Paul Lawless (Mayo, Aontú) | Oireachtas source

It is unacceptable that women in their thirties have to wait so long for a proper diagnosis. It is unfair and wrong. A total of 44% of women undergoing IVF are actually silent sufferers of endometriosis. We must address this. We need to ensure that the national framework happens. The Endometriosis Association of Ireland is doing great work, but right now there is no pathway and it is causing major difficulties.

We need to ensure that we have a national framework. The framework should address issues regarding education, awareness, a pathway referral system for GPs and specialists who are trained in dealing with this. Many women are actually going abroad to access treatment because we do not have any significant facilities in this country. I urge the Minister of State to ensure that the framework happens and that it happens in a speedy fashion because it is unacceptable that women have to wait until they are well into their thirties in some cases before they realise and are diagnosed with this disease.

I also raise the issue of the means test. By and large, it is the women of Ireland who do the bulk of caring - caring for children who may have disabilities, for elderly parents, etc. - and it is incredibly unfair on these women who have to give up their work, oftentimes their social lives as well, that they do not receive a cent from the State for doing amazing work for their families and great work for our community, work that has a huge economic benefit as well. These women are means tested off the strength of their husband's salaries. That is unfair and it predominantly affects women in this country. I ask the Minister to please remove the means test for carers, address the issues in endometriosis and ensure that we have a national framework for sufferers.

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