Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I have three final questions. I know the Chairman is trying to manage time and it has been a long day. What is the average time for reimbursement for oncology drugs versus the EU average? I ask this because of evidence given here by Mr. Shaun Flanagan some months ago. There seems to be a process whereby we hold out to get a better deal. That is one thing, but obviously time is of the essence here.

My second question is inspired by comments made earlier by the chief executive of the Irish Cancer Society. Based on the hundreds of hours of discussions we have had about the knock-on effects of the overrun on the national children's hospital, can Dr. Coffey give a commitment that no capital programme on the cancer side will be affected?

My third question is on National Cancer Registry Ireland, something I have pursued for well over a year. I was alarmed to hear what had happened regarding the statistical analysis, throughput and pathways regarding cervical cancer. Through engagement with the Minister, Deputy Harris, I found out about this almost by accident. This is not a reflection on National Cancer Registry Ireland at all. Can we be confident that pathways for information flow, the necessity for patient permission, and the process by which those who are diagnosed with cancer but come into the system from different pathways have all been looked at and dealt with to ensure we will not need to go there again? As a result of the revelation about what went on there, the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland is carrying out a review which was meant to be done long ago but will not even be completed this year and we still do not know.

To return to the statistics, my third question is whether all that has been dealt with. Can we guarantee that the HSE, across all these areas, has lined up the statistical analyses or pathways with NCRI and that there will be no surprises again?