Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)

I take this opportunity to join my colleagues on the other side of the House in congratulating the Minister of State, Deputy Dara Calleary, on his appointment. I am sure it was great news for his family, close supporters and constituents.

My colleagues and I find ourselves in something of a predicament tonight in terms of the channelling of information. Last Monday, as far as the women of Donegal, Leitrim and Clare were concerned, BreastCheck was finally to be rolled out in these regions, nine years after it was rolled out on the east coast and 13 years after the national cancer strategy was introduced by the former Minister for Health, Deputy Michael Noonan, in 1996. After all the campaigning by various groups such as Donegal Action for Cancer Care and Co-operating for Cancer Care North West, and the several occasions on which hopes have been dashed, 2009 was eventually given as the date of roll-out. However, as of Tuesday morning, rumours were rife throughout the regions in question that because of the recruitment freeze, the roll-out would not go ahead.

We should consider this issue not as politicians, but from the perspective of the women concerned. They put up with the fact that they were being treated in an inequitable, unfair and discriminatory way for a period of nine years in the expectation that BreastCheck would be rolled out to their areas this year. By Tuesday, however, the entire project was up in the air. I raised this issue with the Taoiseach that day and by the evening, it seemed there was reason to be hopeful. As of today, it seems the train is back on the track and that the BreastCheck roll-out will proceed.

On behalf of the women concerned, what assurances can the Minister of State offer in regard to the delivery of this programme? On too many occasions, expectations and hopes have been raised only to be disappointed. To withdraw the roll-out of the scheme would be an injustice to the women of these regions. I ask the Minister of State to confirm that it will proceed and that the health information Bill from the Department of Health and Children will be introduced as a matter of priority.

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