Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the panel for their very detailed presentations and all the information it has been given this morning.

I wish to touch on a few items that were raised. Ms Seery stated that over half of people are diagnosed late. What is meant by "diagnosed late"? It is important that we get clarification on the matter.

Mr. Brady referred to the need for a campaign. How, in the delegates' view, should one be conducted, taking current financial restrictions into account? Is there a particular cohort at whom a campaign should be targeted and how should the campaign be managed? For example, should be it conducted through third level colleges, social media or particular organisations? I am interested in hearing the delegates' views in this regard, given that they are the ones with experience of dealing with this issue.
It was stated that, according to LetsGetChecked.com, there were approximately 100,000 people living in Ireland with the infection, 25% of whom did not know they had it. How can the organisations encourage greater awareness? An Oireachtas colleague told me yesterday that he had received a telephone call from a person complaining about the number of non-Irish people living in Ireland, suggesting they were the cause of all our infection problems. The tendency of Irish people to blame everybody else for their problems is amazing. Based on the figures available, is it possible to provide a breakdown of the socioeconomic make-up of those with the infection, the number of Irish people who have travelled abroad and are infected and the number of people who have come here from abroad and are infected? Are details available in that regard? In terms of our tendency to blame everybody else for our problems, it is important that the correct information is placed in the public domain.