Minister for Health Mary Harney is looking at the possibility of a cervical cancer immunisation vaccine programme for girls aged nine to 11.
Questioned about the introduction of a vaccine programme for women on the medical card, Ms Harney said Canada was considering an immunisation programme for nine-year-olds while other countries were looking at a programme for 11-year-olds.
"We have asked the national expert group, which advises on immunisation programmes, first, whether we should do it and second, how we should do it." She said the most effective way to introduce a programme would be through schools.
She acknowledged to Fine Gael spokesman Dr Liam Twomey that Ireland was "way behind in many areas", in relation to cancer screening but there was a co-ordinated programme for the rollout of BreastCheck and a cervical cancer screening programme on a sustainable basis.
She said "huge action is being taken" and "later this year we will have both the screening programme and I hope a decision with regard to the vaccine".
Dr Twomey said "it is becoming a national joke that we have not yet sorted out a national cervical cancer-screening programme", while the British have had a breast screening programme in place for the past 40 years.
