Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State. Her response is positive news. As the Minister of State knows, the women's health task force has identified menopause as a critical issue as it affects every woman in the country and a spectrum of supports is needed. It noted that for something with such far-reaching impacts, it is very much overlooked. Following wide consultation with women around Ireland, it has called for us to reframe that conversation to reduce stigma and to positively impact public conversation. For 2021, it has called for enhanced information, education and access to menopause information and service around the topic. The average Irish woman will spend more than one third of her life in the aftermath of menopause. The quality of her life for these years depends on whether diseases partially linked to menopause, such as coronary heart disease, develop. I believe that there is a body of work to be done around education and support for our general practitioners, GPs, and health workers at the front-line, interacting and engaging with women who are going through this.

One striking comment and conversation for some women was about the lack of healthcare provision through GP services. That is not the case in every GP service but there is definitely a deficiency that we must address. I am delighted to hear the information the Minister of State has imparted tonight. It is good news. Joe Duffy, along with the team in RTÉ, has certainly blown the lid on this. Following the last two weeks of public discourse and debate on the matter, the women of Ireland can look forward to a much more positive and compassionate health service when it comes to menopause.

See this speech in context