Sharon Keogan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Senator Cassells referred to those of us who go to church weekly. There is certainly less risk involved in going to mass than there is in going to a public house, a football match or down to the hotel to get dinner on a Sunday. Most churches are very well policed as regards Covid-19 regulations. There is much less risk involved in attending church and it is a shame that those of faith cannot now participate in mass.

Today is 7 October, the second anniversary of the sad passing of Emma Mhic Mhathúna, who died of cervical cancer at the age of 37. The tragedy of her death was magnified by the fact that she was the mother of five children. To date this year, 39,000 women have been screened for cervical cancer, in stark contrast with the 206,000 who were screened last year. I know that we are in Covid-19 times but many more women will pass away because they have not been screened in time.

In the few seconds I have left, I would like to address the exchange in the Dáil yesterday between our Taoiseach and the Independent Deputy for Kerry, Deputy Michael Healy-Rae. I was very disturbed by it, to tell the truth. I did not like the manner in which the Taoiseach sneered - that is all it can be described as - and looked down on the Independent Deputy. We all go to mass on a Sunday and have people coming to us no matter where we are, even queuing in a shop. People will always come to us and ask us to do stuff for them. I thought the manner in which the Taoiseach spoke to the elected Deputy for Kerry yesterday was extremely disrespectful towards him. I just wanted to put that on the record of the House.