Ms Maeve Taylor:

I will follow on from that. The PPS number issue is something that the IFPA is engaging with the HSE on. We have raised it with the executive and we can keep the committee informed if there is progress. We are hoping that there will be progress in that area.

On the idea of sustainability and supports into the future, what is clear from everything that has been said today is that the law makes services available and creates a legal framework for availability, but availability is the minimal requirement in order that services can be provided. We need to look at the broader requirements of the right to health, which is that healthcare services, including reproductive healthcare services, should not only be available, they should also be accessible and acceptable to women and of high quality. We need to see removal of the barriers to access but also concerted efforts to build in that accessibility and acceptability, as well as availability and women's right to access care with dignity. These requirements need to be built in institutionally by means of training and structures and, as Dr. Henchion stated, support and mentoring. In addition, the Act does not contain an overarching preamble that deals with values.

Something is needed, whether that is a preamble inserted into the Act or a code of practice on reproductive autonomy and access to healthcare according to human rights guidelines. The HSE has been making heroic efforts to ensure availability of services, but there is, however, an overarching responsibility to lift our vision and to think about excellence, quality and sustainability in future. Many structures could be put in place in the health system to do that.