Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I apologise for my late attendance, but I was listening to the discussion on the monitor in my office.

I was once asked what was my favourite film, to which I replied without hesitation "Philadelphia" which starred Tom Hanks. It was the first film I had seen that dealt with the issue of AIDS. It brought home to me the reality of the rejection of people not alone in their employment but often also in their neighbourhoods and by their families. For me, the film depicted how the human body broke down when people were infected and how because of this their bodies became offensive to others.

Mr. Brady asked whom we would tell if we were diagnosed with HIV tomorrow. The same question arises in regard to mental health issues. Whether we like it, there is a stigma attached to mental illness. I recall the impact of Princess Diana touching, hugging and kissing people infected with HIV, while others were running away from them fearing they would become infected by them. This brought home to ordinary people the reality of how much we stigmatised others.

These days young people are well educated. They are not stupid, yet they continue to take huge chances and risks in their sexual activity. This applies across the board, not only to gay men and lesbians. Will the delegates explain the reason for this? It has been stated it is estimated that one in four people infected with HIV remains unaware of his or her condition, yet we have great services in place to deal with breast, bowel and prostrate cancer. How do the organisations fund their awareness programmes? What funding, if any, is provided by the Government? If there was one recommendation the delegates would wish the committee to take on board, what would it be? The committee meets many groups and makes many promises, half of which we do not get to keep. When I leave the meeting, what is the one thing I, as a member of the committee, can do to help? What is the main issue with which the delegates would task the committee which I hope we will be able to achieve? In this regard, they should not ask for a couple of million euro because they have no chance in the world of getting it.

I thank the delegates for their presentations, in particular the presentation made by Mr. Goulding whom I think I have met previously.