Paudie Coffey (Fine Gael)

While the debate on the financial turmoil continues, there are still human issues to be addressed, one of which is the roll out of BreastCheck. Waterford city, with a population of over 50,000, is one of the largest urban centres of the country. Senator MacSharry referred to the commitment of the HSE, but in a letter to the South Eastern Cancer Foundation just before the general election in May 2007, the then Taoiseach wrote to say that BreastCheck would be rolled out by the end of 2007 in Waterford city. The Minister for Health and Children also stated in this House that BreastCheck would be rolled out by the end of this year, yet still there is no sign of it. That is a reflection of the accountability and the responsibility of the Government regarding health issues in this country. Will the Leader to ask the Minister to attend the House to discuss health care in general, but especially primary health care and screening programmes like BreastCheck.

The women of Waterford, calling themselves WOW, are taking to the streets on 15 October, pleading for this much needed service to be rolled out. It is a disgrace that the women have to come on to the streets and campaign in order to get this essential service. It is an indictment of our health system, and the Minister should be held accountable. I ask the Leader to bring her before the House to answer for it.

I call for a general debate on primary health care. We are always talking about the acute situation in hospitals and the lack of beds. If the primary health service in this country was developed so that preventative medicine can be fully adopted in GP practices, we would go a long way to preventing many of the serious diseases that are affecting our nation.