Camillus Glynn (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the opportunity to debate oncology services in this country. I received a telephone call yesterday at 8.15 a.m. from a concerned individual about a woman aged 42 years who had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer and undergone an operation. How often do we hear people tell each other that certain individuals have received bad news? This bad news invariably concerns cancer, rather than a heart condition or a severe urinary tract infection.

I am pleased the Minister of State has come to the House to outline the current situation and proposed future developments. Senator Browne referred to the apparent lack of concern about the incidence of cancer among men. There appear to be no statistics on the incidence of cancer among men, although I have endeavoured to obtain them. I recently visited Paris with colleagues to study health strategies and facilities in France. I asked about the incidence of prostate cancer and was reliably informed that it has increased. I put the same question to representatives from the VHI at a meeting of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children and received documentation which stated that the incidence of prostate cancer has increased. What is being done about this?

There was no reference to cancer among men in the Minister of State's speech. I appreciate the importance of BreastCheck and cervical cancer screening. Women's health is extremely important as they bear and rear children and play a pivotal role in society. However, men play an equally important role and it is time that men's health was treated as seriously as women's health. What are the statistics regarding the incidence of prostate cancer? I am led to believe it is on the increase. What are the statistics regarding the incidence of testicular cancer and colon cancer in men? Approximately two weeks ago the Irish Cancer Society held a very interesting in-house seminar in the Houses of the Oireachtas on cancers that affect men. I asked the training unit in the Oireachtas to repeat the seminar because it merited repeating.

One of the curses of being human is that we do not know everything we wish to know. However, one of the most positive measures carried out to address pulmonary carcinoma, or lung cancer, was the ban on smoking in the workplace. The issue involved heated arguments. I remember representatives from tobacco companies telling the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children that smoking was not one of the causes of lung cancer, although it is not surprising that they did so. I, along with the former Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Martin, and others, were very proud to be invited to attend the Smoke Free Europe conference in Luxembourg. European countries are endeavouring to follow our lead with regard to a ban on smoking in the workplace. A parliamentary delegation from France recently met with the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children to ascertain how Ireland enforced the ban, so Ireland is giving a lead in this matter. However, we cannot sit on our laurels. A lot has been done but there is a lot more to do.

The report produced by the national task force on obesity is extremely important. I agree with Senator Browne that we should be cognisant of what we eat and avoid eating fatty foods as far as possible. A GP in the town of Killucan in County Westmeath once told me that there should only be one frying pan per parish. This remark indicated that, many years ago, the medical profession advised against eating fatty foods.

I received two particularly depressing telephone calls in February 1998. One was from a brother of mine who told me he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer, while the other was from a sister of mine who told me that another brother had been diagnosed with lung cancer. My brother who had lung cancer died in March 1998 but my other brother is still alive and doing well. Another individual who is married to a relation of mine died of prostate cancer and was buried on 1 January 2000. That was some millennium present for his family.

Cancers that affect men must be brought to centre stage because they are not there at the moment. Men are not blameless in this matter. According to statistics, women are far more likely to address their problems — health-related or otherwise — than men. Statistics reveal that suicide rates among young men are seven times higher than suicide rates among women in the same age group. These are worrying factors.

I was contacted some time ago by an Irish company which produced breakfast cereals and informed that it is examining closely the make-up of its products. This is important because of the truism that we are what we eat. We need to be cognisant of what we eat and drink and the air that we breathe. This is why environmental tobacco smoke has been proven to be a known carcinogen. Both Houses and Government and Opposition parties can be proud that legislation outlawing smoking in the workplace went through both Houses unopposed. This clearly indicates the consensus that exists on issues relating to cancer. We may argue about the best way to tackle cancer but, as the saying goes, "That's politics". Great credit is due to Members of both Houses for supporting the ban on smoking in the workplace.

In its seminar in the Houses of the Oireachtas, the Irish Cancer Society addressed other cancers, such as skin cancer. Sunbeds should be used with great caution. In respect of throat cancer, we have dealt with the risks to those who smoke but it is not a good idea to consume a great deal of alcohol, especially when it is not diluted. Colonic cancer has been mentioned, but there are also cancers of the lung, bowel, bone and various blood conditions, as well as those of the reproductive systems of men and women.

The Minister of State referred to several points in the national cancer strategy of 1996 and the new strategy. He said:

The key goal of the first national cancer strategy was to achieve a 15% decrease in mortality from cancer in the under-65 age group in the ten-year period from 1994. An evaluation of the 1996 national cancer strategy demonstrated that this figure was achieved in 2001, three years ahead of target.

This is an example of the truth in the old adage, a stitch in time saves nine. It shows what we can do when we focus on a problem.

The Minister of State also said:

The National Cancer Forum is finalising the new national cancer strategy which will be published soon. The new strategy will have regard to the multifaceted aspects of cancer control. The key priority in the development of improved cancer care is the provision of multidisciplinary care.

When the former Midland Health Board, of which I was a member, debated cancer services we decided to break up the services and locate them in various places. I was disposed to that decision more for political than practical reasons. I was wrong because the more procedures carried out at one location, whether for symptomatic breast cancer or other cancers requiring surgery, the greater the expertise obtained there. That is not rocket science, it is common sense, which is not always that common.

Much has been said about radiation oncology services to which the Minister of State referred. With the advent of improved communications we can develop this to the ultimate. We cannot sit back and say we have done all that is required with regard to BreastCheck and cervical screening. The existing policy works pretty well but there is a group of people who feel the screening should be extended to other age groups. I accept that resources are finite but when the health of men, women or children is at stake it is imperative that we do, and are seen to do, what is right and to the long-term benefit of the population.

Phase one of the national cervical screening programme commenced in the former Mid-Western Health Board area in October 2000. Approximately 74,000 women in the 25-60 age group are being screened free of charge at minimum intervals of five years. The number of smear tests carried out annually is approximately 230,000 representing an increase of almost 20% in recent years. That is very welcome. To meet this increase requires additional cumulative funding for which the Department has provided since 2002. The Minister of State cited the figures for this funding. This enhances the laboratory and colposcopy services. In addition, the Department allocated a further €1.1 million to the programme in 2005 on an ongoing basis to complete the transition of the remaining laboratories to new and more effective testing and to support the development of quality assurance and training programmes. These are essential preparatory elements in a national roll out. My colleague, Senator White, has blazed a trail in regard to cervical screening, not only in the Chamber, but at parliamentary party and Seanad group meetings. It is imperative that we extend this programme to the four corners of Ireland in so far as possible.

I am delighted to hear that people from Donegal will be able to avail of services from Belfast. That indicates what co-operation means. It is the common sense approach because while regrettably there are two administrations on this island a common approach to treating a common problem is very important. I have put a few questions about men's health and oncology services to which I would appreciate a response.