Cecilia Keaveney (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the fact that a surgeon is ready to take up his post in Letterkenny at the beginning of August. The idea that there are no facilities north of a line from Galway to Dublin was true a decade ago but if we are true republicans and believe in a 32 county Ireland, we must develop the links with Derry and Belfast. We must ensure we have equality of access to the services there because they are known to be as good as services in the rest of the world.

There is so much one can say on this issue. I urge the Minister to continue to fund the service. The amendment to the motion states that the system is funded and is designed to have the patient at its core. Like everybody in this Chamber, I want fewer people to die from cancer.