Eileen Flynn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am sharing time with Senator Higgins. I welcome the Minister to the House. We in the Civil Engagement Group support this Bill, although we feel it is a little rushed. I will make some points around the inequalities that still exist when it comes to health in Ireland today. I hope we will soon see the implementation of other vitally important elements of Sláintecare, including mental health and prenatal mental health services. As a young woman who has just had a baby and who has suffered from postnatal depression, I can categorically tell the Minister that the services for women going through prenatal depression are invisible, especially for women at the very end of Irish society. Our system continues to underperform around maternity care for women in Ireland.We cannot have anything less than full national implementation of the maternity strategy, which is still chronically underfunded. We are looking for better services and prenatal supports, including health, better development in midwifery, breastfeeding, parenting, and all the supports that go with having a baby and which are needed after having a child.

As a Traveller woman, I note that Traveller women live 12 years less than women in the general population, while Traveller men live 15 years less than men in the general population. Many chronic issues impact on vulnerable groups in Irish society, not only in the Traveller community but also those at the very end of society, such as working-class people, refugees and migrants. We are also looking for equal access to these services and ask that every child and community will have equal access to them. I fully support this Bill. I hope we will see the Minister in the coming months and that we will be able to tease out some further policies and Bills for those at the very end of Irish society.