Catherine Ardagh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I ask the Leas-Chathaoirleach to allow me some indulgence in respect of my time. I raise the issue of cancer services during Covid and post Covid. I was shocked to hear that Professor Seamus O'Reilly, an oncologist from Cork, told the European Parliament that the impact of Covid will set cancer care services back ten years. I am asking the Minister and the Leader to ensure this does not happen. We cannot afford for cancer services to be held back or to go back in time by ten years. Very disappointingly, BreastCheck found that screenings fell by more than two thirds in 2020. That represents 600 cancers it has failed to diagnose. Breast cancer and other cancers are not going away. The numbers are not dramatically increasing out of thin air. All Members have family members affected by cancer and know that early diagnosis and early treatment are crucial. If a person with cancer is among the lucky ones whose cancer goes into remission, post-cancer screening is exceptionally important to ensure there are no relapses and that if there is a relapse, it can be treated and nipped in the bud immediately. I am asking the Leader to facilitate a debate in the House on cancer services. I know colleagues have raised this issue. It is really important that cancer services do not fall behind by five years.

I wish to raise quickly a second issue. As a result of the sitting arrangements in the context of Covid, I will not be able to attend Private Members' business later this evening to speak in support of the period poverty legislation brought forward by my colleague, Senator Clifford-Lee. I hope the Bill gets support from across the House. I know other Members have tabled similar legislation. It is great to see women-specific legislation on the Order Paper and being debated in the House. Senator Clifford-Lee has been working on this issue for a long time, including in the previous Seanad. She has helped councillors in Longford and Kilkenny to bring motions on the issue and has supported other councillors who will be bringing motions in their local authorities. I hope this legislation can be supported across the House.

Today is International Epilepsy Day. Some 40,000 people in Ireland have epilepsy. Many people do not realise so many people have it. We need to show awareness and a bit of education with regard to epilepsy.