Maire Devine (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I echo Senator Ruane's sentiments. Home ownership is way out of reach for the next generation and the three possibilities for gaining money are also out of reach.

Yesterday, my party colleagues, Deputy Louise O'Reilly and Orla Flynn, MLA, hosted a briefing on the transvaginal mesh and the stories of the brave warriors, mesh survivors, were truly shocking. This device has been recognised in other countries as extremely risky and unreliable as evidenced in many EU and international medical studies. The product has effectively been banned in New Zealand and Australia. Last year, however, in this country, hundreds of women underwent the procedure.

We heard from a consultant gynaecologist yesterday that this is indicative of the grip that the medical products industry has on the profession, profiteering from human suffering. There was full consensus in the room yesterday among the women that they were ignored and dismissed by their doctors when they reported severe pain from the operation. We have often heard of women not being trusted when they describe their experiences and again recently in other debates. Will the Leader outline the Government's plans to address this serious issue? An Taoiseach could not provide an answer yesterday in the Dáil. I hope that today the Leader will get a response and request the Minister of Health to address this issue in the Seanad.