Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the 15 Members of the House for their contributions to the Order of Business. Senators Mark Daly, Craughwell, Ruane, Colm Burke, Conway-Walsh, O'Reilly, Lombard, Davitt and, indirectly, Boyhan, Devine, Gallagher and Ó Domhnaill all mentioned the cervical cancer screening issue. It is harrowing and distressing for any person to be told he or she has cancer but to have to go on public radio with our national broadcaster and reveal with such emotion what has happened is unacceptable. Senator Ó Domhnaill is right that the women of Ireland deserve better. I cannot imagine the pain and distress that Emma Mhic Mhathúna and the other women are going through. I am very emotional about this because it affects all of us. We all have stories of members of our families diagnosed with cancer and given the news that it is terminal in some cases. It is unbelievable that we must see pain and suffering being endured by people on a daily basis because of a failure to do a job for whatever reason.