Opposition leader Micheál Martin is to request a meeting with Health Minister Simon Harris to determine if any efforts are being made to ensure patients with genetic emphysema can continue to access a vital drug.

No talks are under way with the manufacturer of a drug that threw a lifeline to patients with genetic emphysema, despite a commitment from the health minister to the family of a woman who died while the drug was withheld.

The family of a Co Tipperary mother who died 12 days ago after a life-saving trial drug was withdrawn is seeking a meeting with Health Minister Minister Simon Harris to get reassurances no other patient would have to face that position.

Patients with genetic emphysema should have access restored, by the end of next week, to a drug withheld for more than a month in a row over who should pay to administer it.

The HSE has agreed to cover the administration costs of a therapy known to slow the progression of genetic emphysema — after a second patient with the condition died.

A number of patients with genetic emphysema who are unable to access vital medicine because of a row over administration costs are at major risk of hospitalisation, their doctor has warned.

The HSE is accusing the manufacturers of an emphysema drug of “persistent manipulation of patients in pursuit of corporate interests” because of its decision to stop administering patient infusions.

Patients with severe lung disease who have been receiving a life-changing drug have pleaded for help as supply of the medication is to be cut off within weeks.

Ten years ago, John Hannon could hardly walk from his home to his car. Yesterday he travelled to Dublin to demand that a drug that transformed his life continues to be available.

A dispute in Cork schoolboy football over an over-age player is set for a costly arbitration case.

Marussia have become the second Formula One team in a matter of days to be placed in administration.

Caterham’s hopes of being on the grid for next weekend’s grand prix in the United States have been dealt a further blow today.

David Beckham has arrived in China as an ambassador to help develop young players as the country tries to clean up its football image after a spate of corruption scandals.

Australia’s health minister says drug regulators have today approved a vaccine for swine flu and that the country will become one of the first to vaccinate against the illness.

The world’s first human trials of a swine flu vaccine have begun in Australia, drug company officials said today, with the aim of controlling the virus that has so far killed more than 700 people worldwide.

SAYING the new H1N1 virus is “unstoppable”, the World Health Organisation (WHO) gave drugmakers a full go-ahead to manufacture vaccines against the pandemic influenza strain yesterday and said healthcare workers should be the first to get one.

Australia will consider vaccinating its entire population of 20 million people against bird flu if trials of a human vaccine are successful.

Irish company Network 365 has announced Hong Kong’s leading mobile operator CSL, Bank of China and Visa has launched the world’s first Verified by Visa implementation over a mobile channel.

Irish company Network 365 has won the Best Wireless Application Developer Award at the Awards ceremony held in Cannes on 19th February.

A leading Hong Kong mobile operator, CSL has deployed Network 365's mzone avatar to bring secure mobile payment services to its customers.

Irish wireless integrator, XIAM, has appointed Colm Healy as the company’s new Chief Executive Officer.