Mary O'Rourke (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)

I thank Deputy White for allowing me five minutes of her time, particularly as I was late in arranging to speak in this debate. I am pleased the Minister is present to speak about the cervical cancer screening service. One of the welcome features of her tenure has been her willingness, when important health matters surface, to engage in public debate in the Chamber by first laying out her stall, so to speak, before replying to questions raised by Deputies.

I do not propose to address specific issues related to cervical cancer but instead I propose to make a case on behalf of the women of Ireland who are coming late to a recognition of their needs in cancer specialties. As a result, there is impatience in the system in terms of the need to give women an opportunity to access a service, determine their needs and receive expert guidance and follow-up services. We have had many tears in the midlands and I have listened to and shared the many concerns expressed by women in the region. The best way to serve the people is to establish the best possible system for cancer services. The discussion on the centres of excellence should be considered definitively and concluded because there is nothing to debate. If one wants the very best for people, one does not opt for half measures or centres which may be good, one opts for the best.

The Minister, in speaking about the BreastCheck service, has given me licence to raise this issue. The roll-out of BreastCheck, a humane system which women understand, has been marvellous.

See this speech in context