Speech by the Minister of Health Stephen Donnelly delivered at the Joint Euro-American Forum on Cancer

Check against delivery

Good morning and welcome to everyone attending in person and to those attending virtually. It’s a great pleasure to be here with you at the Joint Euro-American Forum on Cancer. To those who have travelled a long way to be in Dublin today, can I say that we’re honoured to have you here with us, and I hope you have a wonderful stay. I’d like to thank the All Island Cancer Research Institute and the National Cancer Control Programme for co-hosting the event.

It's great to see such an expert group come together and work though such a wide range of topics as is being covered over the next two days. It’s good to see so many patient advocates, along with the medics and scientists, and a focus on the patient experience as well as on prevention and treatment.

The international nature of today’s event is particularly encouraging. Cancer is a global disease, obviously. The fight against cancer is equally global.

I was at the Peter Mac Cancer Centre in Brisbane a few weeks back and was getting a crash course in radionuclide therapy. The doctor explained to me that the radioactive materials they use are mined in the Urals in Russia. They’re then refined in the United States. After that they’re processed in the Middle East. And finally, they’re prepared to the exact specifications of each patient in Melbourne. These global supply chains, along with global research partnerships, are essential in our common goal of minimising and treating cancer while improving the lives of those living with and beyond cancer.

The timing of this event is significant as it occurs on the anniversary of two important events.

This is the 25th anniversary of the Ireland - Northern Ireland - US National Cancer Institute Cancer Consortium. This tripartite initiative is a major health dividend of the Good Friday Agreement. Minister Swann and I were delighted to be able to renew the Consortium in 2021 – a bright moment in the midst of COVID. The Cancer Consortium has had a positive impact on so many lives. It continues to enhance cancer research and care on the island of Ireland and on an all-island basis. With input from the National Cancer Institute it will deliver results in creating an all-island cancer dataset, developing additional capacity and training for clinical trials, and building expertise in precision cancer medicine. I would like to thank Dr Satish Gopal and Dr William Dahut who will be speaking here today for your contribution to the Consortium.

This year also marks the 20th anniversary of the Introduction of the Smoking Ban in the Workplace in Ireland. In 2004 Ireland was the first country in world to introduce such a ban. Now, 20 years later, there are 74 countries with a similar ban. It has given Ireland credibility as we introduce comprehensive health information and warnings on alcohol products – something I believe other countries will also adopt in time.

During this Forum the All Island Cancer Research Institute is launching their new publication: “Cancer Knows No Borders – an all-island blueprint for cancer research and care”.

It’s clear to us all that an all-island approach to healthcare makes sense. We have all-island centres of excellence already in place in Belfast and Dublin. The expansion of the North-West Cancer Centre in Altnagelvin in Derry has been a great success. Over 1,400 patients have been referred there for radiation therapy treatment. I really welcome the discussion about cross-border and all-island cooperation on cancer. I know Minister Swann has a keen interest in this as well.

As cancer treatments become more specialised and complex there will be further opportunities to develop services on an all-island basis. This is a priority objective of the National Cancer Strategies on both sides of the border.

The Irish Government is firmly committed to on-going investment in cancer services. Our third National Cancer Strategy was launched in 2017. Since then the number of people living after an invasive cancer diagnosis has increased by more than 40%. Survivorship rates in Ireland continue to climb. I’d like to acknowledge the on-going work of the National Cancer Control Programme in rolling out the strategy.

In my first three budgets I allocated €40 million to the strategy. This funding has enabled the recruitment of over 400 new staff to our national cancer services including consultants, nurses and health and social care professionals. We have also increased funding for cancer screening by €30 million, including €20 million for the establishment of a National Cervical Screening Laboratory.

Since 2020 I have allocated nearly €100 million in additional annual funding for new medicines, around one third of which goes to cancer medicines. In fact, our spend on oncology drugs in the past three years has been over €600 million, including funding for 61 new cancer drugs.

The National Cancer Strategy also acknowledges and supports the transformative power of research on cancer treatment. Since the Strategy launched in 2017, the government has invested nearly €60 million into cancer research via the Health Research Board.

It was not possible to secure funding this year for the Strategy, and I know this came as a disappointment to many. Rest assured I will be working hard to secure funding in the upcoming budget. Nonetheless, significant new funding has been provided this year for cancer services. This includes around €10 million for new oncology medicines, several million for community cancer support groups, funding for prevention services and additional medical oncology and nursing posts. Every consultant who takes up the new consultant contract has €20,000 each year to invest in their own on-going medical education and in research and innovation directed by them.

Six months ago we opened the new radiation oncology facility in Galway University Hospital. This year I am delighted to be able to share that we are building on that success by funding the detailed design of a new cancer centre at the hospital in Galway.

There is of course still much to be done. Ireland needs further involvement in the European Research Networks. We need the infrastructure in place to expand our involvement in clinical trials. While we must continue to invest in research to produce and provide better and better treatments, we must also continue to invest in preventative measures.

I’d like to finish by thanking each and every one of you. For all your do to prevent cancer. For all you do to treat cancer. For all you do to help patients and their families living with cancer. For your expertise, for your advocacy, for your hard work, for your care and compassion – thank you all. And have a great two days.