Rónán Mullen (Independent)

I will try to make this a miraculous minute. I welcome the Minister. It was a pleasure to listen to her, as she has a fantastic mastery of her brief. It would be nice were more Ministers to speak in the House in such an informed and competent way without the aid of notes. I compliment her in this regard.

I will make four brief points. First, the Minister mentioned the cardiovascular implementation plan, which is to be welcomed, but funding is the issue. She rightly pointed out that there were 12 stroke units, but some, including the Irish Heart Foundation, would say not all of these measure up to international standards. Some 20% of people could benefit from thrombolysis, yet only 2% get it. The good news is that money up front in stroke prevention can prevent the outlay on nursing home care or hospital stays down the line. The emergence of a business plan that would allow the investment needed to improve the service should be possible.

Second, everyone appreciates the good work done by the hospice movement. The Irish Hospice Foundation insists on there being greater strategising in respect of end-of-life hospital care. When I recently attended a conference on this matter, everything from a hospital's layout to the question of whether there was room for the soon-to-be-bereaved to meet the soon-to-be-deceased to discuss sensitive issues was raised. There is great potential for investment. A die with dignity programme has been proposed by the Irish Hospice Foundation and I hope it will be given a listening ear, as it could do so much to help people in difficult and trying situations.