Ms Alana Ryan:

I will mention another group affected by the issue relating to PPS numbers. This ties into what the Senator just said about Northern Ireland. Women who are travelling from Northern Ireland in the absence of services must bear the cost not only of the travel into the Republic and the cost of childcare but also the cost of the procedure because such women do not have a PPS number. Given the absolute lack of provision in Northern Ireland and the fact that a postcode lottery defines whether a woman is in a healthcare area that is providing the limited service available, we have an obligation to provide care for that group of women. Dealing with the issue around PPS numbers would also have an impact by providing support for women in Northern Ireland who need care and cannot access it in that jurisdiction.