Catherine Noone (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I support Senators Craughwell and Wilson in their points about the mortgage issue, particularly with regard to variable rates. In view of recent decisions on whether there should be a requirement for house buyers to provide a deposit of 20% of the purchase price, the topic of mortgages could be usefully debated in the House in the near future. A general debate on banking is also overdue.

I support the comments of Senator Michael D'Arcy on domestic abuse. What shocked me most of what I heard about the report was the attitude towards domestic violence and the feeling that there is not much point in investigating it. It was seen as a waste of resources, which is a frightening attitude. We have had requests to debate this and we should do so.

I want to highlight a report by the Irish Cancer Society published in recent days which reveals that cancer death rates in the capital are up to three times higher in less affluent communities. Lifestyle, smoking and obesity play a substantial role in this glaring disparity and I have consistently highlighted the surge in childhood obesity, especially in socially disadvantaged areas. However, health care access is also a factor. In deprived parts of north Dublin, for example, there is one GP for every 2,500 people, compared to a national average of one per 1,600. I welcome the debate and call on the Minister for Health to tackle the high rate of cancer incidence and death in poorer communities as a priority.