Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

Obviously, the evidence is evolving all the time. When Professor O'Higgins produced his report in 2000, the advice was that a centre should deal with 100 new cases. By 2007, this figure had moved to at least 150 cases a year. What is being said is that the number should be at least 150 cases and 50 per surgeon. A number of other criteria are involved. For example, in the case of staffing, reference is made to the need to have two breast surgeons, two radiologists with relevant experience, pathologists and so on. A range of criteria are outlined on page 6 of the report.

The persons who chose the centres were experts. They included individuals representing patients' groups such as Europa Donna and the Irish Cancer Society. Of the 26 people involved in the National Cancer Forum, over half were clinicians, most of whom were at consultant level with expertise in cancer care. They made the recommendations. They were not chosen politically, in the Department of Health and Children or by the HSE. They were chosen on the advice of an expert group which included representatives of the Irish Cancer Society, Europa Donna and other patient groups. It is important to remember this point, given what was said in the debate earlier.

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