Fergal Browne (Fine Gael)

The facts about men's health are quite startling. On average, Irish men die six years younger than Irish women and they have the second lowest life expectancy in the European Union prior to the last enlargement. Mortality rates among men vis-À-vis women are particularly pronounced in the case of transport accidents, where they are three times higher, and suicide and intentional self-harm, where they are four times higher. Generally, men engage in higher levels of health-damaging and risk behaviour. Irish men, for example, drink 73% more frequently and binge drink 90% more frequently than Irish women. Irish men binge drink six times more often than their counterparts in other European countries.

It is well documented that, compared with women, men have limited contact with physicians, doctors and health care services. Men seem to have difficulty admitting they may have a problem and getting treatment for it. I am very encouraged by the recent policy launched by Fine Gael which is simple in that it calls for regular screening. The policy recommends that all adults over a certain age should be screened every five years for diabetes, heart disease and, in the case of men, prostate cancer and even breast cancer, which can occur in men, although not to the same extent as in women. The key aspect of the policy is prevention rather than cure.

Some time ago somebody pointed out to me that it was an oxymoron that we have a Department of Health and Children. It was suggested it should be called a department of sickness because all the Department does is react to illnesses. Senator Glynn who serves with me on the Joint Committee on Health and Children will no doubt agree that we are always chasing rather than leading in this area. It makes sense that the State should ensure citizens have regular screening in order to prevent common illnesses that if caught in time could be dealt with more quickly and cheaply, but that is not happening. Fine Gael policy suggests that people over 65 years of age should be screened every two years and the Minister should take that on board. Let us forget about focus groups carrying out more research. They are all very well, but we want more concrete solutions.

I visited a widow in her home over the weekend. She explained to me that when her late husband visited the doctor when he was quite ill, he told the doctor that he was fine. His wife had to tell the doctor that he was not fine and explain his problems. Men have difficulty admitting feeling ill and often leave it too late to go to a doctor.

At the recent National Ploughing Championships a medical company carried out a random audit of farmers and other people attending the show. Many of these people were rushed off to hospital afterwards because they had not had their blood pressure checked in years and were on the verge of a heart attack. It is vital that we put a screening programme in place that is aimed at prevention, rather than leaving it too late to provide a solution.

The Minister of State alluded to the fact that socioeconomic and educational background have a significant bearing on people's health. It is vital we continue to share the wealth of this economy. Over Christmas we heard the Government had taken in over €2.5 billion in extra taxes. Perhaps it would be wise to use that money to promote health education for men. Men could be provided with sample health check packs and encouraged to use the Internet to discreetly obtain information on their medical problems as they often have grave difficulty asking in person. The Department should consider providing a website for men's health issues where men could get proper medical advice in the privacy of their home or local library without embarrassment.

It would be remiss of us not to refer to sudden adult death syndrome. Unfortunately, in the past number of years we have lost many key sports stars. I think of Cormac McAnallen the former Tyrone footballer who, even though he was superbly fit, collapsed and died. We await the publication of the report on sudden adult death, which seems to be taking a long time. I was assured it would be issued this month, but I have not yet heard about it. Will the Minister of State inquire about the delay in publishing the report? The Tánaiste has been briefed on it and many voluntary groups are waiting for it.

Many voluntary groups plan to avail of and use defibrillators in sports facilities and in the wider community, especially in communities not near a hospital. In the vital few minutes after somebody gets a heart attack, a defibrillator can save the person's life if used correctly. I urge the Minister of State to inquire about the delay in publishing the report on sudden adult death. Leading cardiologists were involved in it. Voluntary groups awaiting it are unable to progress their case for defibrillators until it is published. As far as I am aware, the report will recommend putting defibrillators in every possible location where they will be accessible to the public. This has happened abroad, but unfortunately not here so far.

I was amused to read recently that single men die younger and married men live longer but that single women live longer than married women. This might lead one to believe that marriage is good for men but bad for women. I am not sure we can build anything on this. I know the Government is working on many of the recommendations in the 2004 report to which the Minister of State referred.

It is vital we have an information campaign. We should move towards a men's health week like that started in America in 1994 under Bill Clinton, which would raise awareness of illnesses which affect men, such as prostate cancer. It should also provide information to the public and a dedicated website which would discreetly provide information to men who have grave difficulty admitting they have problems. Perhaps a text message service would also be beneficial for the 50% of men who do not attend a physician on a regular basis. Even when they do, some of them will not admit to medical difficulties.

I repeat my call to the Minister to take the Fine Gael policy on board. The Government has taken on board Fine Gael policy on general practitioner-only medical cards and our policy on medical cards for those under five years of age. It is time it looked at this issue practically and provided screening every five years for adults under 65 years of age and every two years thereafter. It must focus on prevention rather than cure.