Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

While this Bill seeks a necessary extension to the duration of the CervicalCheck tribunal, we have to face the fact that, with only a single-figure number of claims, it is not working and is not fit for purpose. The Minister has heard that loud and clear. I welcome what he has said today about the consultations that will take place. He says women will have more time. Well, unfortunately, in the CervicalCheck scandal, many women did not have more time, and that was the issue.

This needs to be addressed once and for all. Trust needs to be earned. The Minister needs to fix this and do so now.

I have spoken about trust. I raised the affordability of the HPV vaccine on 15 December, 13 January, 26 April and 6 May. I ask the Minister to listen to me again today. There are women who cannot afford this. Some have been medically advised by their consultants and doctors. They do not have medical cards. The €600 being demanded for the HPV vaccine is not right. Can the Minister include it in the drugs payment scheme, at a minimum? It should be free. I am not asking for it for everybody. I know the programme is there but I keep getting back benign answers to my questions. There are women who cannot afford this €600 who do not have medical cards. I know that the Minister will say this is NIAC advice and so on but he is the Minister and the buck stops with him. Will he give the HPV vaccine to those who are medically deemed to need it by the medical practitioners?

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