Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am disappointed by the Minister of State's response. The patient and his family are listening to the debate and I know that they, too, will be extremely disappointed. They are aware of the decision for treatment in France, but that decision is not acceptable. Why, in the interests of patient health and life, would we not want to give the father of a young family the best chance at life? The family has done its homework. The surgeons that he is dealing with here have told him that if they had his type of cancer, they would want to be treated in the Memorial Sloan–Kettering Cancer Center. The patient's best chance of life is not to be treated in France.

I ask the Minister to guide me. Where should I go from here? The family is leaving for New York in the morning - their decision is made. The €40,000 is approved. We made a commitment - my party and the Minister of State's party - that money should follow the patient and the treatment offered should be in the best interests of the patient, but now we are saying we are constrained.