Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I repeat that this is an opportunity for the Taoiseach to achieve cross-party agreement on this issue. There is a vaccine that actually prevents cervical cancer. The Taoiseach's response has thrown aside the evidence in the HIQA report that at least 51 lives can be saved over the years ahead by use of this vaccination programme. It is not a question of one or the other. It is both — the vaccination programme and the screening programme. The Government seems to have cast aside the fact that this programme will save lives. It is being withdrawn by the Government on the basis of economics rather than on the basis of saving lives because it costs €10 million to administer the programme.

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