I have previously raised the issue of drug reimbursement in this country with the Tánaiste and the Taoiseach and last week, the Swedish Institute for Health Economics published a report on cancer outcomes in Ireland. It found that while much progress was made, we are still among the worst in the EU for ovarian and breast cancer outcomes. The report specifically cited that our drug reimbursement system is not fit for purpose and that it costs the equivalent of 2,600 life years per annum due to the cumbersome nature of the reimbursement process. Can we, please, prioritise the publication of the Mazars report, which looks into reimbursement, and update the rare disease plan, which expired since 2018? When the Tánaiste assumes the office of Taoiseach in the new year, I hope he makes this a priority.

It is a very important issue and one in which I am taking an interest. All of us find it hard to explain to patients or constituents why a medicine is available on the NHS or in Germany or France but is not yet available in Ireland.

Cancer survival rates have improved a lot in Ireland in recent decades. Rates are ahead of those in the UK but are still behind the EU average. The impact of what we did five or ten years ago is being seen in the statistics now. The impact of what is being done now will not be seen in the statistics for another five or six years. However, we have been a bit too slow to approve and reimburse some of these medicines. I will follow up on the publication of the report with the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly.