Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 March 2021
239. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health the steps Ireland will take to support the implementation of the Beating Cancer Plan; if he plans to leverage EU funds or other supports available under the plan for national cancer policies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16242/21]
View answerEurope’s Beating Cancer Plan, published last month, aims to reduce the cancer burden for patients, their families and health systems. It seeks to address cancer-related inequalities between and within Member States, with actions to support, coordinate and complement the efforts of Member States.
The plan closely mirrors the goals of Ireland’s National Cancer Strategy, with a focus on prevention, diagnosis, treatment and survivorship. Indeed, a large number of the initiatives included in the Europe's Beating Cancer Plan will support and complement work already being undertaken as part of our implementation of the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026.
Europe's Beating Cancer Plan is currently being examined by the Member States. The plan will be implemented using a wide range of Commission funding instruments, and the European Commission has noted its intention to establish an EU Cancer Plan Implementation Group to align actions and policies across all EU institutions. This Group will set out an implementation roadmap, which will specify in detail the next steps for implementing the actions outlined in the plan.
Ireland welcomes the publication of the plan and we look forward to working with European colleagues to achieve its objectives.
