asked the Minister for Health the amount of money provided by his Department for medical research in each of the past three years; and if he is satisfied that sufficient funds are being provided for this purpose.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Medical Research.
94.
My Department has in the last three years paid from the Hospitals Trust Fund a total of £280,439 to the Medical Research Council broken up between the years as follows:—
|
Year ended 31/3/1966 |
£93,383 |
|
Year ended 31/3/1967 |
£87,506 |
|
Year ended 31/3/1968 |
£99,550 |
There is at present a request from the Medical Research Council for increased grants before my Department and it is being considered.
The second part of the Deputy's question is so general that it is difficult to give a precise answer. In general terms I think that we spend in or about as much as we can afford on medical research having regard to the funds available and I am satisfied specifically that no necessary and feasible medical research proper has been refused financial support by my Department. I would remind the Deputy, too, that we do not live in a vacuum and that the benefits of medical research projects done in more affluent societies and by commercial interests benefit our people.
Would the Minister not agree that the amount available per annum, far from increasing, is decreasing in terms of money values? Secondly, is he aware of the statement made by a visitor to this country that our research facilities were deplorable and that there was need for more funds to be provided for research facilities in this country?
The visitor to our country first mentioned atrocious and primitive surgical facilities in Ireland and then amended that by a reference to our research facilities. May I say in regard to his first statement that I did not have to wait for the arrival of any distinguished visitor to be conscious of certain deficiencies in the hospital situation in Dublin and it was for that reason that I set up the Fitzgerald Committee and charged them with the responsibility of reporting back to me which, to their great credit, they did in record time. I do not intend adversely to criticise any distinguished visitor to our shores but I do think that he was, to some extent anyway, abusing the hospitality of our country by not having acquainted himself in the first instance with the situation here and the steps that we are taking — and when I say "we" I mean the medical profession, as a whole, the Department of Health and the Minister for Health — in trying to set up in this country a hospital structure which will enable Dublin to be restored to its position in medicine in the world.
Arising out of the reply and the barrage of nonsense that I hear from the Minister, may I ask is he aware that the Medical Research Council find that many of their projects cannot be continued because of lack of finance?
I am not so aware.
Will he make himself aware of this fact?
I do not accept it. Deputy O'Connell is talking nonsense.
The Medical Research Council find that many projects cannot be continued.
This is not the first time that Deputy O'Connell abused the privileges of this House to talk utter and complete rubbish, which he is doing now.
Will the Minister make himself aware of what is happening in his Department or resign?
I will not accept nonsense from Deputy O'Connell.
The Minister is not acquainted with what is happening in his Department.
I will not accept nonsense and, in particular, will not accept it from Deputy O'Connell.
It would be well for the Minister to resign. He has been sitting too long.
There will be an opportunity, not at Question Time but on a more suitable occasion in this House, and I will deal with Deputy O'Connell then.
I hope you will; I hope you will answer some of my questions.