Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

I thank the Minister for her reply. I am obliged to interpret it in the most positive way I can and if it is her wish that such a programme should be included in the programme of work she is undertaking, I welcome and encourage it. Will she take on board that a comprehensive screening programme will save massive resources? There can be no argument on cost in this instance because the health service will save resources through early detection and prevention and, above all, the lives of women will be saved. I hope the Minister will move the project forward with some alacrity.

Will the Minister explore with her Northern counterpart the prospect of an island-wide roll-out of the screening programme because tremendous savings and benefits would be gained by adopting a cross-Border co-operative approach on such issues? I know from all the contact I have had north of the Border, there is no resistance to such co-operation on health matters. It is an area that can demonstrate the great value and importance of co-operation on many levels and in many matters. This is certainly one of them.

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