Paddy McHugh (Galway East, Independent)

The motion is the best illustration of the inequity in society one could possibly imagine. It vividly illustrates the nature of Irish society as seen through the eyes of Government. By the partisan manner in which the Government has addressed the national roll-out of BreastCheck, it has firmly illustrated that a two-tier society exists within our shores. One can only decipher that the first-class category of woman resides in the east coast area and those women are served first while the Government action deems that the second-class category of woman resides in the west as they are served second. By its handling of the issue the Government has not only confirmed this to be the case, by its refusal to rectify the situation it is actively ensuring that such a two-tier society will survive into the future.

As a Deputy for Galway East which is firmly in the west, I record my objection and that of my constituents to being treated as second-class citizens. Why are the women of the west treated as second-class citizens by the Government when it comes to the availability of BreastCheck? No amount of rhetoric will cloud the truth of this issue. Five years ago, the first phase of the BreastCheck service was delivered to the first-class women in the east coast area. Now, five years later, the Government shows no sign of delivering to the west in the foreseeable future so that the women in the west can begin to lose their second-class citizen tag. We are now told it will take a minimum of two years before BreastCheck is rolled out to the western region. This will mean a minimum of seven years between the introduction of BreastCheck in the east coast area and its expected provision in the west. There can be no justification for such a delay. Given that the early detection and treatment can reduce dramatically the death rate arising from the disease, the failure of the Government to deliver to the women of the west is inexcusable. I look forward to the Tánaiste addressing as a matter of urgency the deficiencies of past years concerning this important matter.

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