Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am very impressed with the presentation and the commitment, professional knowledge and enthusiasm of the witnesses. I hope they will inspire all of us to follow up on their suggestions. They have made many suggestions, all of them excellent. Perhaps if it suits them, they might prioritise them for us so we can activate through our parties North and South and on an east-west basis to articulate the changes needed. Something that struck me about the data was that people need to be aware of them. We are glued to the Covid figures at 6 o'clock every evening. The witnesses are absolutely right that if we had more statistical knowledge of the frequency or the occurrence rates and types of cancers, it would make us more aware and alert.

I know it is not the role of the witnesses but there is the question of public health information and knowledge on how to prevent cancer in the first place and what people should do with regard to their alcohol intake, diet and exercise. We need a much greater public information campaign on key areas so that if we changed two or three of these, the health gain down the road would be huge. Is this a reasonable point to make? I do not need the witnesses to comment on it now. There has to be a joined-up approach between North-South, and east-west is very important.

I respect the involvement of the witnesses with the US and Australia. What international links are there to research in places such as China, Russia and other countries where we do not visit as frequently or that do not have the same common language? How much linking up is there? This is also critical.