use in Ireland and policy options to reduce skin cancer risk. I will take this opportunity to commend the institute on its critical work and to acknowledge the depth of research and analysis that went into this publication. The findings are stark. Ireland has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world. More than 13,000 people are diagnosed every year. European data now confirms that we have the seventh highest prevalence of melanoma in the EU. Melanoma is a deadly disease. Just one single session on a sunbed can increase a person's risk of developing melanoma by 20%.”
“I thank the Minister of State for his response. In the next iteration of the national physical activity plan I would like to see a focus on exercise for older people. The benefits to people of being more active are a no-brainer. People in my community are worried about being able to afford their ExWell sessions. They are living on a pension and trying to make the positive change we all talk about. Cost is a barrier. The Minister of State mentioned that the HSE has occasionally established formal working and funding relationships. These are in situ . I know the physical activity pathways in healthcare model of care. I would be interested to see if that mirrors or is similar to the service provided by ExWell. If something is already working, we should use it to the fullest of its capabilities.”
“I ask that the Department of Health and the HSE engage with ExWell Medical to review the funding structure, with a view to reinstating or expanding central support, especially for in-person programmes where medical supervision and social engagement are so impactful. I also ask that the Department request greater transparency on cost structures across centres so we can better identify gaps and target supports to those most in need. Preventative healthcare should not be a luxury.”
“A report in The Echo newspaper last year featured older residents in my community who had to reduce their attendance or stop altogether once HSE support was withdrawn. They described the programme as a lifeline, not only for their physical health but for their mental health and social connection. While some local authorities have been able to partially subsidise the programme, this varies hugely by region. We now have a postcode lottery, where access to preventative health supports depends on where people live and whether they can afford to pay. We know that exercise is medicine. ExWell is delivering measurable clinical outcomes that reduce pressure on hospitals and GPs, but we cannot expect it to succeed if we continue to treat it as an optional extra rather than a core public health service.”
“Participants are inducted, assessed, monitored and supported by over 70 clinical staff. The benefits are clear, and include improvements in cardiovascular health, strength, balance, mental well-being, reductions in isolation and, ultimately, less demand on our acute hospital services. This is the essence of preventative healthcare. It is Sláintecare in practice, being community led, inclusive and person-centred. Cost barriers are, however, placing access to this programme at risk for many of those who would benefit most. At centres like Citywest, classes were fully funded until 2022, but are now charged at €10 per session or €70 to €80 a month. For pensioners attending twice weekly, this is up to €40 per week, which is an unsustainable cost for many on a fixed income.”
“I welcome the opportunity to raise the matter of ExWell Medical. It is a transformative, medically supervised exercise programme supporting people right across our communities. ExWell was founded in 2019 by Dr. Noel McCaffrey, following on from an initiative at Dublin City University. Since then, it has grown and now serves more than 7,500 participants weekly across 48 centres nationwide, including several in south Dublin. The programme often operates in community centres and local authority venues. Its aim is simple but profound: to reverse the physical and social deconditioning that occurs with chronic illness through structured, safe and supported exercise. What makes ExWell different is its medical grounding. These are not just fitness classes but clinical interventions.”
“In Tallaght, services are doing everything asked of them while operating under pressure with rising demands and increasingly complex needs. The next strategy must consolidate, strengthen and scale what works. It must fund the front line, listen to community knowledge and be honest about what is needed to deliver real change. Ultimately, it is not about drug use; it is about public health, community safety and human dignity.”
“This uncertainty weakens long-term planning and staff retention. As we look ahead to the strategy post 2025, we must affirm the role of local and regional drug and alcohol task forces as strategic partners and not just service conduits. They are embedded in their communities and deliver not only treatment but also prevention, family support, education and interagency co-ordination. They form the implementation infrastructure that gives life to national policy. They also offer a model for future health and community service delivery which is decentralised, person-centred, locally governed and accountable. The national drugs strategy has given us a progressive health-led framework for action, but implementation is where it succeeds or fails.”
“While the national drug treatment reporting system, NDTRS, captures structured treatment, it does not capture outreach, prevention, education or community safety work, all of which are core parts of what task forces deliver under the strategy. This undervalues the breadth of community responses and must be addressed in future monitoring frameworks. I have concerns about vulnerable people being housed but not being provided with the necessary wrap-around services, ending up in failed tenancies and houses being used for drug taking. Stronger State management is necessary, alongside dedicated case management, to ensure people can integrate properly after they are housed. On sustainable funding, local services are operating on year-to-year allocations, with increasing complexity in compliance and accountability.”
“These issues reflect national trends but they also show us where the strategy's implementation needs greater support, visibility and resourcing. The national strategy commits to equity of access, yet women in recovery face significant additional barriers, as documented by the mothers in addiction recovery rising report, which was produced in partnership with the Tallaght drugs and alcohol task force. Women spoke of a lack of childcare preventing access to services, stigma in parenting and recovery contexts and structural instability in housing and mental health supports. The current strategy must go further in supporting gender-specific and trauma-informed care, which must be reflected in the next iteration post 2025. We also face a serious data gap.”
“Services are working with highly vulnerable individuals, many in acute distress with complex medical health needs and limited access to primary care. Only two services in Tallaght are currently equipped to work with crack users, both of which are at capacity. Youth vulnerability is also rising. The Connect 4 Project is a street outreach project managed by South Dublin County Partnership and engaged with more than 500 young people in one year, many of whom were out of education and at risk of recruitment into the drug economy. Drug-related intimidation and violence is a growing concern, while the project employs an intimidation support worker funded under the DRIVE initiative, supporting individuals and families targeted for drug deaths and coercion.”
“Its key strength is its commitment to community-based delivery, recognising that local services are best placed to respond to local needs. Tallaght exemplifies this. The Tallaght drugs and alcohol task force currently co-ordinates eight funded community-based projects as well as youth outreach and family support services. These organisations are implementing this strategy in full through prevention in education in schools and youth settings, community detox and harm reduction, family support, trauma recovery and peer-led recovery networks. Specialist outreach is also provided to at-risk groups such as women, young people and people using crack cocaine. Tallaght's work is aligned with national goals but the scale and complexity of local drug-related harm have grown substantially in recent years. Crack cocaine use is rising rapidly.”
“I thank the Minister of State for coming in. As we approach the final year of this strategy, it is essential that we reflect not only on progress made at national level but also on how the strategy is functioning on the ground in communities like Tallaght, where both the promise and the pressure of the strategy are visible every day. The current strategy rightly prioritises a public health approach to drug use and outlines five strategic goals, namely, prevention and early intervention, access to treatment and rehabilitation, harm reduction, supply reduction and supporting evidence-informed practice. This health-led, person-centred approach has strong public support and is backed by growing national and international evidence.”
“That is why I want to highlight Veoza, a non-hormonal medication that targets neurokinin 3 receptors in the brain to manage moderate to severe menopause symptoms. It became available in Ireland in late 2023 and is under review for inclusion in the drugs payment scheme. That was confirmed in a reply to a parliamentary question in March 2025. As of July 2025, it is only available privately at a cost of approximately €70 per month. For women who have survived breast cancer and cannot take HRT, Veoza would be life-changing but right now, cost is a real barrier for people. It is vital that we make Veoza accessible and affordable. We need to make sure no one is left behind when it comes to menopause care.”
“This week, I attended the Irish Cancer Society pre-budget launch. As always, I had the privilege of speaking to cancer survivors and listening to their lived experiences. One issue that was raised with me, not for the first time, was the lack of adequate supports for women who have had breast cancer and are now facing menopause. For many of these women, menopause is not just a natural transition; it is a really difficult side effect of a life-saving treatment. Hormone replacement therapy, HRT, is often not an option due to the hormone-sensitive nature of their cancer. Ireland has made real progress in recent years with the roll-out of menopause clinics and the availability of free HRT, but for women who cannot use HRT the options remain far too limited. This gap in care must be addressed.”
“It is about how we, as a society, treat our older people, those who built this country, raised families, paid taxes and contributed so much. They deserve to live their final years with dignity, respect and the highest standard of care.”
“I have met them. They care deeply about the residents and do the work for the right reasons in very tough circumstances. We cannot lose sight of that. At the same time, these revelations have shone a light on systemic issues in nursing home care and, while the Government's response to date is welcome, we need to go much further to ensure this never happens again. This Government is committed to strengthening protections and will shortly publish the first ever national adult safeguarding policy and develop legislation that builds on what is already in place. The adult safeguarding Bill included in our legislative programme is a critical next step and must ensure robust prevention, reporting and enforcement. In the end, it is all about dignity.”
“I welcome that but I would like to know whether there has been any update on that investigation. I am open to correction on this but I understand there are approximately 95 nursing homes under review based on concerns raised. Have the families of the residents been contacted? Have they been told their loved ones live in homes that are under scrutiny? The governance we saw in some of these facilities was nothing short of disastrous. If we are going to change that, we need to look at how HIQA inspects homes and whether legislative change is needed to allow for undercover investigations because, until homes do not know who is watching or when, we will not see real accountability. While my speech today has focused on failings in the sector, there are many committed, compassionate and hard-working carers and providers out there.”
“In France, that scandal hit so hard that the company's share price dropped by 90%, and rightly so. Back home, two of our leading geriatric doctors called what we saw in the documentary exactly what it was, namely, abuse. This was abuse in a place that was meant to be safe and neglect in a place that was supposed to be called "Home". Families placed their trust in these homes and, for many, that trust has been eroded, if not completely destroyed. A constituent of mine, a healthy independent man in his 70s, rang me after the documentary aired. He was furious but he was also terrified. He said "God help me if the day comes that I need to go into one of those places." Can you blame him? I acknowledge that HIQA referred the matter to An Garda Síochána.”
“Issues can easily be hidden. If this is what it looks like with warning, I dread to think what it is like when nobody is watching. These companies were paid very well for a service they did not deliver. We need to talk seriously about financial penalties because providers should not be allowed to keep money for delivering care when what they were delivering was neglect, humiliation and cruelty. What financial consequences will they face? While preparing for the committee meeting, I came across a book written by a French investigative journalist who had spent three years investigating Orpea, which has rebranded as Emeis, the company that owns two of these homes. The book revealed a strategy of cost-cutting at these expensive care homes, underpaid staff, illegal use of temporary contracts and the rationing of food and hygiene products.”
“I would bet everything I own that these homes are extremely efficient when it comes to collecting payment but ordering incontinence pads is apparently too much to ask. I would think it reasonable to expect that, when HIQA carries out inspections, one of the very first things to be checked would be stock levels of basic care items. If that is not happening now, it needs to be added as a priority. We also heard that HIQA could not conduct undercover investigations. One of the witnesses told us that HIQA had to declare its right of entry. Unlike RTÉ, the authority cannot undertake undercover surveillance. It cannot turn up in the middle of the night or observe staff in action without warning. How can we get an accurate picture of what is happening if inspections are announced ahead of time or are even just suspected?”
“HIQA appeared before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health last week. I listened as it referred to the testimonies of residents and their families and, honestly, I was baffled. How can we refer to testimonies from people who, as we saw on camera, were being lied to? How can we trust the word of dementia patients who say they are happy when footage clearly shows them being neglected? What we saw on camera was the testimony. It was the truth unfiltered. Beneavin Manor can cater for up to 115 residents and charges roughly €1,400 per week under the fair deal scheme. Despite the company being paid well, staff constantly face shortages of basic supplies such as incontinence products, towels, bed sheets, sanitary wipes and gloves. At the committee meeting, I asked witnesses about the billing process in these homes.”
“As I watched, my blood boiled. What I found particularly sickening was how staff told families that their loved ones were taking part in activities, giving them a false sense of comfort. Families believed their loved ones were being cared for and engaged with. In reality, they were being neglected. That level of deception is cruel. It was not just cruel to the residents. It was also humiliating for their families. We have all heard the argument that staff are under pressure. We know about the understaffing and that there were supply issues but none of that justifies what we saw. It does not excuse mishandling an elderly person, ignoring someone calling for help or lying to families. If someone is in a caring role, that person's core values should be respect, empathy and honesty, none of which were displayed in that footage.”
“A recent "RTÉ Investigates" documentary exposed substandard care in nursing homes operated by Ireland's largest private provider. What we saw was a litany of repeated failings, chronic staff shortages and residents left unsupervised, denied basic care and, in some cases, subjected to outright neglect. The most disturbing part was the complete lack of dignity shown to vulnerable people in their final years. Deciding to move a loved one into a nursing home is never easy. For most families, it is a last resort and something that is done only when a person's needs become too complex to manage at home. I do not know a single person who has not struggled with that decision and who has not felt guilt and worry. Now, those fears have been confirmed. That documentary showed families that their worst nightmares could be a reality.”
“This allows eligible boys to receive the drugs before formal EU approval, which is expected in July 2025, and national reimbursement. We already have EU approval. The CUP is overseen by Belgium’s FAMHP, ensuring safety while bridging the gap between clinical trials and full market access. Is this something we could do? I welcome the discussion in the Dáil this morning, during which my colleague Shane Moynihan raised the subject of givinostat with the Minister. I commend her activity to date, which includes speaking with the Italian Minister of Health and proactively engaging with the manufacturer. Her work is not limited to that; I welcome all the progress the Minister has made. Will the Deputy Leader convey to her my full support and gratitude for her work so far?”
“If they are wheelchair-bound, it can delay the progression to the lungs and heart, providing them with a better quality of life. Who would not want that for a child? I appreciate that the Minister for Health is committed to a meeting on all of this. As it has now been 15 days and, as we know, time is muscle, I would appreciate if the Deputy Leader requested a timeline for when that meeting will go ahead. Can I be given a firm date? This meeting, which was to include some family representatives, other key stakeholders and me, was agreed to discuss a pathway forward. I cannot express how important it is that we not take the foot off the pedal in our pursuit of early access to givinostat. Belgium is providing early access to givinostat through its compassionate use programme, CUP.”
“Today marks 15 days since families with children affected by Duchenne muscular dystrophy and I held a demonstration and information briefing in the audiovisual meeting room. We were supported by all parties and none. Fifteen days may not seem like much time to you and me, but to people whose children have DMD, that time flies by, and every day their children’s strength and abilities are failing. To refresh memories, it is a progressive neuromuscular disease that causes the weakening of muscles over time. It almost exclusively affects boys, with symptoms typically appearing between the ages of one and three. It is a life-limiting illness, and givinostat provides hope and a lifeline to these boys, as it can stop progression of this illness, keeping the boys on their feet for longer.”
“These schemes help to ease the financial burden and increase access to essential dental care, but more is required. We should not ignore the impact of smoking on oral health, increasing the risk of gum disease, tooth loss and oral cancer. Public health initiatives must continue to link oral health with wider lifestyle and well-being supports. In closing, I thank the proposers of this motion for bringing attention to this vital issue. Oral health is not a luxury, but a key part of our overall health and well-being. The proposals outlined today are measured, sensible, achievable and very necessary.”
“The publication of the Smile agus Sláinte national oral health policy in 2019 marked a turning point in how we view and deliver oral healthcare in Ireland. It prioritised prevention, early intervention and equity of access, especially for vulnerable groups. Its implementation now is a must. I also acknowledge the role of the dental treatment services scheme, which provides essential access to dental care for adult medical card holders. This scheme is a crucial safety net for low-income patients and its continued enhancement must remain a policy priority. I also highlight that taxpayers may claim relief on specialist dental treatments and that many workers and self-employed individuals are eligible for dental benefit under the treatment benefit scheme.”
“This is a way to maintain standards and reach children who may be at risk of going unseen. We also cannot ignore the experiences of patients left financially vulnerable when dental or orthodontic practices close suddenly. This motion rightly calls on the Government to work across Departments and agencies, including with the Dental Council of Ireland and the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, to develop safeguards. Patients need to be protected, especially when they have paid in advance for treatments they may never receive. Patients cannot be left financially exposed and clinically unsupported. In supporting this motion, I acknowledge the important steps taken by the State in laying the groundwork for dental reform.”