Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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I thank the witnesses for their comprehensive presentations. We need to do much better in this area and we need to expend resources given our ageing population. Between 1996 and 2031 the number of people aged above 65 will have doubled and we need to make provision for that.

Has the Prague charter for palliative care gone on to be recognised by major international bodies, including the World Health Organization? Is it likely to become a charter to which state actors can become signatories?

How many additional geriatricians would be required to address the shortfall? It was stated that more training needs to be provided for community health nursing. What type of additional training is necessary? A point mentioned at the other hearings was the need for a stand-alone entity to deal with end-of-life and palliative care. What form should such an entity take?

Those working with people with Alzheimer's disease are heroic. Everybody knows of somebody who suffers from Alzheimer's disease. Mr. Martin said that many sufferers would wish to live their final days at home. At last week's meetings there was a proposal for end-of-life-proof homes, as it were. It is an interesting proposal. Does he believe it might help people suffering from Alzheimer's disease?

Professor Walsh spoke about a more effective use of resources in hospitals. I ask him to expand on that. How are resources currently misallocated?