Mr. Michael Conroy:

I will make an opening comment in the context of the cancer strategy and then refer to my colleagues in the HSE on the matter. There are three recommendations on research in the strategy. The first is to establish a national cancer research group to move on research co-ordination, fostering a supportive environment, setting research priorities and so on. The second is to ensure that clinical cancer research and the staff who deliver it become fully integrated as a component of cancer care, which relates to the point made by Deputy Donnelly. The third recommendation is to examine mechanisms to ensure that newly appointed consultants have time allotted to research. The fact that this is in the strategy illustrates that we accept the basic point the Deputy is making, namely that there is more to be done in this area. The current strategy is very much building on the previous one and we accept that research is an area that has not been developed as much as it could have been. There is a commitment in the strategy to this area, particularly through the cancer research group which will be set up in the first six months of this year.

There have been a lot of steps forward in cancer research. Cancer is one of the areas where research is a lot more developed than in other areas of the health sector. There is an opportunity to use cancer as a lead in terms of making improvements. In that context, I would mention the cancer registry, to which tribute was paid earlier. It has the data and experience upon which we can build in order to increase capabilities-----