Margaret Cox (Fianna Fail)

I thank the Minister of State for clarifying the position regarding the donation. On behalf of the women of the west, I wish to send a message to the Minister and the Department that a timescale of 48 weeks is unacceptable. We can afford to shorten that schedule. Even if we only shorten it by eight weeks, that might save a life. There are many life-saving initiatives that can be put in place now because of our prosperity. Given that women in the west have waited for BreastCheck for seven years, I ask the Minister for Health and Children, as a female Minister, not to simply say she is satisfied with the roll-out in November 2007 but to ensure that it is done to the best possible standards. We must pay back the women in the west and ensure they receive the kind of treatment that is available in the rest of the country.

I have no doubt the Minister of State will relay my message to the Minister for Health and Children. It would be marvellous if we could achieve the aim. It would be a significant statement on the treatment of breast cancer. I am concerned about imbalances in the delivery of health services. I heard a representative of the HSE on "Morning Ireland" this morning talking about improvements in the accident and emergency services in Dublin. She said the HSE targeted the hospitals in Dublin.

In that context, I am concerned that people from the most peripheral part of the country are being forgotten. The focus is on the centre and by that, I do not mean Athlone and Tullamore, but Dublin. There is more to this country than the area surrounding Dublin. I am aware that the Minister of State represents the Dublin area but I wish to make a case on behalf of those on the periphery. We must move services out to the regions.