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

I had indicated before the Minister's contribution and I cannot improve on it. The Sláintecare policy is one of universal access and reducing barriers and costs. I do not want to rerun committee or referendum work, but we heard extensive evidence of women in situations of domestic violence who might not have been able to access funds. This is about compassion and women and not stigmatising. It is also about having a mature and informed approach.

I wish to touch on an issue. I have heard many times about the 33.4% of people who voted "No". Conversely, one could argue that we did not allow the person who came second in the recent presidential election to occupy the Áras for one fifth of the time. We can get into a back and forth if members want, but it would not be helpful. From a legislator's point of view, any triaging of women and deciding who is deserving of healthcare is regressive, judgmental, moralistic, discriminatory and contrary to what we sought to achieve in the first place.