Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The National Screening Advisory Committee has been mentioned already. It is positive to hear of the proposals, particularly on reducing the age for breast screening to 45, reducing the age for colorectal screening and the idea of the home test for cervical smears. Those are all positive proposals and I would support their being considered by the advisory committee.

We have heard supports for radio announced this morning, particularly for regional independent radio stations. All of us in rural areas know how important that is. Particularly for me, Galway Bay and Shannonside radio stations are companions for many people in our rural areas and they have been struggling. I have spoken with personnel from those stations. They will always have advertising from State agencies but local advertising is down 30% and has not recovered since Covid. It has been a huge issue. I am grateful our parties in government have worked together to support those regional independent stations. I thank businesses who advertise on radio. Radio reaches all audiences.

I highlight World AIDS Day and the particular impact in Ukraine. It is important to recognise that the flag flies high for the Ukraine in Ireland. We spoke about this last week. We are a welcoming country to families and people coming from Ukraine. Particularly coming into Christmas, when we see families and children potentially facing hunger and cold, we need to remember how lucky and fortunate we are in Ireland.