Dr. Triona McCarthy:

As regards the science of it, looking at the condition and at whether it is an important one, in particular if there is a premalignant, precancerous phase that can be detected in order that you are really preventing cancer and not just detecting it early, that would be an important consideration. A test - the Deputy mentioned the low-dose CT scan - could help detect it early. Then it is also a matter of having the treatment available. All those components of the criteria and the evidence for it need to be looked at, but so too does the ability to deliver a programme. I think that is where the EU Council recommendation is currently, asking countries to look at the feasibility of this. There is a pilot planned research within those EU collaborations the Deputy mentioned earlier. That would be on the northside of Dublin and that is very much looking at feasibility. There is a need to ensure the throughput can be managed and there are pathways developed for dealing with other conditions that can be diagnosed, as was mentioned. There is also a need to make sure everything possible to prevent that condition is being done. We have been doing well with tobacco control up to recently and we have seen the impact that has had on lung cancer incidence, but we do not want to take the foot off the pedal there. We very much need to keep going with our smoking cessation support policies, those services that have been greatly expanded, but also the policy measures, trying to have a tobacco-free Ireland by 2025. If we were to have less than 5% of people smoking, that would be an absolute game-changer in lung cancer. It is important to think about not just its detection and treatment, but also whether we can prevent it. A recent survey showed 75% support for that policy among the public. Very few policies, I would say, reach that level. There is great public support for trying to move towards a tobacco-free Ireland, and everything from Tobacco 21 to taxation measures is to be supported. I ask the committee to do whatever it can in that regard. I know the Minister has publicly declared his support.