Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The message we have been given today is to a limited audience. In society, at times there is despondency. People ask where would cancer end and that is often the message. I acknowledge that is unscientific commentary and narrative. Despite the challenges, it would be good if the message could be got out to the wider public about the significant work that is going on, the opportunities that are there, particularly the North-South ones, and that our clinicians, researchers and scientists are up there with the best of the world. Moreover, we are collaborating, as a small country, with the best institutes in the United States and throughout Europe.

I will finish on one or two other points. Bringing together ten academic institutions is something we should never underestimate. Much of society lives in silos and it is important that collaboration happens, particularly on a North-South and east-west basis.

Deputy Conway-Walsh referred earlier to the tsunami of incidents. We might be the first person to be called outside a family when, say, a partner will call us to say that her husband, partner or whatever unfortunately has been diagnosed with cancer and to ask what to do about trying to get medical assistance and a medical card, and if the person is off work, what should the family do. They often confide in us as public representatives before they alert their own family to the diagnosis. In recent times, it has been depressing, on some days in our work, that so many people have contacted us where a family member has, unfortunately, got bad news or whatever.

We also appear to know - this also is unscientific - of more people who have been diagnosed with cancer and whose life expectancy is a lot shorter than would have been the case a few years ago. Presumably, that is due to late diagnoses and Covid has had an effect.

There was mention, in regard to the trials, that more people are needed. If we were in utopia and if our guests could have all the people who are needed to do the necessary research, do we have those people or are we training them and putting them through college to gain the skills and knowledge they need to work in those particular centres? Are we doing that at present?

The panel's work is highly commendable.