Brian Stanley (Laois, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I wish to ask about the commitment in the budget last October to provide free hormone replacement therapy, HRT, for women. We are told that pharmacies and the State are in deadlock over the provision of HRT. Pharmacies have indicated that they were not consulted about this. Women still have to pay for HRT despite the commitment given by the Government last October. Brigid is a widow who has no medical card. She had to skip HRT. She is 61 years of age and cannot afford it. Sinead in Laois said that she is just about able to afford HRT and GP appointments but that her heart goes out to those women who cannot do so. Many women have contacted me who cannot afford HRT. A Kildare woman informed me that one of the reasons she voted for the Government parties of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael was because of the commitment to provide HRT. She said, "I now feel foolish for believing them." Will the Government try to get the problem solved for those women who need HRT?

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