Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

A lot of evidence has been given to the committee since I left the position of Chair. Let us consider the whole issue.

As many as 250 million vaccines have been administered worldwide, 660,000 of which have been administered in Ireland. In Australia there has been a 70% reduction in the level of cervical cancer for females who availed of the vaccine. I understood and have heard the testimony of the children, young women, young girls and parents involved. I do not belittle their testimony and understand their frustration at how their world has completely changed but vaccination programmes work. The decline in the take-up of the HPV vaccination is a source of worry for us for the future. I am happy to arrange a debate on the matter in the House and will invite the Minister to attend because we have nothing to fear. If there are issues to address in regard to the comments made by the Senators opposite then I wish to adapt. It is important that we present the full works and that is what I hope we can do.