Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail)

I thank the Minister of State for his reply and fully appreciate that he will bring the issues to the attention of the Minister for Health and Children, but I also ask that they should be brought to that of the Taoiseach.

I raise a point of correction. In 2006 there were 57 or so cases in Sligo while there were 93 in 2007. I do not necessarily want a centre of excellence in Sligo but I want one in the region. There would be case levels in excess of 170 to 250 in the region, depending on whether one includes Mayo. I appreciate the reply but it was clearly done by those in the HSE who back up and are sticking to the argument that Sligo had only 57 cases in 2006. It had 93 cases in 2007, so we are not comparing like with like. I do not know why the HSE is set against the north-west region.

This is a huge issue which also affects west Cavan in the Minister of State's constituency. We must be true to the people. I appreciate the Minister of State will bring the points to the attention of the Minister for Health and Children and I must insist that the matter be brought also to the Taoiseach's attention.

Yesterday, Professor Keane said people were voting with their feet on this issue, which was extremely disingenuous. He was talking about Beaumont Hospital, possibly connected to the Portlaoise scenario. There is absolutely no evidence to suggest people currently attending a symptomatic breast clinic in the north-west region have voted with their feet and stated they do not wish to be treated in that region. It was disingenuous of Professor Tom Keane to say that.

I thank the Minister of State for his response and accept he will bring the points to the attention of the Taoiseach and the Minister for Health and Children.