Geraldine Feeney (Fianna Fail)

It is difficult not to heed them. As the Minister mentioned, the delivery of the health strategy is only 18 months old. Some 91 of the 121 recommendations have been acted on so far, including the reform of the health system, the reduction of agencies and the scaling-down of health boards. Like Senator O'Toole, I compliment the Minister on the innovative approaches he is adopting. It will not be easy to make changes but new approaches are needed because the system is failing us. I am also delighted to see that the Minister has engaged in a wide-scale consultation process with the ICTU and other affiliated unions. The fact that he has brought Congress on board speaks volumes for the type of man he is.

The BreastCheck programme was debated in this House two months ago. We are all delighted that it is now available nationwide, although I did not notice many great media headlines about it. All I read was small paragraphs. The Minister spoke about the increase in the number of oncologists compared to three years ago. When I stood here only three weeks ago, I spoke about the wonderful services we had in the North Western Health Board, through Sligo General Hospital, including a new oncologist and an entire oncology ward. We also had a debate on primary care a few short weeks ago but I do not want to revisit these areas because they were well covered at the time. I would like to point out, however, that every health board has a GP co-op and that €8 million has been put into ten pilot schemes. Multidisciplinary teams will be set up in those areas and 80,000 patients will benefit from an improved range of primary care services.

When I was in Tullamore recently, I was amazed to see the size of the crane outside Tullamore General Hospital. There is a similar crane in Portlaoise. When I pass St. Vincent's Hospital on my way to the House every morning, it looks like a construction site because so much building is going on around it. Surely Opposition Senators have to recognise these facts.

I think we had a debate on services for the elderly about two weeks ago. I hear all the time about the wonderful benefits and money being pumped into this area. I was a member of An Bord Altranais when the nursing degree, mentioned by the Minister, was introduced. Our nurses are receiving a wonderful education. Does the Opposition think this can be done for nothing? There has been an investment of €2 billion.