Aontú Deputy Leader Cllr Denise Mullen has stressed the importance of early diagnosis and treatment on World Cancer Day today

Aontú Deputy Leader Cllr Denise Mullen has stressed the importance of early diagnosis and treatment on World Cancer Day today.

Cllr Denise Mullen:

“As someone who is in remission of a rare form of cancer and who lives day to day with the side effects of this cancer, there is an added personal importance to World Cancer Day. Cancer is life-changing and cruel, but I am blessed to still be here. It is vital on this World Cancer Day we put an emphasis on early diagnosis and treatment. That is why it is so important, we ensure our cancer screening and treatment services remain open and we expand services to ensure no man, woman or child is detrimented due to the disruption and delay in cancer screenings and treatment. There are worrying statistics surfacing that indicate the damaged serious delays in the diagnosis and treatment of Cancer due to Covid. Covid is a serios illness. But we also need to make sure that access to life saving health care is not denied to cancer patients”.

“The best thing that can be done this day, on World Cancer Day, is to ensure there is no delay or disruption in men, women or children getting a cancer diagnosis. The best thing we can do, is meet the scourge of Cancer with the fullest of our resources, the best of our abilities and the entirety of our compassions.”

The Irish political system is radically broken

In Ireland the vast majority of elected representatives put a finger in the air to check which way the political wind is blowing. They have one eye on their leaders – seeking brownie points – and another eye keeping their seat safe. If elected reps shut up and do as they’re told, they are promoted; if they stand up for what they believe in, they are demoted. No wonder we have the political class we have. No wonder one point one billion euro is being buried in a hole under the National Children’s Hospital and that Stormont is in stalemate.

Throughout Ireland, many people are now afraid to say what they feel, many are afraid to respectfully engage on a range of different topics. Many feel there is a new censorship and a new political correctness in Ireland, that opposition to the establishment is being deleted.

Respectful opposition is not the enemy. Respectful opposition is a critical element of a functional democracy. Aontú will have the backbone to stand up, without fear, for you.