Kenny: Axing cervical cancer vaccine will cost lives
The Government is allowing women to die of cervical cancer because it cannot find €10m to roll out a vaccine programme, it was claimed today.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said there were so many areas where the Taoiseach could save money to fund the jabs for 12-year-old girls.
However Brian Cowen accused Mr Kenny of peddling untruths to win popular support.
The HPV vaccination program was postponed by Health Minister Mary Harney last week due to the economic downturn but she insisted it would be re-introduced as soon as funds become available in coming years.
The Dáil is tonight concluding a two-day debate on the issue.
Mr Kenny said that €10m will be spent this year on special advisers and press officers for Government ministers.
The TD added that a pay freeze across the public sector would bring in €400m while dropping another minister of state would save up to €6m.
“There are so many areas where the Government could save €10m to put in place a vaccination programme that will save lives,” he told the Dáil.
“A 12-year-old in school today who would be the recipient of the vaccination programme, which we would support, will have a life to live. Others will not.”
The Taoiseach said that a Government motion agreed by the Dáil last week pledged to keep the matter under review.
In an attack on Mr Kenny, he said: “Deputy Kenny is making untrue assertions using populist arguments.”
“Is the Taoiseach calling me a liar?” asked Mr Kenny.
Mr Cowen added: “Deputy Kenny is using emotional blackmail in an effort to make a political argument. He is wrong. No health care system has brought in a vaccination programme before the full national screening programme was in place.”
Labour leader Eamon Gilmore said finding the €10m for the scheme will not put the public finances into disarray.
“It amounts to approximately €500,000 across all departments and everybody in this House knows those kind of savings and adjustments can and are found month in, month out by departments in respect of a range of projects,” he said.
“This is about the Taoiseach making a political decision to allow the vaccination programme to proceed and finding the means by which to do it.”
