Fiona O'Malley (Independent)

I thank Senator Feeney for sharing time because otherwise I would not have had time to contribute. I will be brief. Like Senator Feeney, when the young children came into the Gallery some minutes ago I was struck by how many of them will end up smoking and what would make them smoke. I cannot understand anyone of my generation who smokes because we are very aware of the health issues around smoking. More research must be done and I trust this will take place. We must find out what makes children smoke. Unless we find out and then target resources to combat those reasons we will not make progress.

Senators Fitzgerald and Feeney commented on the use of sunbeds. Vanity is a great deterrent and if people were aware what sunbeds could do to their skin they might not be inclined to use them. Visual images of the harm that can be done should be available. I recall the topic was raised in a discussion last year about cancer. When will we see the introduction of graphic images of the physical harm caused by smoking on packets of cigarettes such that it might deter people? It baffles me why people continue to smoke when they know how bad it is for their health. Will the Minister of State indicate if there is an intention to carry out research into what motivates people, especially young people, to smoke? When one sees all the lovely young children in the Gallery one wonders what would tempt them into such a detrimental practice or habit, which is very hard to break once started. We must work on prevention.

This is a transformative time in Ireland in the area of cancer. Much of the change has been unpopular but I applaud the Department, the Minister and the Ministers of State working in this area because it has been very difficult to transform Irish cancer care services and the Government has not always received support in this area. The Department and the Minister have been focussed on the outcomes. In her contribution, the Minister of State suggested the outcomes are most important and that they are improving all the time, a point Senator Fitzgerald acknowledged. That something is unpopular is no reason to deviate from the plan and I commend the work of Professor Keane in this area. It will be some years hence before we see the outcome and the changes in peoples lives. We must stick to the plan. It is incumbent on all of us to remember that people will benefit and outcomes will be improved if we consolidate services and stick with the plan. Everyone seeks the assurance that they are being treated in the best available facility.

I seek an answer to a question. Will the Minister of State clarify that no matter whether one is a public or private patient, one is treated equally when it comes to cancer care? This should be very clear but there is a sense of ambiguity and a suggestion that if one pays privately for health care one may be fast-tracked. Will the Minister of State outline the case categorically?