Brendan Kenneally (Fianna Fail)

Previously, I called for a debate on cancer care services and I want to reiterate that call. I have spoken on many occasions about the need for radiotherapy services around the country. I do not wish to labour the point but many people are suffering and we need a debate on this issue. The Department of Health and Children is breaching its own cancer care guidelines over dedicated oncology wards, which are not available in many hospitals.

Waterford Wedgewood announced yesterday that it is to close its plant in Dungarvan with the loss of approximately 400 jobs. If one examines the scale of this closure, a closure of its magnitude in Dublin would result in 30,000 to 40,000 jobs being lost. We need an urgent debate on the closure of the Dungarvan plant and the Minister should come to the House and urge the IDA to redouble its efforts. I do not think the IDA is doing enough for provincial towns like Dungarvan.