Nicky McFadden (Fine Gael)

Yesterday a colleague on the other side went off on a bit of a rant about whether or not we were applauding the Minister for negotiating the deal on the cervical cancer vaccine. I spoke on a local radio station welcoming the Minister's initiative on the cervical cancer vaccine. However, on Monday night it emerged that second-year students in our local school were offered the vaccine at a cost of €400. I really object to that. What is the difference between being a 13-year old and a 14-year old? A 14-year old girl in second year is at just as much risk of getting cervical cancer. I ask the Leader to invite the Minister to the House to discuss the issue in detail. Why can she not negotiate for second-year students to get the vaccine at €100 in the same way as for first-year students? It would mean that 90 lives would be saved. Who knows what will happen to the cohort who missed out last year? That matter should be a priority for the coming weeks. Professor Frazer, who came here at the behest of the Irish Cancer Society and who has introduced and modified this vaccine, also recommends that it be given three times and should not be just a once-off dose. While I applaud the Minister's initiative I ask her to extend it so that lives will be saved.