Seán Kyne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Mr. Macey, Ms O'Shea, Ms Reilly, Mr. O'Donnell and Dr. Hynes to the committee. I understand Mr. O'Donnell is taking over as CEO of Croí on 1 January. I thank the current CEO, Mr. Neil Johnson, for his stewardship over a number of years.

The statistics that one in two people will contract cancer at some stage in life and that one in three will die of the disease are ingrained in people. The statistics on heart attacks, heart failure and mortality might not be as well known. That is something we all have to highlight. It is still a serious cause of death globally and in Ireland. Most people can understand what a heart attack is. It is portrayed quite vividly in films, drama and so on. Of course, heart failure is much less well-known among the general public and it is important that people recognise it as well.

The last strategy ended in 2019 and we do not have a new strategy. What will a new strategy do for services? Do the witnesses hope it will advocate for State investment? How will it inform their work?