Cancer is the single biggest killer in Ireland, with more than 9,620 deaths a year[1]

Data gathered from ECO’s rapidly expanding online repository, the European Cancer Pulse, demonstrate progress but also highlight areas that need urgent attention, particularly in cancer inequalities:

The European Cancer Organisation was in Dublin on 24-26 April to reconnect with stakeholders in Ireland and beyond ahead of EU elections in June.

In addition to promoting the European Cancer Manifesto for 2024, several initiatives were announced:

• Launching the Country Report on Ireland with the Irish Cancer Society
• Passing a resolution on European-American collaboration on cancer
• The launch of ECO’s International Committee by ECO President Csaba Dégi

The event also included:

• Partnering with the All-Island Cancer Research Institute (AICRI) and other organisations on the inaugural Joint Euro-American Forum on Cancer
• A keynote by Commissioner Mairead McGuinness on the Right to Be Forgotten for cancer survivors
• Exchanges with Stephen Donnelly, Minister for Health, and other politicians in Ireland and Northern Ireland
• Reconnecting with National and European Parliamentarians for Cancer Action Stewart Dickson MLA (member of the steering group), Cathal Crowe TD and Colm Burke TD

ECO President Csaba Dégi said, 'Today's Country Report on Ireland makes clear where there have been successes and where improvements can be achieved. With European elections in June, ECO calls on national and European policymakers to deliver on the promises of the European Beating Cancer Plan.'

Key recommendations 

This event was part of a series of national visits linked to the ECO 'Time to Accelerate' pan-European political campaign.

'Time to Accelerate: Together Against Cancer' is a manifesto of recommendations for the future of cancer policy across the European Union. It represents the input of organisations and individuals active in pan-European cancer policy.

The recommendations reflect perspectives gathered during an unprecedented five-year period in EU cancer policy, which has seen landmark investment through both Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan and the EU Research Mission on Cancer.

Recommendations include: 

• A minimum age for tobacco sales of 21 years old (‘tobacco 21’) to achieve a European tobacco-free generation
• Regular public reporting on progress on EU recommendations on cancer screening 
• Initiatives to eliminate vaccine-preventable cancers caused by HPV and hepatitis B (HBV)
• Addressing the cancer workforce crisis, which is a threat to health system resilience
• Legal protections for cancer survivors so that they need not declare their disease to financial service providers

 

Endorse the manifesto

Time to Accelerate is supported by over 140 prominent policymakers and organisations.

Join these leading voices using the short form below

 

[1] National Cancer Registry Ireland (2023) Cancer in Ireland 1994-2021: Annual statistical report of the National Cancer Registry. NCRI, Cork, Ireland