Kathleen O'Meara (Labour)

No doubt the Cathaoirleach is aware that this is International Women's Day. The Leader and I have come from a meeting with an extraordinary group of women, the McCartney sisters and Robert McCartney's partner, who are in Dublin today. It was a privilege to meet them. I applaud their courage and admire their stance in the cause of justice and truth. The leadership they have given has been awesome and is an example to all of us. I am sure all in this House support the work being done by the McCartney family not only in pursuing justice for their brother and partner but also in standing up for justice and truth on this island. That work gives us an opportunity to build a politics in Northern Ireland based on a foundation of democracy for the future.

Since this is International Women's Day I also ask the Leader to ask the Minister for Health and Children why BreastCheck, the national screening programme, has still not been fully rolled out. I am sure the Leader does not need reminding there are women throughout the country with early cancers now undetected because of the failure to roll out BreastCheck. I am in regular contact with the organisation and I know delays are being experienced. I know the Leader agrees that we must find out what is causing this scandalous delay.

I support the calls for an early debate on the Travers report. Even before its publication we know how important it is not only for administration in the Department of Health and Children but to consider why officialdom has failed, if that is the case, and has not acted. That is of crucial importance to administration in this country and it is critical that we debate it at the earliest opportunity.