The lives of 50 women a year could be saved in the State if a national cervical screening programme is introduced, an Oireachtas committee has heard.
A national screening plan would also save money in the long term, medical experts told the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children.
The Irish Cancer Society told TDs that opportunistic testing is not catching sufferers in time and that cervical cancer screening is the only way to recognise pre-cancerous symptoms, which can be treated to prevent cancer occurring.
Some 55,000 people signed a petition for such a programme and it was presented to the Tánaiste and Minister for Health Mary Harney earlier this month.
Prof Walter Prendiville, consultant gynaecologist at the Coombe Women's Hospital and Tallaght hospital, said Irish women needed to be educated and the stigma attached to cervical cancer had to be addressed so more potential sufferers would come forward for screening.
"Only a minority of Irish women have access to organised cervical screening — so they have a greater chance of developing and dying from cervical cancer than their UK counterparts," he said. "Systematic cervical screening will save lives."
Cervical cancer has a known link to certain types of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). The virus is present in virtually every woman under 30, but in the majority of cases it clears, and less than 5 per cent of women over the age of 35 still have HPV.
Regular organised screening has reduced mortality rates in Britain significantly.
"I am very angry at what isn't happening here," said Labour Health Spokesperson Ms Liz McManus, who promised the issue will be dealt with 'for once and for all' when the committee meets with the Minister for Health next month.
"This case has been made for years and nothing has been done. It is shameful that women's health is being put at risk in this way."
Fine Gael's health spokesman Dr Liam Twomey called on the Tánaiste to immediately roll out the cervical screening programme nationally.
"Ireland has one of the highest cervical cancer death rates in western Europe and this rate is increasing each year. Approximately 70 women die each year in this country - many unnecessarily — from cancer of the cervix," he said.
Additional reporting
PA