Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am sure the Deputy did not mean it like this but the only reason the two female members of our delegation have not spoken is because none of the questions has been directed to community services or acute hospitals.

Were they, they would be the people best placed and most able to answer the questions here. I just wanted to acknowledge that.

On the issue of scoliosis, can I send the committee a detailed note as to where we are at? The bottom line is around the co-designed plan, working with patient advocacy groups, consultants and the children's hospital group to develop a sustainable service which can, ultimately, treat all children here in Ireland within the four-month target where clinically appropriate. A huge investment has gone into it this year. The best part of €10 million has been spent and recruitment is under way. I will send members a detailed note on it.

On the issue of gender bias, I have not read about the gender pain gap, but I will now. It is an interesting point. We must all be aware of gender bias continually. I point out, however, that we have the first-ever national maternity strategy. It is a bit weird in some ways that it is the first national maternity strategy. We never had one before but we have one now. We have seen, notwithstanding the terrible things that have happened in relation to cervical cancer and screening, that the rate of that cancer has fallen in Ireland each year since the programme was introduced. We have seen progress in breast cancer also. I do not know if colleagues in the HSE want to add anything on that. We should always challenge and be challenged to ensure that our systems are not biased. However, I do not see any policy being pursued by the Irish health service that is biased on a gender basis.