Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Ardagh for bringing this important issue to the House. I am taking this on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly. As a Government, we are fully committed to supporting our population screening programmes, which are a valuable part of our health service. Lung cancer screening is receiving increasing attention and the international evidence in this area continues to build. An updated European Council recommendation on cancer screening was published in December 2022 and it recommends the gradual introduction of screening for new cancers. Ireland will be actively engaged at European level to take forward the updated recommendation on cancer screening, informed by the evidence and advice emerging from the wider international work in this area. Ireland has always strongly advocated for the implementation of smoking cessation policy in tandem with the introduction of screening for lung cancer. Ireland also welcomes the emphasis on equity and on the importance of ensuring participants in cancer screening programmes are as informed and empowered as possible.

I am aware that lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in both men and women in Ireland. However, five-year survival rates for lung cancer in Ireland have increased greatly from 9% to over 24%. Treatment for cancer is centred on eight designated cancer centres, with rapid access clinics providing diagnostic services for lung tumours. It is important to emphasise that our policy priority continues to be a focus on primary prevention. We know that nine out of ten lung cancers are caused by tobacco consumption, so we continue to do what we can to drive down our smoking rates. There are several initiatives in place in Ireland in relation to smoking cessation. These are recognised as an important element of a comprehensive tobacco control strategy. Among many other initiatives, the Department of Health is progressing legislation that requires the licensing of every retailer of tobacco products in Ireland. It bans the sale of cigarettes from self-service vending machines and at locations intended for children and events organised for children. A range of measures have been introduced to further reduce the use of tobacco and nicotine-inhaling products such as e-cigarettes, particularly among young people. We have also undertaken a range of measures to help people quit smoking such as the QUIT campaign that uses real life stories. Cost is regularly highlighted as a barrier to accessing or adhering to nicotine replacement therapy. Therefore, the removal of VAT on all nicotine replacement therapy was a longstanding recommendation in the Tobacco-Free Ireland policy. In addition, we have year on year increased the price of cigarettes.

With regard to lung cancer screening, I understand that researchers in the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland, RCSI, and Beaumont Hospital are currently preparing to run a pilot of lung cancer screening in Ireland, with funding from the Irish Cancer Society and the European Union. The pilot will provide valuable information on the feasibility of implementing lung cancer screening in the Irish context, including the best methods to identify the target population of high-risk smokers and ex-smokers. As the Senator may be aware, decisions on whether to introduce new screening programmes, are made on the advice of the national screening advisory committee, NSAC. All population cancer screening programmes are associated with both benefits and harms, and lung cancer screening is no different. It is important we have rigorous processes in place to ensure our screening programmes are effective, quality-assured and operating to safe standards. The NSAC will consider the updated European Council recommendation on cancer screening and advise the Minister and the Department of Health on the evidence as it applies to Ireland. In light of all this, I trust the public can be assured of the Minister’s ongoing commitment to further expansion of population-based screening in Ireland.