Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

I have not yet finalised my view on the report. I support the view that two centres are needed in Dublin. The report suggests a need for 35 more linear accelerators over the next few years. We need to keep an open mind regarding how we make that happen. In particular, we need it all to work together. In too many areas of health care there are stand-alone facilities which are not being used to their full potential because people are not all working together. In cancer care in particular we need people working together. That is what happens in many parts of the United States of America and elsewhere. I hope we will be able to do that in Ireland. I had a good meeting with a number of people in this area recently and we need to avail of the best expertise in this area. On the issue of the private clinic in Galway, if there is capacity and there is not enough in the public system for patients, we should use that capacity rather than force people to travel to Dublin. That does not make sense from a cost and transport point of view or from the point of view of the patient and his or her family. I want to see the private facilities used.

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