Fintan Warfield (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I will begin by referencing the ridiculous comparison drawn by Senator McDowell between gambling and alcohol with voting. One has a negative impact while the other has a positive impact.

I rise today to say that we need a national AIDS memorial. Today, HIV Ireland marks its 30th anniversary. Since 1987, the organisation has championed sex education and focused on improving services and conditions for people who live with HIV and their caregivers. HIV Ireland held a conference this morning that was attended by the Minister of State, Deputy Catherine Byrne. At the event the organisation called for a national AIDS memorial to be created. As many as 35 million people have died from AIDS worldwide and, tragically, people are still dying of AIDS. As many as 8,000 in Ireland have been diagnosed with the disease since the early 1980s. Although treatment has improved a significant stigma remains around being HIV positive.

Ireland should joined regions like New York city and Toronto that have created beautiful visual memorials. We should create a memorial to maintain and preserve our heritage. Let us end the stigma in Ireland and live in a healthier present and be at peace. I ask that we move forward towards a consultation process where we do all we can to encourage a conversation in civil society and achieve these goals in the next five or so years. I ask the Leader to support my request for a debate in this Chamber with the Minister of State present. Such a debate would allow progress to be made. It would recognise the lives lost and the grief and sorrow of those left behind. It would also allow us to combat the present stigma and discrimination.