Mary White (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It gives me great pleasure to note on page 8 of today's The Irish Timesthat the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Fitzgerald, will progress the introduction of paid paternity leave. I thank Senator Bacik for drawing attention to the fact that I put this matter on the radar by introducing a Bill. Last year, Senator Cummins advised me that the Government would deliver on my Bill.
I wish to draw the House's attention to the fact that 2,780 women get breast cancer every year. Although BreastCheck offers a free screening to every woman aged 50 to 64 years, women who are aged 65 to 69 years are not being screened. This is a question of broken promises and ageism. The programme for Government included a commitment to extend BreastCheck to the 65-69 year old age cohort. According to the HSE's national service plan for 2012, this planned extension was to be completed before the end of that year. I joined a protest outside Leinster House today that called on the Government to implement its promise.
Ageism is an unacceptable prejudice in Irish society. Women aged between 55 and 70 years have a higher risk of developing breast cancer than others, yet they are still being denied BreastCheck. I am calling for parity of esteem-----