Phil Prendergast (Labour)

I will be pressing amendment No. 2 for the reasons so eloquently set out by all Senators who contributed. In regard to the fundraising abilities of the Friends of St. Luke's Hospital, as I noted last week, €26 million is an enormous sum. Everyone in this country must have contributed to a collection for St. Luke's at one time or another. Nobody can be unaware of the services it offers.

My party's amendment is reasoned and reasonable. I do not see how it could conflict with the provision of palliative care in St. Luke's to someone who does not have cancer. If the Minister of State agrees to accept the amendment on the basis of widening its remit to allow for palliative care for such patients, I would be perfectly happy to make the appropriate changes. I will be pressing the amendment to a vote.