BreastCheck age extension
Senator Mary White highlights Active Ageing initiatives and asks when the Government will extend BreastCheck to women aged 65 to 69, as promised in the programme for government.
We are in the final quarter of the European Year of Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations. On Friday last I attended Age Action Ireland's conference in Croke Park at which Positive Ageing Week was launched and in the middle of which we currently find ourselves. On Monday last I attended another conference in Croke Park which was organised by the Third Age Foundation and which was hosted by the wonderful Mrs. Mary Nally. Esther Rantzen, who spoke at the conference, came to Ireland during the past six months in order to learn from Mrs. Nally how she might establish a senior helpline such as that which is operated by Third Age. The helpline to which I refer is for and is manned by older people. At the Third Age conference, the EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, Mr. László Andor, made an outstanding presentation. In commenting on a positive approach to ageing, he stated "The key is to ensure that, as people grow older, they can continue to contribute to the economy and society, and to look after themselves for as long as possible."
Monday last was UN International Day of Older Persons. Today's edition of The Irish Times contains a beautiful photograph from the Google Silver Surfer 2012 awards, which were organised by Age Action Ireland and Google and which took place at the latter's headquarters yesterday. These awards reiterate the message put across by Commissioner Andor. Catherine Talty from west Clare, who is 96 years of age, won the golden IT award.
Comment on this
As the author the Fianna Fáil policy document, Active Ageing and Quality Care, I have a very serious question to put to the Leader. The programme for Government states "We will also extend BreastCheck to 65 to 69 year old women". Women are at the highest risk of developing breast cancer between the ages of 55 and 75. This claim is supported by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. While the programme for Government contains a commitment to extend BreastCheck to older women, a date for the extension of the delivery of the service has not yet been announced. I call on the Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly, to deliver on his promise to extend BreastCheck to women between the ages of 65 and 69.
It is a commitment in Fianna Fáil's policy document, Active Ageing and Quality Care.