In Ireland, 70 women on average die from cervical cancer every year. The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine programme, announced last August, was to offer a vaccination to 12-year old girls against a virus which causes the disease. The programme was to commence in September 2009, and would have cost about €10 million annually.  

However, Minister Mary Harney has said she "will not be proceeding with the introduction of a HPV vaccination programme.”

The Minister has decided the best that can be achieved in the current economic climate is "to prioritise funding for the development of the cervical screening programme and treatment services at the eight designated cancer centres, which includes the challenge of funding very expensive cancer drugs."

Fine Gael spokesman on health Dr James Reilly criticised Minister Harney's action.

“Minister Harney’s U-turn on the introduction of a cervical cancer vaccination programme is impossible to understand. The minister tries to present it as if the deterioration in the economy has come as some kind of shock. In fact the minister announced her plans in August 2008, a month after Brian Cowen and Brian Lenihan presented their dazed and confused interim financial crisis response,” Dr Reilly said. 

The Irish Cancer Society also expressed disappointment at Minister Harney's action and hoped the Government would reconsider the decision. (Source: Irish Examiner)