Catherine Noone (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is an issue on which we must stand up and be counted. It will get completely out of control if it is not called out in some way. I apologise to the Cathaoirleach, but I have not been able to get here for a while and briefly wish to raise another point.

I attended the launch of the National Women's Council of Ireland's document, Every Woman. It is a very important one. I will not go into it for obvious reasons, but it is something on which the Leader might facilitate a debate in due course, perhaps once the Joint Committee on the Eight Amendment of the Constitution has conducted its business, because at that point everybody will be keen to air his or her views. The document is not just about the issues with which the committee is dealing, which I know that the Leader does not want to have discussed. It is for that reason that I will not go into it. I compliment the National Women's Council of Ireland, but I will park the issue, perhaps until after the committee has reported. At that point the Leader might facilitate a debate on women's health issues, including issues about which many men are afraid to hear such as breastfeeding and general women's health issues, issues which to a large extent have been brushed under the carpet for many years.