Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. I certainly agree on the necessity around an early access programme. We are making significant progress in regards to the treatment of cancer. However, I would agree that access to medicines should not become a barrier; it should become part of the normal process. I will report what the Deputy has said here to the Minister.

In regards to the Government's continued work to support the model of care through its Sláintecare programme, we are very much committed to ensuring that patients get first-class access. Indeed, we will continue to invest. We will continue to look at how we can reform the system, very much being focused on productivity but also patient care. It is very much the Government's priority that we continue to improve service delivery, increase capacity across all the hospitals - acute, step down and community healthcare - and, indeed, reduce waiting lists and times, and also, to the Deputy's point, ensure that all patients and all citizens have access to the best medicines available.

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