Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The issue is how we ensure people are protected from getting cervical cancer. Providing a national screening programme is the first step in that effort. We are providing an extra €25 million next year to ensure that happens. We are providing another €15 million to ensure Professor Tom Keane has the proper treatment regimes in place in the centres of excellence he has been establishing. This is an effort to ensure many of the problems that have been highlighted in debates in the House as a result of the old system, which the Opposition seems to defend all the time, do not recur. Deputy Harney has an excellent record as Minister for Health and Children and has been opposed every step of the way by the Opposition in respect of any reform she has brought to the health service.

See this speech in context