Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I dtús, gabhaim buíochas le muintir na hÉireann agus go mórmhór, the Irish Cancer Society. I thank the organisers of Daffodil Day and pay tribute to the many thousands of volunteers who collected money on that day. In particular, I pay tribute to my local co-ordinator, Breda Ryan, who I know well and who did a great job in organising it. At the outset, the Irish Cancer Society deserves great thanks for its ability to raise awareness, to educate people and to fund-raise. I also thank it for the briefing notes it provided to Members in advance of today's debate. It is important to consider this debate from both a political and a personal perspective. People must take charge of, and be responsible for, their own health. That said, it also requires a Government health policy to help them and to make it easier. I fear this does not always happen in our case.

Many Members have alluded to the importance of talking, communicating and discussing issues regarding cancer services and cancer in general. This debate is political in nature because it highlights the lack of action of the Government. It also has personal implications for the lives of everyone and in many ways it is about life and death. I approach this debate as a public representative to advocate on behalf of the people. I also approach it as the son of a mother who died from ovarian cancer and as a friend of many people who have died of bowel cancer. While it is important that Members should not be overtly politically adversarial about this debate, they must hold to account the Government and the HSE. As Members are aware, cancer poses one of the greatest threats to the lives of all. It must be on the political agenda as otherwise, Members are codding themselves and deluding those who are in the Visitors Gallery to support this debate.

The HSE and the Government can spin, talk or use rhetoric but what happened during the Celtic tiger era, when billions of euro were at our disposal? While I will not discuss them in detail, Members should consider the statistics provided to them for today's debate by the Irish Cancer Society, which deserves great praise for highlighting such statistics. In the context of this debate, what is the Government's role in, or plan for, raising awareness with which all Members agree in respect of early detection? What programme does it have for visiting schools and third level colleges to educate through health promotion? Everyone who deals with people understands and recognises the importance of early cancer detection, going to a general practitioner, getting early referral, the screening programme, recognising the symptoms and of personal awareness. This a fundamental starting point from which Members should engage.

Many Members, including Senator Quinn, referred to the issue of men's health. I hope men's health can be put forward as a major issue before the male segment of our population. There must be a new focus on men in particular to engage in a preventative programme and in respect of health awareness and on educating. While everyone is agreed that education is the way forward, I am alarmed by the number of men who do not take their health seriously. I count myself among them and note that Senator Boyle also referred to himself during his remarks. However, this mind set must be changed and premature death rates of men must be significantly reduced.

Why does no colorectal screening programme exist? What is the date for it and when will it be set? There are three questions, namely, when, when and when. This is the second most prevalent cause of cancer death and like other Members, I am amazed that one in three people cannot name a symptom. It is staggering, alarming and frightening that this statistic exists in this modern age and this issue must be addressed. Why does Ireland not have a national bowel cancer screening programme? As Members recognise that screening saves lives, where is such a programme? Why has it not been unfurled or unleashed? This question deserves an answer. Where is the €1 million that is needed to kick-start this programme and why has it not been granted?

While I acknowledge there is a recession involving cut-backs and that a freeze is in place, this issue pertains to people's lives. Are Members serious about this? I am disappointed that the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, is not present. While I have great respect for her at one level, I am amazed by the manner in which she gets away with it every time. Although she makes promises repeatedly, the HSE reform is in shambles. As for cystic fibrosis, I refer Members to this morning's broadcast of "Morning Ireland". People should not be obliged to appear on national radio to talk about their health and the lack of programmes available to them. I commend Orla Tinsley for having the courage to appear on that radio programme this morning.

Cervical screening constitutes another example of the Minister's abdication of her responsibility. As for the bowel cancer strategy under discussion today, where is it? Are Members talking about people's lives or an agenda in which people's health is put first or are they simply playing to the gallery and playing with bureaucrats? While I mean no disrespect to anyone, when I hear Civil Service-speak about outcomes, efficiencies, collaboration and a timetable for decentralisation, I become worried because to me, that constitutes gobbledegook.

I refer to the great work being done by the staff in Marymount Hospice and in St. Bernard's ward in the Bons Secours Hospital, Cork. The debate should be about the work done by such people, as well as about the effect that cancer has on the thousands of men and women in Ireland who die every year. This is an outcome, as is recovery. Members should desist from using words like "outcome" because this is about people and I am greatly concerned by some of the language used. Members can discuss education, checking, symptoms, diet and lifestyle, all of which is fine and must be done. In tandem with so doing, however, there must be action from the Government. There must be a reduction in the annual rate of 900 deaths and 2,200 diagnoses in Ireland. We need an early screening programme that is resourced.

I refer to the comments of Professor Niall O'Higgins: "Abundant evidence from all around the globe indicates that deaths from colorectal cancer, a common and potentially fatal condition in men and women, can be prevented by high-quality screening". I am not an expert, nor a genius, but because both my parents are nurses and taught me the importance of health and the body, if there is something wrong with me I will get it checked. Thousands of our citizens do not have that confidence, ability and awareness. When an expert group comes forward with the proposal that screening should be introduced here, and fast, I become concerned when it is not done and no progress is being made. The Minister of State referred to certain things but this is 2009 and we have had 12 years of the Celtic tiger. Why was it not done? We do not have BreastCheck in every county. Who are we codding? We are dealing with people.

I am not being political but I have been in wards where people are looking for help and inspiration. They expect to find it from the Government and its officials in the Health Service Executive. When roadblocks are put in their way, it is very difficult when they are angry. I do not blame those who protest outside the House. Political action requires leadership and leadership requires early screening and helping people to reduce the number of cancer diagnoses and deaths. I hope this can be achieved because, if not, all of us have failed the people.