My Department recognises Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, or ME as it is commonly known, as a certifiable incapacity. As ME is a very difficult condition to diagnose, it can take some time before a person is finally diagnosed as having ME. In the intervening period, claimants are usually certified as being incapable of work from some other cause. As a result of this, perhaps, and also due to the relatively low incidence of the condition, my Department sees very little certification that actually specifies the cause if incapacity as ME.
I met with representatives from the ME Association earlier this year. Senior officials concerned with the administrative and medical certification work in this general area also attended. I assured the representatives from the ME Association of our fullest co-operation in regard to the dissemination of information and the understanding of ME. I also assured them that my Department would keep in touch with international development. Arising from this meeting additional information on ME was distributed to all the Department's doctors. In addition, as part of my Department's policy of keeping up to date with current medical issues, a number of our medical personnel recently attended a special session given by the Irish College of Occupational Medicine on the topic of ME. Also, my Department's medical adviser attended the First World Symposium on ME held in Cambridge, UK, in April and a full report on these proceedings was issued to all medical referees.