Camillus Glynn (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. Women are very important people in society. They are mothers who bear and rear our children and play a pivotal role in society. I hope my remarks are not interpreted as patronising.

The provision of the colposcopy service in Mullingar and the midlands region is important. The Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar is among the best performing hospitals in the country. I was pleased to note it received one of the highest ratings in the country recently.

Without ploughing old ground, I ask the Minister of State to ensure women living in the midlands region are able to avail of a colposcopy service. Too many young women die for want of appropriate services. Cancer is a word which strikes fear into everyone's heart. Its icy fingers clutch the individual's persona the moment the name is uttered. When people ask if one has heard whether so and so has "you know what" one does not need to second guess what the questioner means. Without labouring the point, I ask the Minister of State to convey to the Minister for Health and Children our concern that this service be available in the midlands region.

It is true that the Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore does not provide maternity services. I ask that a colposcopy service be brought on stream as expeditiously as possible, if possible in the Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar. I am surprised the hospital is not considered a suitable location for the service. While the experts are not always right, they are not always wrong either. I support what has been said and ask that the service be provided in the midlands region as a matter of urgency.