Frances Black (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank all of our witnesses for coming. This is an important topic and I am glad we are speaking about it today. I thank the witnesses for the work they do on this issue. It is fantastic. I attended a powerful briefing on endometriosis hosted by Senators Ruane and Chambers in March, I believe. I realised that I do not know an awful lot about endometriosis apart from having friends who had it. It was really shocking to hear from women who spoke about the extreme pain they go through, constantly enduring what they have to endure, and their struggle to find supports. That was the big issue and Ms Kathleen King, who was at that briefing, has been advocating on endometriosis, for the rights of patients and for better awareness of the disease for many years., I would love to have her in at some point. I thank the Endometriosis Association of Ireland for its work on this.

Will Ms Darcy elaborate on the issue of maternity hospitals being an inappropriate setting for the treatment of endometriosis, as was mentioned in the opening statement? Will she expand on that a bit? Forgive me if this has already been touched on, I have been in and out of the meeting a little and so have not been present for everything.