Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)

I am grateful for the opportunity to speak to this important motion on breast cancer. Sadly, for many of us this is a live issue for family and friends. It is an issue I am well aware of from first-hand experience. Like other Deputies, I have been touched by the breast cancer epidemic and the courage and bravery of the many women affected. It is the duty of all politicians to respond in a caring and professional manner. I salute mná na hÉireann who deal with breast cancer every day and the consultants, doctors, nurses and health care staff who work on the front line every day saving the lives of our friends and family members. Ignoring these brave men and women is not an option and I urge all Deputies to support the motion and, better still, make its demand a reality for citizens.

The current reality, as the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children is aware, is that each year approximately 1,700 cases of breast cancer are detected and 640 women die of the disease. Cancer screening plays a significant role in reducing deaths from cancer and women are suffering because of the failure of successive Governments to extend BreastCheck nationally. In addition, the Government misled people in the south and west regarding the timeframe of the roll-out of the programme. I concur with Deputy McHugh's defence of the rights of women in the west and his criticism of the lack of services available to them and deplore the failure of the Government to roll out the cervical screening programme nationally. This has resulted in the failure to detect cervical cancer in numerous women. I call on the Government to immediately roll out BreastCheck and the national cervical screening programme within a specified timeframe.

The bottom line is that the breast cancer epidemic must be tackled and research on the causes of cancer supported and developed. The medical profession has made major improvements in saving lives and extending the lifespan of those who would have died 20 years ago. I commend and thank them for saving the lives of members of our families. We appreciate and value their magnificent work and dedication. This is one of the main reasons I never attack or criticise the quality staff who work on the front line of our health service, whom we have a duty to support. Scoring cheap political points by attacking the health service or those who work in it is not an option. I have in mind several debates in recent months during which a series of attacks were made on consultants.

I call on the Government to act by opening up beds and investing in our accident and emergency departments. I call for radical reform, with patients and health care staff placed at the core of changes. I have made contributions on this issue in earlier debates. I urge all Deputies to support this motion and put our health service first. We should carry on the great tradition of the late Dr. Noel Browne who once represented my constituency of Dublin North-Central. If the House is serious about doing so, it will support the motion.

We need a health service based on equality rather than financial resources, but sadly we are drifting in the direction of the latter position. We need equality and respect for human dignity. It is a scandal that hundreds of people have been lying on trolleys in accident and emergency departments in recent days. I will not accept the continuation of this problem and call on the Tánaiste to implement current plans to address it.

There are many excellent examples in other European Union countries of health services based on equality and justice for all citizens. This State is drifting towards the position of adopting the United States model. I urge caution in this regard. Many of us on the left have been challenged about funding the health service. We should not run away from the question of taxation. While it may not be fashionable to say so, some people are prepared to pay extra tax if a quality health service is guaranteed. We must face that reality.

It is unacceptable that we lose 640 brilliant women to breast cancer each year. Many thousands of women, on their own initiative and showing great courage, have prevented the position deteriorating further. As I stated, women must live with this issue on a daily basis. I urge all Deputies to support the motion and put our health service first.

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