Mary White (Fianna Fail)

The chairperson, Professor H. Paul Redmond, and the second National Cancer Forum, are to be commended for producing this comprehensive, clear, concise document. The onus falls on those in the Oireachtas to ensure the strategy is fully and properly implemented.

Approximately 170 cases of diagnosed cervical cancer and 76 deaths occur each year. We must urgently roll out the national cervical cancer screening programme provided for in the strategy. A nationwide programme for cervical screening was recommended by a Department of Health committee in 1996. Ten years later we are still without a programme. Some 700 women have died unnecessarily from cervical cancer since 1996. Of the eligible female population, very few have had the screening. Women, by their nature, put their children first rather than spend money on cervical cancer screening.

The Minister for Health and Children has stated that a programme will be introduced but as a business person I want to hear a timeframe. While studying child care and ageism my office was full of reports. So many reports are carried out and so few are implemented. I wish to hear a timeframe for the implementation of the national screening programme the Minister has promised.

The new strategy states that it is imperative that BreastCheck is rolled out nationally in line with current plans. It has been subject to unnecessary delay at a terrible cost to women affected by breast cancer. I wish to see a clear plan of action from the Minister and to hear an assurance that BreastCheck will be operational nationwide within the next 18 months. The Minister should drive a clear plan.

The people know there are good intentions but they should receive clear indications of when certain steps will be taken. Breast cancer has overtaken lung and colorectal cancer to become the second most common cancer in Ireland. In Ireland, skin cancer is the main cause of cancer deaths among women. It is an excellent recommendation by the Minister that young people not use sunbeds. In fact, if I were Minister for Health and Children, I would not allow sunbeds to be used at all. I used one about ten years ago and my sister, who is involved in the medical sector, warned me against it saying it is too dangerous. Certain people could be more susceptible to skin cancers and the sunbed could activate it in one person but not another. They are very dangerous.

I also wish to acknowledge the great drive of the former Minister, Deputy Martin, in implementing the smoking ban. I am proud of his achievement. When I see him or hear his name I think of the tremendous vision and drive he had in this regard. I am an ex-smoker. I gave them up 20 years ago but I understand the pleasure of smoking. Deputy Martin had the drive to implement the ban and fair dues to him. That is what politicians should do — when they believe in something and talk about it, they should implement it.

The work of the Irish Cancer Society, chaired by Mr. John McCormack, should also be acknowledged. I spoke at one of the society's public meetings on cancer screening awareness. I am involved with the society and am helping it to try to get a national cervical cancer screening programme implemented. The commitment of the Irish Cancer Society, Mr. John McCormack and his team is to be lauded. He is a zealot about his mission and it would be wrong not to refer to it.

I had the breast cancer check about two months ago and I felt quite guilty as I left. It is not only appalling that women in the rest of Ireland do not have the service but also that women over 64 cannot avail of it. In my document, A New Approach to Ageing and Ageism, recommendation No. 4 is that——