A north west MEP says there is a need for more research, better treatment and higher priority to be given to the more than half a million of people in the country who suffer from chronic pain.
Chronic pain is pain that persists for a long time or is constantly recurring.
Marian Harkin says severe to very-severe chronic pain is an unwelome and constant companion for more than 120,000 people.
She was speaking as a four-day World Congress of Pain is taking place in Dublin.
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Ms Harkin, co-chair and founder member of the Pain Interest Group in the European Parliament, says it's now expected the World Health Organisation will soon recognise pain as a disease in itself:
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