James Breen (Clare, Independent)

Deputy Joe Higgins referred to the case of Rosie in Kilkenny. This is a tragic, disturbing and shameful case. After Rosie told her story on Joe Duffy's "Liveline", the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, stated on "Questions and Answers" that hers was a once-off case. Unfortunately, however, her situation is replicated throughout the State; I am aware of three similar cases. The Minister's comment is typical of the arrogance, insensitivity and ineptitude of the Government.

Every year there are national campaigns to reduce road deaths, and we recognise that they are required. It is only recently, however, that we have seen anything close to a cancer awareness programme. This is despite the fact that the number who die annually from cancer is greater than the combined figure for road fatalities, murders and manslaughters.

In 1992, the then Minister for Health set up a committee to review cervical cancer services. Fifteen years later, we still await a national roll-out of this programme. Instead of measuring the cost of delivering such a scheme, it is time to focus on how many lives will be saved as a result of an immediate roll-out. Early diagnosis is the most important factor in treating and curing cancer, yet the Government's plan to extend radiotherapy services is already two years behind schedule and will not be implemented until 2013 at the earliest.

Between 40 and 50 women die every year because of a lack of screening services for cervical cancer. Approximately 650 to 700 die annually from breast cancer. Like cervical cancer screening services, the BreastCheck facility is not a national service. We have all heard the announcements urging women to avail of the service if they are under the age of 65. How dare the Minister endorse this age limit when research abroad shows that at least two thirds of all breast cancer cases occur in women over 65. However, the Government precludes women over 65 from availing of the BreastCheck programme. I do not know why people accept this position.

Another significant factor in breast and colorectal cancer is obesity. Over the past ten years, since this Government has been in office, the rate of obesity in this country has doubled. We await the promised national diet and fitness programme specifically aimed at our children. Perhaps the penny will drop with the Minister that spending adequate money now on proper national screening and awareness and information programmes will reduce the cost of treatment in the longterm.

The announcement that St. Luke's Hospital in Dublin is to close brought about a concerted campaign to change that decision. St. Luke's Hospital should remain open and another hospital should open to alleviate the situation. I have received letters from all over the country in this regard which only proves the hardship people suffer having to travel to receive treatment. Last summer, a Clare man travelled to Dublin to get treatment for cancer. He met a man who had travelled from Donegal for treatment in the waiting room. Both of those men left Dublin and returned home without having received treatment because a scanner was not working. As I said, I do not understand why there has not been outrage and protest on a scale never seen before. No one should have to tolerate a fraction of what is happening in our health service.

We should not forget that the Minister sought out this position. She was going to sort out our crumbling health service once and for all. Instead of a crumbling health service, we now have a system that has been torn asunder. However, no one accepts responsibility for it because everything is a matter for the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. The HSE is the most inept, malfunctioning and faceless organisation established by an equally inept and malfunctioning Minister.

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