Eileen Flynn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I wish to talk about the cervical scandal that stills exists in Ireland. If a woman is going for a cervical check, her swab gets sent to America or Germany. Can women in this country trust the cervical tests? As someone who has been there and done all of that over the last year and a half, I can say we cannot trust them. It takes six weeks for the test result to come back.

We should also lower the age for cervical screening. In secondary schools, young girls can have the HPV vaccination and I welcome that. Traveller women can get married at 15 or 16. While it is unlawful for the State to marry people at that age, unfortunately, it is still legal to do so through the church. That is a scandal in itself. I promise, if I am here on 8 March next year and we are discussing a motion on women's rights, I am going to call a vote to vote against it because we are all talk and no action when it comes to equality for women in this country. Young Traveller women who should be getting cervical screening from the age of 20 are being left behind. In the last four years - it is coming up to my fourth year here - I have spoken to many GPs and they are all in agreement that the age should be lowered to 20 both for cervical screening and BreastCheck.

In recent weeks, I have done a lot of work with Pavee Point, Ballyfermot Traveller Action Project and the Marie Keating Foundation. In my experience with women from the Traveller community and in education around cervical testing and how to go about it, women in this country, in all communities, should not have to wait until the age of 25 to get a letter; the age should be lowered. The same applies to BreastCheck.

The Civil Engagement Group is looking at introducing a Bill in the coming months which would lower the age for cervical screening. However, because it will involve a money message, the Government may not support it. I call for a debate in the House with the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, on cervical checks and public information in this regard. Many members of the public are not aware that their test goes to Germany or America. Women still do not trust the system.