Kate O'Connell (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is done in other countries. Leaving aside the health benefits, there is a massive economic issue. As a working mother, one is nearly putting concealer on them going into the crèche. Once the pox is out, my view is that they should be sent to crèche, but there is a stigma attached to it and then the mother, father or granny has to take days off work. There is an economic loss attached to it. Most children are brought to their GP, but with chickenpox the GP cannot do anything. There are secondary infections such as impetigo or bacterial skin infections as a result. Though it is an expensive vaccine, there are economic and health benefits. It is something the committee should be pushing for. We have to get the message from the HSE and the Department down to the ground to deal with this.

Confidence has been mentioned. I am not sure where Dr. Brennan works. My experience of the public system for the treatment of cervical cancer is that the system is very good. We spend a lot of time in here complaining and saying everything is awful and everybody is on a trolley, but my understanding on the ground is that the system is working. People are being seen in a timely fashion and are getting the best possible treatment in this country. It is worth saying that young women are getting that treatment. What we really want is that in years to come my two young daughters and the children in crèche with them now are not in that category.

The committee has a body of work to do. It is important we get the message out that this is the second biggest public health breakthrough ever in the world. We have a duty as elected representatives. It is what we are here to do. We are here to try to improve people's lives. My colleagues and I will work with the Chairman and everybody else to try to get the message across. We have a body of work to do here. Time is of the essence. If we do not deal with this, trolleys will be the least of our worries. I thank all the witnesses for coming in today.