Cathal Crowe
Ceist:98. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health his plans for the provision of lung cancer screening; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50618/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 19 October 2021
Ceisteanna (98)
Freagraí scríofa
Lung cancer screening is receiving increasing attention and the international evidence in this area continues to build. However, there are currently no nationally organised lung cancer screening programmes worldwide.
Our policy priority continues to be a focus on primary prevention. Because we know that 9 out of 10 lung cancers are caused by tobacco consumption, we continue to do what we can to drive down our smoking rates.
My Department is currently developing legislation to require the licensing of every retailer of tobacco products, and to ban the sale of cigarettes from self-service vending machines and at locations intended for children and events organised for children. This legislation will undergo pre-legislative scrutiny on 3rd November. I look forward to that debate and continuing to keep Ireland at the forefront of global tobacco control.
In addition, and in accordance with our national tobacco control policy, Tobacco Free Ireland, we have year on year increased the price of cigarettes. Last week, we added 50cent to the price of a packet of cigarettes, with a pro-rata increase on all other tobacco products.
With regard to any future decisions about lung cancer screening, these will be made on the advice of the National Screening Advisory Committee. This Committee is an independent expert group which considers and assesses evidence in a robust and transparent manner, and against internationally accepted criteria.
All population cancer screening programmes are associated with both benefits and harms, and lung cancer screening is no different. So it's important we have rigorous processes in place to ensure our screening programmes are effective, quality assured and operating to safe standards.
Consideration of targeted lung cancer screening is referenced in the European Commission’s ‘Beating Cancer Plan’ which was published earlier this year, and a number of international trials have provided evidence that low-dose CT screening can reduce lung cancer mortality.
Developments here in Ireland will be informed by the evidence and advice emerging from the wider international work in this area.
I will also briefly mention that the National Screening Advisory Committee will shortly be launching its first 'annual call' for proposals on new screening programmes. This will give an opportunity, for the first time, for members of the public, health professionals and the HSE to submit suggestions about new screening programmes, as well as changes to existing programmes, to the Committee for their expert assessment. This will help ensure screening in Ireland continues to evolve in line with new evidence and developments.