asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the increase in the incidence of lung cancer in women in Ireland; the reason for this increase; and the plans he has to deal with the problem.
27.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Lung Cancer.
5.
asked the Minister for Health the further action he proposes to take to discourage the practice of smoking.
I intend to take questions Nos. 5 and 27 together. I am aware of the increase in the incidence of lung cancer in women in Ireland. The death rate among women from the disease has fluctuated in recent years but shows an overall tendency to increase, rising from 20.4 deaths per 100,000 women in 1979 to 25.1 deaths in 1983. The increase in deaths is most noticeable in the older age groups.
The underlying causes of the trend are difficult to ascertain, but increased consumption of tobacco by women could partially explain the increased mortality rates.
Deputy Geoghegan-Quinn will be aware that in January of this year I signed new tobacco products regulations which, when they come into operation later this year, will help emphasise the risks to health from smoking. Under the new regulations, which replace regulations made in 1979, advertisements and packages of cigarettes will be required to carry, in rotation, more forceful health warnings.
I also intend to amend the law governing the conduct of events sponsored by tobacco companies and to introduce a new Tobacco Products (Health Protection) Bill in the near future. I expect to be in a position to publish the Bill shortly.
The Health Education Bureau have been given an allocation of £2 million this year — an increase of £250,000 on last year — to expand their health education activities, including their campaign to dissuade people from smoking.
When does the Minister intend to bring the new legislation before the Dáil?
The legislation is being drafted and I will be having consultations with the industry on the matter shortly. I should have the Bill before the Dáil before the summer recess.
Is the Minister happy that his Department are making sufficient funds available to all health boards on an equal basis for the detection of lung cancer?
The bulk of the money is made available to the HEB and I do not have information about the amount of money made available directly to the health boards to combat smoking. However, through the HEB they get considerable assistance.
I was referring to detection, not to early education which is the responsibility of the HEB. The South Eastern Health Board have a catchment area in the region of 440,000 people but we do not have a CAT scanner while the city of Dublin with a population in the region of one million has four and may have a fifth soon. Does the Minister regard that as cherishing all our citizens equally?
There are so many CAT scanners in the country that we could cover three times our population.
Unfortunately, parts of the country are being left out.