Camillus Glynn (Fianna Fail)

I move amendment No. 1:

To delete all words after "That" and substitute the following:

Seanad Éireann commends the Government for the unprecedented investment in the development of diagnostic, treatment and care services for people with cancer, particularly in the area of women's health. Seanad Éireann acknowledges:

—the reduction in the cancer mortality rate among the under 65 age group;

—the progress to date on achieving the target of 2007 for commencement of the roll-out of BreastCheck nationally;

—the recent decision of the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children to ask the HSE to prepare the roll-out of the Irish cervical screening programme;

—the progress that has been achieved to date on the Government's national plan for radiation oncology services announced by the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children last July; and

—the commitment of the Government and of the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children to ensure equitable access to high quality cancer care to patients throughout the country.

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. This matter primarily affects women but we all have mothers, wives, sisters and aunts so it concerns men as much as women. I would be concerned if a member of my family were afflicted in such a way. Much has been achieved although I acknowledge that much more must be done.

Senator O'Toole referred to information on lifestyle towards the end of his contribution. The Irish Cancer Society gave an important in-house seminar on men's health in the audio-visual room. I attended, as did Senator Henry and others, and I found it useful. We are debating cancers that affect mainly women. We must acknowledge many causes of cancer. While it is not an exact science there is a fair amount of information in the public domain, however this information does not always reach those who should avail of it. The recent obesity report implies that our eating habits are of primary importance in preventing cancer. Although diet is not the main causal factor it should be taken on board.

I identify with what Senators Henry and O'Toole said about the word "cancer", which conjures great fear and puts people into denial and delusion. When it is said that a person has cancer it appears that it is the end of the world, which it is not. I agree with Senator Henry that it is particularly important that mammography services be available on the GMS. This test must be available to people dependent on medical cards. As has been pointed out, it has a pivotal role to play in early detection and, in consequence, early treatment. Cancer care in Ireland has been transformed over the past decade. Significant progress has been made. It is vital we move on to make the full range of cancer services available and accessible to patients throughout Ireland in accordance with best international practice.

I will mention some of the achievements over recent years. Since 1997 additional investment of approximately €720 million in cancer care has meant the appointment of an extra 109 consultants and over 250 nurse specialists. When the Midland Health Board debated cancer services I argued for devolving certain cancer procedures to various locations. In this I was wrong because it has been proven, both in practice and in theory, that the greater the number of procedures that take place in a centre, the more efficient and viable it is as an effective treatment centre — I agree with Senator Henry on this. The key goal of the national cancer strategy, to achieve a 15% decrease in mortality from cancer in the under-65 age group, was achieved three years ahead of target. A major programme is now required to rapidly develop clinical radiation oncology treatment services to modern standards. In light of this in July 2005 the Government announced a plan for a national network of radiation oncology services to be put in place by 2011 and commencing in 2008. It is important that this be brought forward. It is marvellous to have an objective and, as I said, it has been proven that we have exceeded a target by three years. The network will consist of four large centres in Dublin, Cork and Galway and two integrated satellite centres in Waterford and Limerick Regional Hospitals. This will mean an investment in additional capacity to the equivalent of 23 additional linear accelerators. The public investment involved will be approximately €480 million, most of it funded through the public-private partnership over the period to 2011. In 2004 approval was granted for €15 million in full-year funding to open a new radiotherapy department in Galway and to expand capacity in Cork. The new radiation oncology department at University College Hospital, Galway, commenced treatment in March 2005. In Cork University Hospital the third linear accelerator commenced treatment in March 2005 and the fourth linear accelerator commenced treatment on 10 October 2005.

BreastCheck is one of the central themes of this evening's debate. There is a 2007 target date for its nationwide expansion and it is expected that this will be met. I hope we can meet it before than. The national breast screening programme commenced in 2000 and currently covers the eastern, north-eastern, midland and parts of the south-eastern areas of the country. In those areas free screening is being offered to women in the target age group of 50 to 64 years. Since the programme commenced in 2000, cumulative Revenue funding of approximately €60 million and capital funding of €12 million has been allocated to the programme. The investment has enabled the appointment of additional surgeons with an interest in breast disease, histopathologists and radiologists to enhance the delivery of breast cancer services nationally. To end 2004 the number of women screened by BreastCheck was approximately 185,000. The cancer detection rate is approximately 7.4 per 1,000 screened and to date more than 30,000 cancers have been detected.

This Government is committed to the roll-out of the cervical cancer screening programme in line with international best practice. No matter what anybody says, whatever we have done, we must do more. Lives are important. Senator O'Toole made an important point on avian flu. The means of dealing with this are within our grasp. The hackneyed political slogan that we have much done and much more to do holds true. We have come a long way but we have further to go. The Minister of State, Deputy Tim O'Malley, is caring, as is the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney. If this programme can be accelerated to deal with the concerns of the movers of this motion and the many people who suffer from cancer, then let us do it.