Michael Finucane (Fine Gael)

I support the call of Deputy Brian Hayes for a debate on the abuse of cocaine. It is not taken seriously enough because it is often considered as a drug for the middle and upper classes. I compliment "Fair City" on highlighting this issue recently. A trend is developing in Ireland after discos where people return to parties in houses not to continue drinking alcohol, but to take cocaine. This is happening not only in urban, but in rural areas also. Senator Brian Hayes is correct that this problem must be taken seriously; otherwise it will lead to heroin abuse. It has been classified not only as a recreational, but a designer drug.

Much attention has focused on the Hanly report. I will not dwell on the merits of that report except to say that the Mid-Western Health Board area, which the Cathaoirleach and I represent, is regarded as a pilot area. There has been a big increase in the number of consultants and new services in areas such as neurology, which I welcome. However, I cannot understand the contradiction in terms with, on the one hand, the increase in the number of consultants in the Mid-Western Health Board area and, on the other, the Hollywood report which does not recognise the need for a radiotherapy facility in the same region. I have often raised the issue of radiotherapy. I hope that if there is an expansion of services in Limerick Regional Hospital and the area that radiotherapy would complement those other facilities that are put in place.