A report on cancer rates in Ireland is "damning" and sends the strong message that screening works in combating breast, cervical and prostate cancer, the Labour Party has said.
Responding to the publication today of the second all-Ireland cancer statistics report, the party's health spokeswoman Ms Liz McManus called on the Minister for Health to immediately extend the BreastCheck scheme to the south and west of the country to help reduce fatalities from the disease.
The report shows deaths from breast cancer have fallen by one fifth in Northern Ireland, while mortality from the disease in the Republic has remained constant over the last decade.
"This report confirms that the existence of screening programmes reduces the incidence of cancer and ultimately saves people's lives," Ms McManus said.
"There is no doubt that the existence of breast screening in Northern Ireland has been critical in the reduction by 20 per cent of breast cancer deaths in the past decade. It is also clear that the lack of a nationwide screening programme in the Republic has allowed the fatality rate to remain at a high level over the same period."
Ms McManus said the Minister for Health, Mr Martin, had promised "time and time again" since the general election to extend the BreastCheck programme to the south and west, but that progress in this regard had been "abysmal".
"The widespread inequality in our health service is exemplified by the provision of breast screening in some parts of the county and the lack of this service in others. Minister Martin must put the resources and manpower in place to address this life-costing deficit."
The all-Ireland cancer statistics report, a collaboration between the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry at Queen's University, and the National Cancer Registry was published this morning.
It shows there are 2,715 new cases of breast cancer on the island of Ireland each year.
Some 923 women die of the disease annually, making breast cancer the leading cause of cancer and cancer-related death.
The Green Party also called for the extension of BreastCheck to the south and west of the country in light of the cancer report.
The party's health spokesman, Mr John Gormley TD, said the report shows beyond doubt that screening has saved lives.
"There is therefore no justification for Micheál Martin to allow any further delays in the introduction of BreastCheck to the regions," he said.
"According to the World Health Organisation, over 80 per cent of cancers are environmentally linked. The report confirms this clearly by showing that the incidence of cancer is greatest in urban areas. The Green Party has always believed that dealing with the root causes of illness is the way forward.
"This means ensuring that people are breathing clean air, drinking clean water, eating clean food and getting adequate exercise. All of these would also help to ensure lower rates of heart disease, diabetes and obesity.
"Yet the lack of joined-up thinking in government means that air pollution continues to be a problem in our cities and that the over-use of cars results in a lack of exercise for children and adults."
Sinn Fein's health spokesman, Mr Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD called on the minister to roll out breast screening services throughout the 26 counties and for an all-Ireland approach to breast screening.
He said the development and availability of services and standardisation of practices on an all-Ireland basis would be of "massive benefit in the fight against breast cancer".
"This all-Ireland report paints a stark picture of the shortfalls in cancer care for women. The availability of breast screening in the 26 counties is totally inadequate despite repeated Government promises to extend it," Mr Ó Caoláin said.
"This report must now prompt the Minister for Health and Children Micheál Martin to accelerate the extension of the programme and to provide accessible facilities throughout the State.
"The report shows the clear advantages of an all-Ireland approach to our health services and its findings should be met with an all-Ireland response which will achieve real health benefits for women."