I acknowledge that Irish cancer services are among the best in the world. I want to pay tribute to all the staff who work in cancer services. However, we are beginning to see slippage in some areas which is disappointing. The response to a parliamentary question from me on key targets set by the HSE for diagnostics and treatment shows that we are beginning to see serious slippage. One in seven chemotherapy appointments did not happen on time. In my constituency of Waterford, it is one in three. Only half of breast cancer surgeries happened on time. It is worse for lung cancer surgery where 39% did not happen on time. For prostate cancer surgery 62% did not happen on time. I have engaged with the Irish Cancer Society, which has advised that there is equipment which is either not available or only working partially because the staff are not there. A lot of it is outdated. We do not have enough radiation therapists. I do not want to see slippage. I do not want to see us go backwards. I want us to always have the very best, world-class, gold-standard cancer services. I ask the Tánaiste to engage with the Minister for Health to look at the data and ensure that the investments which are needed in the national cancer strategy and in cancer services right across the State are in place so that we do not have a geographical postcode lottery in accessing care. No matter where people come from, they should have access to timely care.

I thank Deputy Cullinane for raising this issue. Yesterday was World Cancer Day and it is really important topic. I fully accept his bona fides in this. We all want to see real progress on this. We have made significant progress as a country but there is certainly no room for complacency. The Deputy and the Irish Cancer Society are right to highlight the areas in which we have to challenge ourselves to do better. I know the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, is fully committed to this. I will certainly take the Deputy's challenge in engaging with the HSE, the Minister and the whole of Government to see what more we can do. I am also due to meet with the Irish Cancer Society shortly for further engagement on this.