David Cullinane (Sinn Fein)

I thank the Fianna Fáil Senators and Senator Crown for bringing forward an important item of legislation. It is not without flaws but it is useful and could be amended if the Government so wished. It is regrettable that we had unnecessary rancour associated with the discussion today. The petty political point scoring I witnessed in respect of scripted speeches did this debate no justice but it is a matter for those who made comments.

Cancer affects all of us and there is not a single Member who has not been affected by the scourge of cancer. We should all be committed to doing what we can to improve cancer services, access to treatment and access to medicine. It is also important to have access to infrastructure, which is necessary in some parts of the country in order to deliver the cancer services many people need.

This is a topical issue because it has been in the public domain over the past number of months. One man in Ashbourne, County Meath, is suffering from advanced malignant melanoma and he used the medium of national radio to make a plea for the life-saving cancer drug, IPI. It would have made a major difference to him, his health and his long-term prospects but he had to try to raise the money to get treatment in the US. This added trauma to the illness he has but, thanks to his efforts and those of Senator Crown, the Government's hand was forced. I was very pleased that the Taoiseach announced the drug would be made available to cancer patients with a very aggressive form of malignant melanoma. At the time, Senator Crown said the €4 million investment required to provide the drug to patients was money well spent and worth the cost. I agree with that point.

I agree with the Government that we must weigh up the value of the cost of various treatments but we must put it in the context of the money wasted in our public health service. That must be taken into account. The previous Government must take responsibility for that. It is uncomfortable for some to hear that private consultants are still carrying out private practices in public hospitals and availing of taxpayers' money to do so.