Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

I will not respond to the political charges that Deputy Reilly continually makes. I do not need a lecture from him about moral responsibilities and will not take one. However, one must make choices based on clinical advice. Ireland only began a cervical screening programme last September, which will save 80% to 90% of cervical deaths. Were we in a position also to introduce the vaccine, up to 70% would be saved ten years on. This would be a belt and braces approach.

As I explained earlier, the cost of the screening programme next year will be an additional €25 million. The cost of Professor Keane's cancer control programme is an additional €15 million. In other words, an additional €50 million is going into cancer prevention and cancer control next year to achieve better results. Ireland still does not have a colorectal screening programme and there are many areas in which our programmes fall short. Ireland is not unique as many other European countries have not yet decided to introduce this vaccine. I understand that seven or eight other European countries have not done so and we are not alone. I would love to have been able to do it because it would be a belt and braces approach.

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