Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 27 November 2014

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children

HIV in Ireland: Discussion

10:00 am

Photo of Caoimhghín Ó CaoláinCaoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the delegation here this morning. Some members have returned once again and they are welcome back. I have listened to the delegation and have gone through the detail of the GLEN submission in advance. In terms of the immediate actions needed, awareness and testing are the two critical focus points that I have picked up from the messages delivered.

In the table and chart of HIV diagnosis rates over the period 2004 to 2012 there are variations in total numbers. The critical focus of this particular address is on men who have sex with men or MSM. There has been a marked increased in that particular area in comparison with any of the other areas who have been and are at risk of infection. Can Mr. Brady explain why there has been an increase? There has been real public awareness for many years although it does not have the same public address it once had. Is that a factor in the increase? Has HIV slid off the table in terms of public consciousness? I am anxious to understand why there has been an increase. If the number was the hold at the earlier figures, as had been demonstrated in the table, there would have been a significant overall decrease just like in other areas. There has been a marked rise in the graph depicting MSM.

In terms of media, addressing the most at risk community was mentioned. As I listened to that comment and having read the report my thoughts were, and I could be wrong, media is an absolutely a component part of how one addresses the issue. I am only trying to tease out this matter. Are new young coming out people more at risk? Is there an analysis of the chart figures in terms of profile? It has been mentioned that the average age of HIV diagnosis has fallen from 37 years down to 32 years. Has there been, over the same period, a significant increase in younger males who may not be, for any particular period, heavily exposed to a community of gay men? Does that put them at risk? How do we address the matter if we categorise a group? It is wrong to section off a group but understand it is a component part. Awareness must be in the round and across the whole of society in order to have the best possible prospect of making an impact. I invite further comments from the delegation on the matter.

In terms of home testing, I note that the text given to us states, "[W]orking with GLEN and healthcare providers to develop good practice models for the delivery of home testing services". The term "working to develop" sounds very complicated but testing should be a straightforward and simple practice. It should be part of life and a regular routine for any male involved in sex with males. It is for their own personal good health and that of their friends. I ask the delegation to develop what is meant by developing good practice. What more needs to be done in terms of the use of the word develop? Home testing strikes me as preferable to some other options and is the least personally challenging. In addition, one has personal control of the situation, one has full knowledge and one then is informed as to how to proceed. It does not necessarily mean the information belongs to somebody else, who may not have anything other than a relatively distant professional relationship, that is a practitioner or whatever is the case. Home testing means one has control and is in charge.

I understand the case for targeted information and awareness. However, there is a whole new generation and generations who were not exposed to the same wow factor and bombardment of awareness that people of my age experienced so many years ago. Perhaps society needs that again. Go raibh maith agat.

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