Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)

I hope there will be action when the debate concludes because the country needs an open, accountable and transparent health service because of the lack of transparency, openness and, most of all, accountability on the part of the Government. An apology does not go far enough. While I welcome it, it does not change the fact that the Government has given responsibility for the health service to a body which is not accountable. A HSE delegation led by Professor Drumm will be present in the Oireachtas Members' restaurant tomorrow. No one from the media will be present and there will be no accountability to the House regarding what happens.

I refer to the HSE north east area from where cancer services are being transferred. Deputy Conlon is correct that people are concerned about this, as they were told the services would be moved. Professor Kearney, the medical oncologist in the hospital in Drogheda, and his staff who service the north east have done fantastic work but he is leaving and we have not been told why. The people are protesting but have not yet marched. They want facts, leadership, accountability and transparency. They want the truth but they are not getting it from the Government.

Everyone agrees about the need for centres of excellence but I wonder what will happen in Drogheda and the north east. In a letter I received from Tony O'Brien, chief executive officer of the HSE north east, dated 26 October, he stated, "It is hoped to achieve a 60% transition to these centres by the end of 2008 and a 90% transition by the end of 2009. However, no services will be transferred from a location until the intended receiving location has the appropriate capacity to provide appropriate care". The problem is that the people with cancer do not know what is happening. The HSE cannot tell them what is happening. Their consultant oncologist has resigned and the Minister has very kindly apologised for all the mess she has got us into. It is not good enough and it is not acceptable. This Government fails on the basic issues of accountability and transparency. The concern in the north east is that the service there is going to go in the next three years. What is to replace it? Where is the service to come from? What about the people from Cavan and Monaghan, who now have further distances to travel? Where is the Minister's initiative as regards cross-Border services? What is she and the Government doing about linking in hospitals in the North of Ireland with the population living along the Border to provide these services?

The Minister's apology is not acceptable to the people faced with the dark future they now have because of the mess she has made of the health service. The only honourable position for her is to resign forthwith.

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