Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

However, when one is in government, sometimes one must try to prepare today to do things tomorrow. That is what the Minister wishes to do. He is in no way against the principle of what Senator Norris is trying to achieve or the ethos of the Bill. The Bill is framed on people's experiences. The best legislation that comes before the House is legislation that is framed on the life experience of citizens. I commend Senator Norris for that.

Today is 30 September. If Laura Brennan was still alive, she would be 28 years of age. Today is her birthday. Everyone in the House will be aware of the phenomenal contribution she made to society. For the last 18 months of her life, she campaigned for people to raise awareness. She shared her story to raise awareness of what the HPV vaccine can do and what can be achieved if people take it. When Laura embarked on her campaign in 2016 or early 2017, 50% of the age category for whom the vaccine is appropriate availed of it. Last year, 81% of young people of the appropriate age availed of the vaccine. I am glad to say that in County Clare, Laura's native county and also my county, that figure was 90%. On her birthday, I reiterate my comments on the Order of Business this morning.It would be a fitting and most appropriate tribute to the tireless work of Laura and her memory if we could get that figure to 100% and if every parent realised that vaccines save lives and administering a vaccine to his or her child of 12 or 13 years could preventing cancer a few years later.

I listened to what my friend and colleague, Senator Clifford-Lee, said about her two beautiful children and the vaccines she has availed of. There is an old saying, which I am sure the Leas-Chathaoirleach has often heard, that prevention is better than cure. Investment in prevention is better than trying to find the money to create the cure. That is thinking long term. Unfortunately, thinking long term is not politically expedient and does not feed the monster of social media, but vaccination ensures that people's sons and daughters will benefit when they grow up. They may not even know they benefit through being vaccinated against the awful evil that could land on their doorstep.

Senator Norris's Bill aims to identify illnesses at an early age. When illnesses, challenges and disabilities can be identified at an early age, it is amazing what early intervention can do. In this country, four out of five people who go blind or lose their sight do so unnecessarily. It is because they do not have their eyes checked and the onset of conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma and retinitis pigmentosa are not identified. If people had their eyes checked regularly, they would get the interventions they needed. As a result, 80% of the people who go blind in this country every year would not go blind.

As a society, we need to have a conversation about health checks. The statistics show that females are more likely to get their health checked than males. Deputy John Paul Phelan, our great colleague and friend in this House for many years, gave an interview on RTÉ Radio 1 on Sunday last in which he spoke about his near-death experience and the obvious benefits of early intervention and regular medical checks.

Senator Norris, as always, must be commended. I have yet to see the Senator bring a Bill before this House that did not make sense. This one makes absolute sense. I have no doubt the Minister will agree with my sentiments. As always, however, we want to make sure the engine of the car is working. I urge the Senator to accept the Government amendment because it is planted in logic and the need for work to be done to ensure the common goal we all aspire to is achieved through his Bill. I know Senator Norris is man of common sense. I sat with him in the Seanad Chamber for 200 hours when we discussed the awful Bill on judicial appointments and he made a great deal of sense on that legislation.