Mary White (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Cathaoirleach for giving me the opportunity to raise this critical issue. I welcome the Minister, Deputy Varadkar, and am pleased to be able to raise the critical issue of the rolling out of the free BreastCheck screening for women between the ages of 65 and 69. Since the introduction and publication of my first policy paper, A New Approach to Ageing and Ageism, in 2006 I have been passionately campaigning for the abolition of the 64 year age limit on BreastCheck as one in ten of all breast cancers occur in women between the ages of 65 and 69.

On 15 October 2014, the Minister announced that free BreastCheck screening would be rolled out to women between the ages of 65 and 69. I spoke to the Minister that day and was absolutely thrilled because I had been campaigning for that for a long time. Everyone at the announcement on 15 October was beaming with delight. The Irish Cancer Society welcomed the decision to make the necessary investment to ensure BreastCheck is extended to women aged 65 to 69, saying it was the right decision, which would save a minimum of 87 women's lives per year.

Some time later, in response to a parliamentary question submitted by Fianna Fáil spokesman on health, Deputy Billy Kelleher, I learned that the free BreastCheck for women aged 65-69 will not commence until the fourth quarter of 2015. I could not believe it. The Minister announced it on 15 October and I was sure something was going to happen quickly. I also learned that the screening of women in the 65-69 age group will only be fully implemented by 2021. In the meantime, 609 Irish women will lose their lives before any real progress is made by the Government's 2021 target. The day the Minister launched it, on 15 October last year, I was genuinely thrilled and so impressed with him. We then found out a couple of months later that it would not be rolled out until the fourth quarter of this year.

I am very disappointed. I felt I was led astray when the public announcement was made outside the gate of Leinster House. It was said it would commence in the fourth quarter of this year, 2015. I do not want to hear about any administrative difficulties or lack of radiographers. We were not told anything about that on the day of the launch. I am a very straight person and this is business, not personal. Given that the Minister launched it that day, I felt I was deceived to hear that this would take so long and that we would have to wait until the first quarter of 2015 for this free BreastCheck screening to be rolled out.

It is ageism that women are not getting a free BreastCheck. It is Irish ageism. There is more ageism in Ireland than in any other country in the world, from my experience. I do not notice it myself - I am very lucky - but it is endemic in society. This is typical. Women in this age group are more prone to breast cancer.