Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)

It is seven years since the Government set out a plan to establish eight specialised centres of excellence to treat cancer. In that time of unprecedented prosperity, the Government has failed to provide the funding or leadership necessary to put these in place.

I will give an example by quoting a letter which straddles that seven-year period. It states:

Dear Patient. As a major research programme, the National Breast Cancer Research Institute is conducting a large genetic study of the west of Ireland population.

This letter was sent on 31 October 2007 to somebody who died in March 2000.

This cumulative failure to put the strategy in place is shambolic and reflective of the events in recent weeks. It is because of these events and the failure of the Minister to take responsibility for them, and despite her apology, that she finds herself facing a vote of no confidence. The Minister created the monster which has gone on to frustrate and impede the development of decent health care services. She has used it to distance herself from accountability to this House and the public.

Confusion, frustration and outrage are the legacy of this Minister and her Government. In Shelley's famous book, the creator of the monster ultimately saw the madness of his ways, took responsibility for the mayhem which ensued and fell upon his sword. It is time for the Minister to do the same.

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