I again want to talk about the drug Spinraza. I very much welcome the decision made by the British Government and the National Health Service, NHS, to provide it for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy, SMA. It absolutely and definitively puts the onus on the Government and the HSE to approve the use of the drug here. I am delighted that another jurisdiction has reached a deal with Biogen and it also appears that the price has been lowered when compared with that offered previously, including the offer made to the HSE. It is vital that the price be taken into consideration as the HSE considers its next move in negotiations.

A very important part of today's announcement is the reference to "real-world evidence of its long-term benefits". This, with the possibility of a reduced price, provides the impetus for the HSE to finally provide Spinraza to further improve quality of life for SMA sufferers. However, it is imperative that this momentum not be lost. As I have said from the very first time I raised the issue, time is of the essence for SMA sufferers. Spinraza is a life changing drug for children in County Mayo such as Grace O'Malley and Cillian Mearns and others who are affected. It is not lost on the families that after today's decision, Ireland and Estonia are the only EU countries yet to provide this treatment. The HSE leadership team was due to meet this week to make a decision on use of the drug. There are no excuses left. Will the Deputy Leader answer the following questions? Did the HSE leadership team meet yesterday to discuss the availability of Spinraza? When will a decision be made? Does the HSE have full information from Britain on the price paid to Biogen? As I said, time is of the essence. I personally know some of the parents and their children, as the Deputy Leader probably does, and they are watching their children shut down. As there is a real lack of humanity, I ask the Taoiseach to intervene and ask the Minister for Health to provide Spinraza for these children.

I welcome the announcement made today that €20 million will be made available to remedy the pyrite problem. We have called for action and met the Minister many times to discuss the matter. It has been a long journey. I commend the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy English, because he did give us his word. We want to make sure the houses that are affected the most will benefit immediately from the money. I am a little concerned that it will get caught up in local authorities which may not have the resources to do what needs to be done. I, therefore, ask the Minister of State to come to the Seanad in order that we can thank him for making the money available and work out the implementation plan with us.

I join others who have raised the issue of the availability of Spinraza and welcome the decision made by NHS England, the chief executive of which, Mr. Simon Stevens, said: "This promising treatment has the potential to be life changing for children and their families." Obviously, he is referring to children who suffer from SMA. I have received messages from families who believe they are being managed in the run-up to the local and European elections on 24 May, given the absence of the announcement on this matter that was due to take place this week. As stated, Ireland and Estonia are the only two EU countries that do not fund this treatment. As other Senators stated, we need to have an honest debate about the matter. I know that such situations are not easy to deal with, that the Government has to strike a deal and that the process can be difficult, but the lives the children are leading are extremely difficult, much more difficult than anybody can possibly imagine. Therefore, a debate on the availability of Spinraza would be greatly appreciated. I understand there will be another protest next week on 22 May calling on the Government to fund the provision of Spinraza.

I refer to a shooting in Donaghmede yesterday. Unfortunately, a shooting outside a shopping centre at 5.20 p.m. or early in the evening does not seem to receive much media attention anymore. That is a shocking indictment of our society. Shots were fired outside Donaghmede Shopping Centre at 5.20 p.m. yesterday. The Government is almost disinterested in crime levels in that part of the city. Whenever we raise the issue in this House, as I have done on countless occasions, I am told that the provision of Garda resources and the potential construction of a new Garda station in the hugely expanding area of Donaghmede, Clongriffin and Belmayne are not matters for decision by the Minister but by the Garda Commissioner, yet when the assistant Garda Commissioner said there was absolutely no justification for the reopening of Stepaside Garda station, Cabinet Ministers were able to make it their business to open it. Why is Stepaside more important than an area on the northside when it comes to the provision of Garda resources? Shots being fired at 5.20 p.m. outside of a shopping centre in Donaghmede is not normal. Shootings do not happen in a normal society and they cannot be treated as normal. It is not a case of business as usual because anybody could be caught in the crossfire. With the greatest of respect, I ask the Deputy Leader to facilitate a discussion in this House with the Minister for Justice and Equality on crime in the capital city.