Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I second the amendment to the Order of Business proposed by my colleague, Senator Ardagh, to invite the Minister for Justice and Equality to come to the House to address the appointment of the Attorney General. It is important that this issue is clarified and I support her call for that.

Every year 2,500 people in Ireland are diagnosed with bowel cancer. Of those, 1,000 lose their lives each year. Bowel cancer is the second most deadly cancer after lung cancer. It is striking, however, that up to 500 fewer of those people would lose their lives if two simple steps were taken, lifestyle changes and availing of a free bowel screen. I encourage all those who are eligible, males and females between the ages of 60 and 69, to undergo this test.

The Irish Cancer Society is very concerned that only 40% of those eligible are undergoing this much-needed test. A leading expert in this field, residing in Scotland, has indicated that if all eligible people were to go for screening the number of deaths could be reduced by 30%. That is a striking figure. It is vital that the Minister for Health allocate sufficient funds to the promotion of this test and the age group of those eligible be extended to ages 55 to 74. It is imperative that this be done without delay and I ask the Leader to ensure that the Minister provides sufficient funding to save these lives.