Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail)

Yes, most certainly. I look forward to again outlining our proposals. I am sure we are at one on Senator McCarthy's point regarding fixed rate mortgages and I understand the Minister intends to bring forward some proposals in that regard. I look forward to hearing the latter.

I join Senator Alex White in requesting a debate on the future of Dublin. As someone from the west, I acknowledge it is important for Dublin to be a vibrant, coherent and cohesive capital city. However, there is also a need for balanced regional development. In that context, I again request a debate on the national spatial strategy and the lack of progress relating thereto. When circumstances suit, announcements are made in line with the national spatial strategy, but when they do not suit, such announcements are not made. This matter must be addressed.

I refer to the progress in the context of the north west and equitably accessible services or the lack of progress of the national cancer control programme. One sees the disarray when the management of University College Hospital Galway says it is in no position to act as a centre of excellence. Why would people of the north west, including Sligo, Letterkenny and elsewhere, want services to be directed from there when it is not in the best interest of patients of that area? General practitioners in that region and the medical body of the general hospitals stated ad nauseam that to co-operate with the proposals of the Professor, whose name cannot be mentioned, would not be in the best interests of the patients. We require an adjustment to what is a good policy. There is nothing more honourable than to adjust a good policy to make it better.