Pearse Doherty (Sinn Fein)

I want to correct Senator Ó Domhnaill who, in a spirit of non co-operation, put forward an untruth. The decentralisation of cancer services in Belfast occurred under the stewardship of Ms Bairbre de Brún and is exactly what Senator Ó Domhnaill and other Senators welcomed regarding the eight centres of excellence in the Twenty-six Counties. In terms of the Assembly, it was always envisaged that there would be satellite radiation services available on a cross-Border basis. Unfortunately, owing to political circumstances, the Assembly lasted only a year and a half. That was a cheap political shot.

I will now address the question I put to the Minister of State. I welcome the fact that the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, is to meet Minister Michael McGimpsey but no commitment has been made in her answer to progress on radiation facilities in the north west. She mentions only potential cross-Border collaboration on cancer care. I am not interested in hearing that 60, rather than 50, patients from Donegal will be able to access Belfast, though it is important that this happens. A dedicated satellite radiotherapy centre is needed in the north west.

Yesterday's announcement mentioned centres of excellence based on a population of 500,000 yet Donegal has been told repeatedly that it cannot have a radiation oncology unit because it does not have the critical mass. The north west has the critical mass and we seek a clear commitment from the Government. Such a commitment was given in the oncology plan of 2005 and in the national development plan. Deputies and Ministers have made this commitment to the people of Donegal time and again but the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney, will not make this commitment. Will the Minister firmly commit to a satellite radiotherapy centre for the north west?