Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

Will the Minister support and act on the unanimous call of the Irish Cancer Society and 24 other organisations, including trade unions, professional bodies and women's networks, on 24 February for a State-wide pre-cancer screening programme? The latest figures I have relate to 2000. There were 1,019 new cases of in situ cervical cancer, that is, a pre-cancerous state, 193 cases of invasive cancer and 65 deaths. Does the Minister agree comprehensive screening leading to early detection and treatment can and will dramatically reduce the incidence and development of cervical cancer and the resulting all too terrible death toll? Will she therefore roll out a screening programme as soon as possible? Will she offer screening free of charge to all women aged between 25 and 60? Will she prepare a register of all such women to facilitate the roll-out of such a programme?

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