Fergal Browne (Fine Gael)

I can be ruled out. Deputy O'Connor is the third socialist.

Although there is a requirement for privatised health care, and the private sector should be involved in health care delivery, there is a difficult balance to be maintained. We should not have a case where a public hospital has a private hospital beside it, with consultants working in both. Such consultants would earn far more in the private hospital so the patient will ultimately be directed there. Health issues should not be dictated by financial matters, and it is important that people with cancer receive the treatment they deserve.

Much work has been done, as is evident from the Minister of State's speech, but it is time the BreastCheck programme was rolled out across the country and the cervical cancer issue was examined. I am aware Senator Glynn will address the issue of men's health today. The remark made by the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children yesterday that a national cancer screening programme for men would not result in any benefits makes no sense. If cancer screening works for women, it will work for men. My father was diagnosed with prostate cancer in January of this year but made a full recovery. The number of men I have met since then who told me they also had prostate cancer shocked me.

We need to promote men's health. A number of good advertisements about men's health have been run recently, which recommend that men get themselves checked out once a year in the same way as their cars are checked once a year. Unfortunately, men tend not to visit their GPs on a regular basis. I am sure Senator Glynn will elaborate on the need to promote men's health.