Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail)

It gives the Minister total scope. Section 5 of the legislation allows that, following consultation, if the Minister believes a drug should not be used, he or she may issue a decision to that effect. It gives scope to the Minister and I cannot understand where the difficulty lies. The Bill is very simple and I cannot see why it cannot be accepted.

Cancer patients are being attacked from every angle. I have a letter from the HSE concerning cancer services in my constituency, which I received earlier today. The bus operator who provides a transport service from Donegal to Dublin for cancer and other patients was informed at 12.15 p.m. today that the service was being discontinued because it costs €100,000. At the moment, cancer patients cannot even get carer's allowance. I know of three or four cancer patients in St. Luke's who cannot go home because they have no-one to look after them because their carer's allowance applications have been refused. We must examine the wider issues surrounding cancer care.

The drugs issue is primary to extending life. It is not about playing politics. I was listening to the debate in my office earlier and was absolutely shocked at the direction in which this debate was heading, from a Government point of view. It is very regrettable.