Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South-Central, Sinn Fein)

Fáiltím go bhfuil na ráitis seo ar siúl inniu. Is ábhar dár gcóras sláinte nach bhfuair go leor airde thar na blianta is ar cóir go bhfaigheadh sé. Is léir go bhfuil difríocht mhór ann ó thaobh na ngalar a tholgann fir agus cé chomh tinn a éiríonn siad, go mór mór ó thaobh na meabhairshláinte ach go leor ábhar eile. Tá an dá ghné thábhachtach ó thaobh na mban agus na hábhair sláinte atá tábhachtach dóibh siúd. Tá ábhar sláinte faoi leith atá an-bhainteach leo. Tá gá go mbeadh plean faoi leith ansin. Ach tá sé fíor d'fhir freisin.

I welcome these statements. This is an area of our healthcare - men's health - that has not got enough attention over the years. It clearly should. There are clearly significant differences and particular issues that relate to men. It is appropriate that we have a focus on women's health and the various issues particular to women, for example, reproductive rights and supports for that, but it is right that the particular issues facing men are focused on as well.

We see two in five men in Ireland will die before the age of 75. Men account for four out of every five suicide deaths in Ireland. Men are 34% more likely to die from cancer than women. It is clearly right that there is a particular strategy and set of policies that are required. I acknowledge "The Real Face of Men's Health" report, published by the National Centre for Men's Health at SETU, which identified the extent to which men died from preventable diseases and that the preventable diseases in men cost Ireland more than €700 million in 2023 alone.

Several of the issues relate to cancer and the extent to which particular cancers affect men. While men die from them, mortality is not the only thing we should be looking at. Sometimes, the treatment and effects or side-effects of that can cause huge quality-of-life issues, and this needs consideration. I also acknowledge the very welcome initiative that exists in terms of Movember and the work that has been done in that context as regards prostate cancer and other cancers.

To briefly make two further points, it is worth saying that, ultimately, we will continue to have these issues unless we tackle the social issues underpinning them. An awful lot of men I meet in my constituency office are struggling with housing issues, which is contributing to the mental pressures and the loneliness they face. They are either not able to begin their lives or they have ended up in emergency accommodation towards the end of their lives. We have to tackle the social issues. Like so many other issues in terms of men's health and men's mental health, the housing crisis has a huge impact on that.

See this speech in context