Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This is a serious issue which deserves a serious and detailed response. I am limited in what I can say owing to my knowledge in this area. However, if the University of London has produced a report that exposes weaknesses in the screening system for prostate cancer in Ireland, that is a serious issue and of course we need to look into it. I give the Deputy a commitment that I will speak to the Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly, and ask him to give the Deputy a comprehensive response. To be fair to him and to many patients, we should not raise fears among people until the Department of Health has had an opportunity to respond comprehensively to the concerns the Deputy has raised.

Many men go through a screening process and unfortunately, as the Deputy has outlined, a significant number have prostate cancer that needs to be treated. If by using MRI scanning prior to a biopsy we can improve the accuracy and if that can be done in a way that is practical and makes sense, then obviously we should consider it. I should leave it to the Minister for Health to respond in a more comprehensive way to the Deputy's question.

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