Horse and dog racing get €69m as €7m cancer vaccine axed

MINISTERS who withdrew the €7 million needed to protect school girls from cancer are lavishing 10 times that amount on horse and greyhound racing, it has emerged.

Fine Gael health spokes- man James Reilly accused the Government of allowing about 100 women a year to die of cervical cancer while diverting €69m in taxpayers’ money to back racing.

Mr Reilly ratcheted up pressure on Health Minister Mary Harney to restore a life-saving cancer vaccine to school girls by arranging a Dáil showdown on the issue.