Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael)

I refer to the issue I raised yesterday. In reply to my points about the cancer situation yesterday, the Leader stated the Minister will be coming to the House, which is to be welcomed. Will the Deputy Leader take some immediate steps to deal with the frightening report from the Royal College of Physicians yesterday that a large number of cancer sufferers, specifically those with blood cancers, are contracting infections because they are with other patients in hospitals? They need to be in isolation and in isolated units to avoid infection, which is putting their chemotherapy and treatment off, causing premature death and bringing immense agony to patients and families. Thousands of people are involved and one cannot quantify the pain. This report from Professor Hilary Humphreys, among others, is scientific and empirical and not a nonsense concept involving a few anecdotes. It is a fact that patients are suffering and not getting chemotherapy and that they are getting infections. I am asking the Leader if dramatic interventions could be taken as of today.