Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

As I said, the Fitzgerald report talks about systemic weaknesses of Government management etc. It was reported yesterday that in light of this scandal the Minister and the Department have been considering the role and remit of the HSE. Is that correct and how does the Minister respond to that report? Does the Minister agree with the senior official of her Department who is quoted as saying the HSE is a ship "perilously close to the rocks"? Has she confirmed that this statement was made from within her Department and what is her response to it? Does she agree with the view, which I do, that the HSE is perilously close to the rocks? The HSE is this Minister's and Government's creation and she has stated time and again that she has asked the board of the HSE whether lessons arising from these systemic failures have wider implications. If there is to be an audit of the HSE, what form will it take and when will it report the result to the Minister and the Houses of the Oireachtas?

As a Deputy from the north east, while the Minister drives forward with her eight centres, what does she suggest the people in south and west Ulster, the north-east and north-west regions do? These people who live in the vast swathes of the country north of a line from Dublin to Galway will not be served by these fledgling centres of excellence for cancer.

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