Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for his comments. We spoke earlier about the inspirational legacy that young Saoírse leaves behind. Our sympathies are with Saoírse's family. Since we started national cancer strategies in the late 1990s and through the 2000s, with various levels of progress being made, there has been a transformation in cancer care which has led to a significant reduction in mortality and growing good outcomes for survival of a variety of cancers, which has to be welcomed. This emphasises the need for continuing the strategic approach to health. I refer to the latest publication from the Department of Health, namely, Healthy Ireland, which shows dramatic improvements in respect of treating cancer and heart disease. Those improvements are all because of national strategies. The strategies need to be funded on a multi-annual basis, a move which I would support.

See this speech in context