I seek a definitive answer on the current status of the application process for the approval of nusinersen, or Spinraza. The parents of the 25 children involved and others who require this life-saving drug are at their wits' end and are desperately seeking information as to when a decision will be made. The parents group is meeting on Sunday. I appeal to the Minister of State not to further prolong the agony of those parents. We know that the HSE leadership group met last Tuesday. I appeal to the Minister of State to update this House and to give the parents of those children and the other people involved the definitive answer they so desperately need and deserve.

As Deputy Ó Caoláin said, the HSE group has met on this issue. Parents know what is going on. They are being held to ransom. This has been going on for far too long. Young lives are on hold. They are waiting week after week for an answer. We thought there would be a solution to this before Christmas, but unfortunately that did not materialise. I am hopeful that the Minister of State will have something positive to say today.

There was a meeting this week, and I await the final decision in that regard. I looked for an answer this morning because I was expecting that Deputy Curran would raise the matter. I may have an answer this afternoon. I do not want to build any expectations, but I will get an update this afternoon and will extend it to both Deputies. I appreciate where the Deputies are coming from, and I share their concern at a political level. I want a final decision to be made on this issue. We sometimes have to be careful what we wish for. If it is rushed, the wrong decision can be reached. We want the correct decision to be made, and a positive decision. I appreciate that time is of the essence for the people waiting at the other end of these responses. They are real people with real lives, and we have to keep that in mind.

Will the Minister of State update us this afternoon?

I will provide an update to both Deputies, one way or the other.