Planning role in cancer prevention ignored
On the same day, the Government announced its Strategic Infrastructure Bill, a fast-track approach to planning or, more accurately, a method of taking local participation out of planning.
It was very significant that both announcements were made on the same day. In the case of cancer, we are being told repeatedly that we need more doctors, nurses and hospitals.
Of course, those with cancer and other diseases have the right to a quality healthcare system and services.
Nonetheless I feel we are making a serious error of judgement here.
By focusing exclusively on treatment, to the exclusion of prevention, we are doing a disservice to those who are currently suffering and those who in the future will be afflicted by this scourge of industrialised society.
Should we not be focusing on minimising the number of people who will develop cancer?
This is where the issue of planning comes in. Rather than speeding-up the planning process, we need to develop a system that is democratic and has health and environment at its core.
The Government feels there is too much democracy in the planning process, hence the powers given to county managers.
It’s a national disgrace that in all of this no one has responsibility for health.
All infrastructure should have to pass a cancer/health audit.
This would necessitate the recruitment of a team of environmental health experts to An Bórd Pleanála and companies that submit substandard environmental impact statements should be fined.
Of course, all of this seems like wishful thinking. As far as this Government is concerned, people are a nuisance to be deceived and manipulated at elections and at all times to be disenfranchised and denied meaningful input into their own lives.
Ministers Roche, Martin and the Taoiseach should hang their heads in shame.
John Russell
10A McCurtain Street
Cork
