Professor Robert Landers:

I wish to draw together some of the strands of the discussion. I would like to make a request of the committee on behalf of the IHCA. I am sure I will be supported in this by the IMO and the Irish Cancer Society. The committee has heard from all of the witnesses today about the huge deficit in terms of resources, capacity, diagnostics, beds and staff. The IHCA has made a submission to the national development plan which is due to be launched in July. It is a critical plan for the future planning of healthcare infrastructure in the State. We have sought engagement and we have had none. I ask the committee to encourage those putting together the national development plan to include associations like the IHCA, the IMO and the Irish Cancer Society in their planning. What we need is joined-up thinking. There are too many silos and organisations doing their own thing. It all needs to be drawn together. I ask that we are involved in the planning. We are only too willing to help.