Seanad debates

Wednesday, 11 July 2012

Access to Cancer Treatment Bill 2012: Second Stage

 

7:00 am

Photo of Marc MacSharryMarc MacSharry (Fianna Fail)

I regret that it is disrespectful because the content of the script shows an inability to read legislation and, as someone said, complete contempt for what we are attempting to do - introduce a non-adversarial Bill. It is non-political in nature and puts the patient first. What we have seen is an exercise in making sure the patient will not come first. This is a sad day for patient advocacy groups. This is simple legislation which was not just drawn up by me; it is co-sponsored by the foremost expert in this field and what has the Government side done? It has rained all over it. Shame on the Government.

I do not take back a single thing I said, including on the issue of clarification which I hope will be provided regarding the involvement of the director of the national cancer control programme in the script which is nothing short of a disgrace and a urination on the rights of patients.

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