Michael Finucane (Fine Gael)

I have raised the necessity for a radiotherapy unit in the Mid-Western Health Board area on previous occasions. More than €6 million has been collected to fund this resource and it would be budget neutral as far as the State is concerned. The unit would treat both public and private patients. A deputation will meet the Minister for Health and Children next week and I trust he will accede to its demand to establish a radiotherapy unit in the mid-west region.

Prior to Christmas, I raised an issue relating to Filipino nurses. The workers of ten new EU member states will have freedom of access to the economy from 1 May. There is an acute shortage of nurses and I ask the Leader to take up with the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, as a matter of urgency, the case of the husbands of Filipino nurses who accompany them to Ireland so that they can obtain work permits and it will be financially viable for the nurses to remain in the State and address our skills shortage.