Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)

Yesterday, I felt the Seanad cut new ground when we had the conclusion of our first public consultation on older people. I compliment Senators Zappone and O'Keeffe for a very fine piece of work, which was well presented and completed in a very short period of four months, with clear recommendations. I ask the Leader to consider the same approach in a number of other areas in future. I know he is considering one immediately in the area of cancer prevention, which is laudable.

Last weekend, a number of Members had the opportunity to be present at an event called Change Nation, which was about changing our nation for the better. What we had in Dublin Castle and Farmleigh was 50 innovators and social entrepreneurs from all over the world, including Ireland, who came together to offer solutions to problems we are experiencing in health care, education, the economy and civic participation. I can only tell the House it was vibrant, positive and solution-focused. For example, in regard to health care, a consultant from New Mexico - a gastroenterologist - said that with the list he had before him, he could only see 4% of his patients and could never see that situation changing. He then decided to start mentoring GPs through video-conferencing at a distance. Two hours a week, every week of the year, they brought their cases to him and now the lists are gone. He has not turned his GPs into doctors but he has made them experts-----