Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I am sure the Taoiseach is aware from his discussions on this area that early detection and early intervention save lives. When I was in Tralee recently the consultants I met made it perfectly clear that people die in that region because they are waiting for endoscopies and analysis — they die. Why have mobile screening units not been provided throughout the west and north west? There was no waiting list in Sligo General Hospital last week and a great service is available in that hospital. However, many women may well have much shorter lives than they expect because they may have breast cancer but have not been screened. Mobile screening units should have been made available throughout the country to provide such early analysis but that is not the case.

Why is chemotherapy used three times more often for the treatment of prostate cancer on men in the west than in the east where surgical treatment applies? What is the reason for that if there is supposed to be a national standard? Can the Taoiseach explain that? Deputy Twomey published a document on this issue in 2004 in which Fine Gael proposed a screening test for every man and woman for the detection of early signs of these problems. Does the Taoiseach accept that would be a vital and essential service?

I note in his sprint on Saturday, the Taoiseach outlined, in breathtaking fashion, his proposal for free screening for breast cancer, cervical cancer and prostate cancer.

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