Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)

I am not in a position to say that because I do not know what the recommendation will be. Thankfully this is a country driven by science and scientific evidence.

This is a matter of real concern to me.

The Deputy referenced advances in cervical screening. While I have the opportunity, I want to reference that it is expanding and that there are home testing kits, which is a huge advancement for women who do not necessarily feel comfortable presenting for screening or who just want to avail of their sheer convenience. This will help us to make sure those screenings get done. In the same way, we have now extended bowel cancer screening through the community pharmacy agreement. I am so glad to see so many pharmacies sign up to this fantastic opportunity to diagnose common conditions and provide prescriptions to people right around the country from early next year. It also enables pharmacies to identify people within their cohort of patients or customers who should be screening for bowel cancer, register them for the system and give them the kits over the counter that may be used at home and sent back. These are life-changing interventions that can happen in people's homes. I ask anyone who is watching to engage in cervical or bowel screening or any of our screening programmes.

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