Brassil calls on HSE to fund life changing emphysema drug
KERRY Sinn Féin TD Martin Ferris TD – the party’s spokesperson on Agriculture and Fisheries officially opened Veon’s new regional office at the Advance Factory Unit at Castleisland Mart last Wednesday morning.
Veon is Ireland’s leading forestry company and has expanded over the past year to meet the professional forestry needs of farmers and forest owner clients.
Deputy Ferris welcomed the new office which he said was a vote of confidence in the commercial forestry sector in Kerry.
He said the new office also highlighted the increasingly important role that forestry plays in providing income diversification opportunities for farmers, especially in light of continuing uncertainty over the effects of Brexit on farm incomes.
Veon’s Castleisland Mart offices will be managed by foresters Chris Byrne and Daniel O’Connell.
“With Brexit looming in the background it makes more sense now than ever before to protect future income streams and take advantage of the grants and premia payments available from the Forest Service” Chris Byrne said. FIANNA Fáil TD John Brassil has called on Minister for Health Simon Harris to fund for Respreeza, which slows the progression of emphysema caused by Alpha 1, after the drug’s manufacturer, CSL Behring, said it would cease providing under its Compassionate Access Programme from the end of the month. Minister Brassil said this week that 21 people risk losing access to Respreeza as a result.
“This will have a devastating impact on the 21 people involved, including a man from my own constituency, who are currently in the CAP and who risk seeing the benefits they have gained from being on the medication lost”, explained Deputy Brassil.
“While agreement between the Department and the manufacturer has so far proven difficult to achieve, the Department of Health should, in the interim, commit to funding the drug for the 21 patients currently on the Compassionate Access Programme,” said Deputy Brassil.
“It is inconceivable that they would lose access to a drug that had dramatically improved their quality of life because the Department and the manufacturer have failed to find agreement,” he said. A LISTOWEL pub’s name came under the spotlight briefly at district court in the town.
Judge James O’Connor was forced to query the name of Listowel’s Risin’ Sun bar during the case of Michael McCarthy, 26 Collins Park, Abbeyfeale, County Limerick.
Mr McCarthy pleaded guilty to acting in a threatening manner during a ‘ large fight’ on the Risin’ Sun premises brought under control by gardaí at 12.40am on September 17 of last yearduring the Listowel Races.
However, the name of the bar appeared as ‘Risen Sun’ in the charge sheets before the Judge - at odds with the name stated in evidence by gardaí.
“It’s here as ‘Risen’. Which is it, is it rising or has it risen?’ the Judge asked. He was informed it was, in fact, “The Risin’ Sun”.
Mr McCarthy had been involved in Race week celebrations leading to him becoming ‘severely intoxicated’, solicitor Robin Lee said. It was indicated the Court would strike out the charge if he contributes to the Poor Box in the coming months.