Geraldine Feeney (Fianna Fail)

We all support the cancer control programme. When we get down to the small print, it is important to read it and to support it. We understand that we cannot have the St. Luke's service operating independently of the other specialist centres. The Minister of State outlined that to us the other day. Before Professor Tom Keane came here to implement the cancer control programme, Ireland was one of the worst countries in Europe for cancer care and administration of cancer services.

My understanding from the committee meeting was that the Minister for Health and Children gave a firm commitment that the lands would not be sold. She went on to state that St. Luke's Hospital would be used for public health purposes. She could not indicate at this point for what exactly it may be used, but she envisaged a combination of palliative care and long-term care services. I stand corrected on that and maybe the Minister of State might confirm it. That is the best possible way to go forward today.

I welcome what the consultant Dr. David O'Keeffe had to say this morning. I did not hear him, but I ask that oncology beds be ring fenced in Galway. People suffering from cancer would no longer have to access treatment through accident and emergency departments. They would be known in the specialist centre and they would now come through this oncology assessment unit which will have a number of beds available. I welcome this, but it is difficult support the eight specialist units while demanding this or that be retained. That is not the way to do things, because it dilutes the services.

Following the implementation of the cancer control programme, we will see an end to the discrepancies in the system that we knew existed before it was introduced. Hopefully, we will no longer be reading letters like that penned by Mrs. Kate Coburn about her sister. I sympathise with Mrs. Coburn on the death of her sister.