Mary White (Fianna Fail)

I thank the Senator. I recommend in the document that the 64 years of age limit on breast cancer screening be abolished. Professor Des O'Neill is one of the senior gerontologists in Ireland and one of the men who inspired me to produce my document. When I started on this mission 18 months ago I knew nothing about ageing, ageism and the health aspects. Professor O'Neill has said that women are at the highest risk of developing cancer between the ages of 55 and 75. This man is an authority on ageing and the body and its propensity for contracting illnesses. How dare anybody introduce an age limit for a service? That is downright ageism. There is no justification for introducing an age limit on any health service in this country.

As a business person, I love to see implementation plans which contain a timeframe. When will the national breast screening programme be available nationwide and when will the cervical cancer screening programme be introduced? I apologise to the gentlemen that I am just speaking on a women's issue. It does not mean I do not have empathy——