Ms Eibhl?n Mulroe:

In respect of public awareness, we in Cancer Trials Ireland are the same. With our clinicians, we do our best to get out to the media once a year for International Clinical Trials Day. Our patients who have been on trials kindly share their stories and experiences of being involved in clinical trials. That helps to demystify the area. We have done market research among the Irish public over the years and they understand clinical trials better after the pandemic. There is a public appetite in that regard. As I said earlier, they are asking for clinical trials. The awareness around the issues that face us when we are trying to get to work and to do more is where we may have a gap. We are leaning more on the Irish Cancer Society in this space. There are 55 staff working in Cancer Trials Ireland and most of them are scientists. We are leaning on the support of our friends in a charity to help us advocate and talk about the value of clinical trials.

I was taken by what Deputy Brendan Smith said. I am sorry about his brother. I know Ms Hanna's mum went through this journey. We are getting calls from members of the public who have cancer and do not know what to do. There is help available from the not-for-profit sector, through organisations such as the Irish Cancer Society and its equivalent in the North. There are patient advocates, such as Mr. McCormick, who are available to talk, peer to peer. There are also nurses available. Advice is available outside clinics, which is helpful, especially around clinical trials.

Ms Hanna asked about discrepancies, and I will pick up on that point. Clinical trials are exempt from the Northern Ireland protocol. They are not included. People cannot travel across the Border to access clinical trials unless they pay for it themselves. People are seeking support and sometimes hospitals will support them or a special case will be made-----