Frances Black (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate Senators Ardagh, Buttimer and Gavan, and the entire membership of the Oireachtas cross-party cancer group, on the introduction of this legislation. I also pay tribute to the work that group does in general. It does phenomenal work. This Bill is the kind of thoughtful, compassionate and subtle legislation that this Chamber specialises in, which I hope will attract cross-party support. It is vital that this Bill is looked at today and I would love to see it passed. The operations of this House often fly beneath the radar of public attention. This legislation, which is collaborative, cross-party and informed by engagement with civil society, is exactly how the Seanad adds value to our legislative process. I hope many more Bills like it will follow and that the Government gives them a fair hearing.

Cancer is a horrific disease that touches all our lives. Other Members have said this. If it does not impact on ourselves we all almost certainly have a friend, family member or loved one who has not been so fortunate. I have lost some family members to cancer. I also know, as Senator Sherlock called them, cancer thrivers.She could not have described it better. When people get through cancer, including the horrific treatment that goes along with it, and come out the other side, they live each day on an hourly basis and enjoy every moment of it. We are all too familiar with the tragic impacts cancer can have on human health. Fortunately, due to the incredible work of medical staff and scientific researchers, the survival rate is significantly higher than it used to be even a few decades ago. Most cancer diagnoses are not death sentences. People need medical support to recover from cancer but they also need economic and social supports to continue living full and active lives.

Cancer often disrupts people's careers or caring responsibilities, which can have a lasting economic impact. This needs to be factored into our understanding of the disease and its impact on the population. I was shocked to read the recent report by the Irish Cancer Society, which detailed that one of the big challenges faced by cancer thrivers - I use "thrivers" instead of "survivors" - is the discrimination they experience from financial institutions. It really is shocking. A large number of people who have had cancer experience shoddy treatment from banks and financial institutions, which refuse to recognise that they have been healthy for a good number of years since their recovery from the disease and do not pose a massive risk to the firm. Survivors reported negative and demoralising interactions with the agents of these companies and the feeling that the nuance of their unique medical journey is not understood by staff who make decisions based on their uninformed assumptions about the disease and its survivors. It is shocking that people, having going through what they have done, are treated like that by financial institutions.

Access to insurance and credit are essential elements of a person's ability to be economically active and prosperous. These financial facilities and products have existed since ancient societies and were essential to the development of the more complex commercial and administrative structures that featured in early civilisations. Laws governing debt and insurance were included in the Code of Hammurabi, which contained the laws set out by the ruler of ancient Mesopotamia of that name. The code is thought to be the first known example of written law. In the United States, discrimination concerning ethnic minorities' access to credit and mortgages reinforced and reproduced a racial wealth gap that persists today. I refer to access to finance in a broad historical sense to make the point that discrimination in the financial sphere is not just a mere inconvenience. It is an issue that is centrally important if we want to create a society of economic and social justice.

As we all know, cancer survivors can recover and go on to lead full, exciting and successful lives. I have a cousin who has come through it. Her survival truly is a miracle and we are all very grateful she is still here. For some, recovery means wanting to purchase property, start a business or do other things that almost always require access to credit. We cannot let someone's future be defined by an illness in his or her past. We need to empower cancer survivors, not constrain them.

If enacted, this Bill will provide some much-needed relief and security to a group of people who have already withstood so much. I reiterate my congratulations to Senator Ardagh and everyone involved in bringing forward the Bill. I hope it achieves broad support and is swiftly enacted. I ask the Minister of State to give it his full support. Doing so would mean he leaves a great legacy. For cancer survivors, stress is the one thing they should not have to face. In fact, there is evidence that some cancers are stress-related. It would be fantastic if the Bill were to pass Second Stage today. That would be a great legacy for the House and the Members who come after us.