Margaret Murphy O'Mahony (Cork South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge the presence of Eddie and Teresa MacEoin from my home town of Bandon and welcome them to Dublin. I have two more questions. The witnesses spoke about there being more cancer patients. Why has cancer become more common? The fact that people are living for longer is a factor. Can something be done to prevent it? Should people be more educated on prevention?

Another matter has come to my notice over the past few days. Some people who are going to hospital to receive chemotherapy are being sent home because there is no bed. Has this come to the attention of the witnesses? They would consider it shocking but how common is it and what can be done about it? It is shocking that somebody would be sent home because there is no bed and the person then misses out on that slot of chemotherapy.