Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Together, we repealed the eighth, passed the long-awaited Public Health (Alcohol) Act and made a massive difference in the lives of citizens with cystic fibrosis through access to new and innovative medicines. I am the first to acknowledge that there is a great deal more to do and I want to get on with that job. We are already working towards eradicating cervical cancer. Sinn Féin claims to speak for these people but truly it does not. It is our national aim to eradicate cervical cancer. This year, we will extend the HPV vaccination programme to boys. Our country is being watched internationally for our work on reversing the decline in the uptake of the HPV vaccine among girls. We can and will do more. We must bring to a conclusion talks with GPs on the delivery of new services and, more importantly, ensure their sustainability. We will move forward with the patient safety Bill to introduce mandatory open disclosure. We will overhaul our laws on organ donation to save more lives by replacing antiquated legislation with a new human tissue Bill. We will move forward with the assisted human reproduction Bill and get it passed this year to support families seeking to access IVF treatment. Most importantly, we are putting in place the plans and structures to take petty politics out of healthcare by implementing Sláintecare to transform our health service for once and for all.

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