Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

In fact, we can forget about "irresponsible", it is simply wrong that the position is worse. The figures show — they are not just figures, they are people who are alive — the success and the dramatic improvement of oncology services in this country. It does not matter whether it was 1997, 1987 or 1967. The fact is our patients are being treated better, operations are more successful, diagnosis happens earlier and we are having considerable success.

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