Dr. Jerome Coffey:

We are not starting from year zero. Cancer trials in Ireland have been highly successful over two decades in producing a lot of research activity pro bono at weekends. That is the level. There is great commitment from existing medical and nursing staff. The question is when we can get the core infrastructure to add to their capacity to deliver research in the cancer centres more broadly.

My hope would be that the 2020 service plan will have a line stating, "Development funding for the cancer control programme, of which the Minister will direct that a certain amount is towards cancer research." That is my hope and ambition but there will obviously be negotiation before that happens.