Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

Mr. John Paul Ricken is a constituent of mine. He lost his wife, Susan, to bowel cancer. He is campaigning for improved bowel cancer screening programmes. I support his campaign.

Around 2,800 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer in Ireland every year and about 1,000 people die from it here each year. Early screening can prevent cancer from forming in the first place. In France and Germany testing begins at the age of 50 and in the US the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recently changed its recommended age for beginning screening from 50 to 45. In this State, screening starts at 60. Does the Minister agree with me that this State is way behind the curve on this issue and investment is needed to sharply reduce the age for screening to begin in this country?

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