Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)

I welcome all the endo-warriors who are with us, and their families. I commend them on their fight and on standing up. I also offer my sympathies to them because I know many of them came here tonight in pain.

The Minister knows she should withdraw the amendment but just in case she is under any illusions, I spoke to these women and these are the words they use to describe her amendment. They call it "sickening", "inaccurate" and "insulting". The Minister can press on with an amendment that is "sickening", "inaccurate" and "insulting" if she will but she should know that if she does so, she does it to the women in the Gallery.

I was diagnosed with endometriosis when I was 24 years of age. I was lucky because I got an answer to what was wrong with me, or I thought I had, why I was always in so much pain every month, and why my husband had to lift me up off the floor when I was crippled with it. I went to a doctor for assistance and I was gaslit. It is a bit like the Minister's amendment. I was gaslit. I was told:

Would you have another baby? Would you chance another baby? That might help. Do you know what? Would you give the Mirena coil a go? Sure that might do something for you. Is it uncomfortable?

No, it was bloody agony and I will never, ever forget the way the doctor made me feel. I shared that experience because it is a collective one.

The Minister knows her amendment is wrong and that it is shameful, sickening and insulting. She knows that because it is what these women are telling her. It is shocking that almost 30 years later, precious little seems to have changed. I ask the Minister to withdraw her amendment, work with the Opposition and deliver the care these women need and deserve.

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