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

I lend my voice to those speaking in support of the Minister today and to vehemently oppose this motion of no confidence in him.

Everyone here is aware of the work of the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, on the matter of abortion rights, including his efforts during the campaign and his role in guiding the legislation through our party and through the Houses of the Oireachtas. He has played an important part in securing and supporting the right of Irish women to choose and to be in control of their own bodies. This is something that many people before him failed to do.

The Minister is capable of change, of reassessing an issue and, clearly, of taking things on the chin. His Department is not an easy one to manage and his job cannot be done without extraordinary personal sacrifice. He does it and he works hard at it. What good would demanding a political sacrifice do for the children's hospital? This hospital is needed. The children of Ireland have waited long enough and it must go ahead.

Early in the career of the Minister, he was faced with the declining rate of human papillomavirus vaccination. Some of the people who are calling for him to step aside today spoke against vaccination in this House, although it has been the second biggest intervention in terms of world health in our lifetime. These people are saying that they should act as Minister for Health. I challenge anyone who is against vaccines to lead public health for the population and be Minister for Health. The Minister has moved to expand the roll-out of vaccination. This move will save lives. The move was not popular initially. The Minister is someone who took on a fight and faced down critics. As a result, young girls and boys today will be alive in this country 40 years from now. If we had listened to some of the experts in this House, they would be dead.

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