Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Like the Acting Chair and the other speakers, I welcome our witnesses. It is great to hear such an upbeat message with regard to a very challenging disease. The figures that were quoted are heartbreaking. I recently lost a brother to cancer. He was not the first family member to die from it, unfortunately. I am very conscious of the ravages inflicted on so many families and individuals through cancer.

I echo Ms Mulroe's words regarding the despicable shooting in Omagh last night. I spoke in the House on that particular issue today. We are talking today about all-Ireland institutions and what can be achieved for the good of all our island by good working together. We have a handful of terrorist criminals wreaking havoc on individuals, which is deplorable. The quicker they are weeded out of society, the better, for the benefit of everybody. The overwhelming majority of people do not want any violence in our midst on any part of our island.

The message the AICRI put forward is very positive as regards what can be achieved. From the committee's perspective, it is welcome that the representatives mentioned that the meeting they had with us in October 2021 was a major boost to their work. We do not have an executive role. We meet groups and often wonder whether anyone listens to us, but we help to bring the focus of the Government on particular subjects. That is the value of committees, when we have the opportunity to engage with people outside the Oireachtas and politics. The witnesses can inform us of the avenues we can pursue with the Government, relevant Departments and statutory agencies with regard to supporting the AICRI's funding request. I very much welcome the tripartite work with regard to Ireland, Britain and the US. It is heartening to see who the AICRI will meet as part of its programme for St. Patrick's week.

Ms Mulroe or her colleague might respond regarding a trial centre. Are they thinking of a piece of infrastructure? I presume that is attached to a hospital.