Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise the issue of the lack of a national cancer strategy. The most recent strategy lapsed approximately 15 months ago and to date there has been no move by Government to introduce or prioritise a new strategy. The word "cancer" can put fear through anyone's heart and some of the statistics I will outline are very frightening. It is estimated that there are more than 200 types of cancer. Cancer is one of the main causes of death in this country and every year, more than 40,000 new cases are diagnosed. That is 100 every day, which is a very scary statistic. The latest research indicates that by the year 2024, one in two people will develop some form of cancer in his or her lifetime. This clearly illustrates that something must be done to tackle cancer and its causes and ensure its diagnosis and treatment thereafter. Despite assurances by the then Minister for Health, Deputy Leo Varadkar, in 2015 that a new strategy would be introduced, I am disappointed to tell the House that we still await that strategy. Thousands of families the length and breadth of this country are affected by this disease and it is imperative that we have a health service that ensures they have the very best outcomes possible. I ask the Leader to bring the Minister before the House to outline to us when he intends to introduce this new strategy in order that we can put measures in place for the detection of cancer and thereafter its treatment at a very early stage and that those affected by it are assured the best possible outcomes available.