John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)

I thank Deputy Reilly for tabling this very important motion. Whatever about this Fianna Fáil and Progressive Democrats led Government, the rest of us live in the real world, not in the fantasy land of spin and propaganda. During these harsh November days reality intrudes and shows clearly that much of what passed for effective Government in the past few years was only an illusion. Now the reality of the Government's incompetence bites back and eats away at the thin veneer of the spin that was passed off as representing substance and competence.

The Minister's decision to stop the proposed cervical cancer vaccine programme is a perfect example of this incompetence. The programme was announced as a major publicity stunt. The emphasis was on presentation and style and perception became reality. The Government was happy to substitute spin for action and now it is clear that the Government is all spun out. It has rolled back on its commitment to introduce the vaccine. Fine Gael believes it is unacceptable that the Minister, Deputy Harney, should deny a life-saving programme for minimal savings. The decision of the Minister to abandon this programme is short-sighted and unjustifiable, and I call on her immediately to reverse that decision. Consider that €1.7 million is spent on consultants every week. If these costs were not paid for six weeks, the savings would amount to €10 million. The Government could find ten reasons not to implement this proposal, but it should consider the possible savings.

The Health Information and Quality Authority report, published three months ago, advised the Minister for Health and Children that it would cost €9.7 million to administer the plan to vaccinate 12 year old girls. The introduction of the vaccine would be cost saving because it would reduce the burden on hospital services in the long term. The cervical cancer vaccine is the first vaccine ever designed to prevent a cancer and, therefore, the impact of the vaccine programme will be significant. The tragedy of cervical cancer is that it often strikes when a woman is still young. Even with treatment, cervical cancer is an common cause of cancer death in women.

The vaccine is recommended for girls aged between 11 and 12 years. It allows the immune system to be activated and, given the recipient's age, it also allows for the development of highest antibody levels. The higher the antibody levels, the greater the protection. Thus far the cervical cancer vaccine has proven to be safe. Researchers have observed in clinical trials that the antibody levels in women continue to increase with each of the three doses of the vaccine. Since antibody levels inevitably fall once the vaccine is no longer administered, the ideal vaccination programme is designed to start with high antibody levels to generate the greatest human papilloma virus protection for the longest possible time. In time, scientific research may find that three doses of the vaccine are unnecessary, or it may discover that a booster shot is needed some years later. We do not know the possibilities in such cases at this stage. Given this analysis, will the Minister consider the possibility of starting the programme as scheduled with just one vaccine shot per girl? This approach would at least provide some degree of protection from cervical cancer, even if it not the ideal level of protection. Then when the Minister finds the necessary additional funds, she can introduce the second and third shots of the vaccine.

The Minister's basic argument is that the funds to facilitate the roll out of the cervical cancer vaccine are not available this year. I believe the funds are in the budget. Will the Minister examine all the costs associated with the proposed transfer of breast cancer services from Sligo General Hospital? A first-class breast cancer service is provided in Sligo General Hospital and there is a sufficient case load to justify retaining the existing service there. The hospital has the results to prove that the service provides one of the best outcomes for patients. It is a serious waste of public money to transfer breast cancer services from Sligo General Hospital. Why does the Minister not halt the transfer of services from Sligo General Hospital and use elsewhere some of the money this would cost?

Last week in the House I discussed the roll out and triple assessment of the programme. I have examined the matter since and there has been no difficulty expressed by Professor Tom Keane on the proposed roll-out of services. Considering there is a budget of €1,600 million in this area, a cost of €10 million for the programme represents a very small amount of money, especially given the preventative possibilities of the vaccine. It was reported yesterday that some €1.7 million is spent every week on consultants. Cancellation of these services for six weeks would save the required amount for the programme.

There was a debacle this weekend in the Defence Forces. Some €19 million was spent on helicopters disposed of for €300,000. Following rebuilding costs of €300,000 they were resold for €18 and €19 million. This is a clear indication of the Government's incompetence when it comes to doing business. The helicopters were not tendered for on the world market and were purchased for a knock-down price. This proceeded regardless of the associated costs. Naturally, the Minister will not indicate that the Government was at fault in selling the helicopters. If different decisions had been taken there could have been a direct saving of €19 million. An expert stated on the radio yesterday that even allowing for a refit of the helicopters, there was still a profit margin of €10 million, which could have provided the funds for the vaccination service.

This treatment of the young and vulnerable in society is an appalling indictment of the Government, especially given that Ireland was reported to be one of the wealthiest economies in Europe. We were told money was never a difficulty, yet we cannot find the necessary €10 million, which is a sad state of affairs.

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