Ireland is one of only two EU countries that have not made available a vaccine that is known to prevent cervical cancer, the Dáil was told.
During the debate on cancer services, Dr Jim McDaid (FF, Donegal North-East) said that "while cancer screening is wonderful where we have it, cervical cancer is the second largest killer of women after breast cancer in the 18-44 age group" and of the 180 women diagnosed in Ireland every year, up to 75 would die.
Dr McDaid warned that the vaccine which could prevent the disease was with the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) which was "studying its cost effectiveness", but it would probably take another year by the time the NIAC allowed the vaccine to go on the market. "Every other country in Europe has done a cost-effective study on this vaccine including the UK. How many more cost-effective studies do we need?"
He said the vaccine had been available since 2006. In countries such as Greece, it was mandatory for all 12-year-old girls to be vaccinated and if it "was to be made available through the GMS, it would ensure that females of the appropriate age would be able to avail of this potentially lifesaving treatment free of charge".
Former minister Mary O'Rourke said she was "in despair about the health services in Ireland" and she did not think that "we will ever see the promised land in health".
Ms O'Rourke (FF, Longford-Westmeath) said Ms Harney had made a good effort at "slaying dragons", but "fresh dragons keep emerging". She asked: "Will we ever see the promised land in health? I do not think so, regardless of how much admonishment we receive from Prof Drumm or the Minister, although hers is given kindly."
Beverley Flynn (Ind, Mayo) appealed to the Minister to retain cancer services in Mayo, where she said "we have excellence". She asked: "How can we close a service with which the people are satisfied and in respect of which 7,000 people were prepared to march on the streets to demonstrate their satisfaction if we do not have statistics telling us that service is inferior?"
Chairman of the Oireachtas health committee John Moloney, said that he had "supported the location of the lead centre in Tullamore against the wishes of my own county. The impression was that I had let my county down, let down my people."
