Garret Kelleher (Fine Gael)

Go raibh maith agaibh go léir. I thank the witnesses for the interesting presentations. Across the two areas we have looked at, be it the congenital heart disease network in relation to paediatric or adult patients, we are looking at different types of challenges. Post the Good Friday Agreement and the progress made to date, I would like to learn a little more about clinical outcomes and the collaboration so far. I appreciate the challenges are different in cancer care. I should have thanked Professor Smith for the excellent presentation he gave in Stormont on Friday of last week. We are looking at an increased population and higher numbers of diagnoses. I am looking to get a better handle, and a little more information, on progress that has been made to date in relation to improved clinical outcomes. How can we better progress this by closer co-operation, bearing in mind the fact that building trust is such a huge element of it?

It is also about realising that when it comes to a critical mass of populations, we are better off co-operating and working together. I ask that we focus a little on the improved clinical outcomes over the past 25-plus years. As we approach more difficult years ahead, with higher numbers of cancer diagnoses, what are the challenges that are likely to lie ahead between now and 2045? If we are looking at a doubling in the number of patients diagnosed with cancer, how can we achieve better clinical outcomes? Those are general questions for both groups.