That this House notes with concern that Northern Ireland has one of the highest incidence rates of Phenylketonuria (PKU) globally, affecting approximately 1 in 4,000 newborns compared to the UK wider average of 1 in 10,000; acknowledges that PKU is a debilitating, rare genetic metabolic condition requiring a life-altering, highly restrictive low-protein diet and specialized medical supplements to prevent irreversible neurological damage and severe intellectual disabilities; celebrates the efforts of grassroots advocates, including Northern Ireland campaigners from the National Society for Phenylketonuria, and local pharmaceutical innovators like Craigavon-based Galen Limited, for their continuous work to elevate public understanding and support local families; welcomes the recent cross-party political solidarity shown on International PKU Day, including the symbolic illumination of civic buildings across Northern Ireland; expresses concern regarding the daily social, financial, and psychological burdens placed on the estimated 400 individuals living with PKU and their carers across the region; recognises that while the routine newborn heel prick test provides critical early diagnosis, managing the condition remains a lifelong struggle; acknowledges that recent advancements in medical technology and therapeutics offer transformative opportunities to reduce this dietary burden; and calls on the UK Government to work collaboratively with the Northern Ireland Department of Health to ensure long-term, equitable funding for metabolic clinics and to accelerate access to cutting-edge, innovative new treatments, such as sepiapterin, to fundamentally improve quality of life.

That this House notes with concern that Northern Ireland has one of the highest incidence rates of Phenylketonuria (PKU) globally, affecting approximately 1 in 4,000 newborns compared to the UK wider average of 1 in 10,000; acknowledges that PKU is a debilitating, rare genetic metabolic condition requiring a life-altering, highly...