Nicky McFadden (Fine Gael)

I commend the Minister of State, Deputy Tony Killeen, on the outspoken way in which he has dealt with his personal experience of bowel cancer. Today the Irish Cancer Society launched a bowel cancer awareness campaign. One in three people in Ireland are not aware of the warning signs of bowel cancer. At present 287 people have been waiting more than six months for a colonoscopy. This is a terrible tragedy. The day before yesterday I spoke about cervical cancer and commended the Government on its cervical cancer screening programme. I call on the Leader, through his good offices, to ask the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney — I do not think there is a need for her to come to the House — to put in place a free bowel cancer screening service for people over 50. In the long run it would be very good economically because it would save the State a large amount of money as cancer would be detected early and people would not need ongoing treatment. It is a crying shame that one in three people do not know the early signs of bowel cancer. I commend the Irish Cancer Society on its campaign and the Minister of State, Deputy Killeen, on his openness about his personal journey. I ask the Leader to obtain firm answers on this issue for next week.