The Taoiseach will be familiar with the situation regarding the drug Cariban. There was an announcement of a reimbursement fund, which was welcomed. I have been contacted by many constituents about this, and I know the Taoiseach commented on it before Christmas. Women who are struggling with hyperemesis have the choice between suffering with this debilitating condition or finding themselves in significant amounts of debt and spending large amounts of money because they cannot access it. Trying to access a consultant obstetrician for a prescription is an absurdly convoluted approach. It privileges those who have access and means many women are suffering because they cannot access the drug or are spending too much on it. I know the Taoiseach has commented on this in the past but I ask him to give the House an update on any discussions the Government has had with the HSE and the Irish Pharmacy Union on coming up with a more workable approach.

I am afraid I do not have an update on this matter since we last spoke but I appreciate that it is an enormous burden on a pregnant woman to have to fund this medicine herself. Hyperemesis gravidarum is a serious illness. This issue slipped off my agenda a little in recent weeks but I will ask my office to take it up again with the HSE and see if we can move things on.