Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

Ba mhaith liom tacú leis an rún ar son Theachtaí Shinn Féin. This is a timely and important motion which I fully support on behalf of Sinn Féin. I thank my Fine Gael colleagues for the opportunity to speak.

The Irish Cancer Society is to be commended for its current campaign which calls for the roll-out of a national cervical cancer screening programme. On the day the Dáil rose for its Easter recess, 23 March, I questioned the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, on this issue. In response, she stated she favoured the roll-out of such a national programme. She also stated that she would support cross-Border co-operation in this area. I welcome that and hope she keeps her word. However, the Government amendment to this motion is disappointing in that regard and I cannot support its request for us to have blind faith in the Tánaiste or any other Minister.

I call on the Government to act in accordance with this motion, as tabled by Deputy Twomey. It should also heed the call of the Irish Cancer Society and 24 organisations, including trade unions, professional bodies and women's networks which joined together on 24 February in a unanimous call for a national pre-cancer screening programme.

In 2000, there were 1,090 cases of in situ cervical cancer, a pre-cancerous state, 193 cases of invasive cancer and 65 deaths. Comprehensive screening leading to early detection and treatment can dramatically reduce both the development of cancer and the death toll arising from the disease. The Minister should therefore roll-out a screening programme as soon as possible. Screening should be available free of charge to all women over the age of 25. There should not be a ceiling age of 65. We must recognise that women beyond that age are equally entitled to full access and all necessary treatments. There should be a register of women to facilitate such a programme.

The Government will cite the costs of such a programme but the Minister should explore ways in which these can be reduced, including economies of scale. This is where all-Ireland co-operation has a role. The Minister has described such co-operation as a good idea and she should act accordingly.

As stated in the motion, the roll-out of the BreastCheck service has not happened as promised and, as a result, cancer will go undetected and lives will undoubtedly be lost. According to the National Cancer Registry one in 13 women in Ireland will develop breast cancer and a woman living in Ireland is four times more likely to die from the disease than her European counterparts. These are very worrying statistics and affect every family. Every Member knows the harrowing reality of cancer within their own family, as I do.

By failing to put these programmes in place, the Government is operating a false economy. Comprehensive cancer screening programmes will save massive resources for the health services through early detection and prevention. Above all, it will save women's lives. This must be the key motivation and central focus for each of us. There is no excuse for failing to deliver on this issue. In the regrettable absence of the Minister's support for the motion, I urge the Minister of State, Deputy Tim O'Malley, to ensure the Minister proceeds with the indications she gave on 23 March. I welcomed them at the time and continue to urge and encourage her in that regard.

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