Time to Act on lung cancer deaths linked to air pollution
- Government failing to act on poor air quality
Labour’s Health Spokesperson Duncan Smith TD has called for immediate government action to address the link between air quality and lung cancer.
Deputy Smith said:
“The statistics are alarming. Lung cancer is claiming more lives in Ireland than road accidents, and this is a direct concern for public health. The World Health Organisation has clearly stated that air pollution is the leading environmental health risk, yet we are not seeing the necessary urgency from the government. The Clean Air Strategy from 2023 made promises, but where is the progress report? What has been achieved so far?
“We are in a situation where people’s lives are at stake. Last year, in Labour’s Alternative Budget, we called for the expansion of the EPA’s air quality monitoring to provide more comprehensive data and to identify problem areas quicker. That’s why we proposed 38 new EPA stations for the EPA’s real-time air quality monitoring network. If we don’t know where the risks are, how can we hope to reduce them?
“Air quality isn’t just an environmental issue, it’s a public health emergency. The government must act faster to ensure cleaner air for everyone. This is not just about prevention, it’s about saving lives. Inaction is no longer an option. We cannot afford to let air pollution continue to cause preventable deaths. Government needs to treat this with the urgency it deserves, and that means committing the necessary resources to protect public health.
“If we do not take decisive action now, we will see more and more families lose loved ones to preventable lung cancer. The Clean Air Strategy must be fully implemented and expanded to ensure we are doing everything possible to protect public health. It’s not just about cleaner air, it’s about saving lives.”