I have a question for the Minister for Health. Some 35 children with cystic fibrosis, CF, between the ages of six and 11 have been excluded from accessing the life-changing CF drug therapy, Kaftrio. There was no expectation that these children would be excluded from this drug therapy and the news has come as a crushing blow for the parents and children. Will the Minister confirm if it is indeed a pricing dispute between the HSE and the pharmaceutical company, Vertex, that has resulted in this? What measures is he taking to resolve this impasse for these children?

The issue is very much of concern for the 35 children involved and their families. I am engaging with the Department and the HSE on this. As the Deputy will be aware, the HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement on medicines under the community drug scheme and for administration of this scheme. Reimbursement is for the licensed indications which have been granted market authorisation. What is important to me and, no doubt, to the Deputy is that the children get access to the drug they need. Intensive work is going on between the Department, the HSE and the companies involved to that end.