Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Míle Buíochas, a Chathaoirligh Gníomhaigh. I welcome the Minister of State to the House today, World AIDS Day. This is a worldwide health day with the theme of global solidarity and shared responsibility in fighting the stigma of HIV and AIDS in our country and in the world. I tabled this matter and I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing both myself and Senator Warfield to raised two different Commencement matters on World AIDS Day on sexual health strategy, which for the current five-year period is about to expire. I hope it just does not run out and that the next strategy is consultative because it is important that we renew our focus on tackling HIV through rapid testing, accessibility and collaboration between all the stakeholders involved and the NGOs. In particular, I pay tribute to the sexual health clinic in Cork and HIV Ireland for the work that they are doing. I also want to thank the State agencies under the remit of the Minister of State and to compliment him on the work that he is doing as Minister of State in the time that he has been in this position. I know that he has been very proactive on this particular issue.

The sexual health and crisis pregnancy programme has helped to fund and provide seed capital to meet our aspirations under Healthy Ireland to tackle the stigma of HIV and to reduce the numbers. The rates for this year are on a par with previous years and there is a worry about the trends. Our focus must be on achieving the goals and on maintaining funding. As a country we have signed up to Fast-Track Cities, the global partnership with the 90-90-90 outlook and outcome, and we all must be committed to making testing easier, to know our status while community testing must be made available, awareness raised, and the stigma that still exists in the context of HIV reduced.

In the context of Cork, I pay tribute to the staff and leadership of the Sexual Health Centre who are doing Trojan work during this pandemic with the outreach, support programme and counselling that has been available. Their HIV sexually transmitted infection, STI, clinic has been open throughout the pandemic. It is a facility and service available to people and the clinic must be commended on this.

Our urban centres may not be an issue - Senator Warfield will have a Commencement matter on a particular issue shortly - but visibility in rural settings is one that needs to be addressed as to equity of service, and availability and access to services. I was asked by somebody whether an eircode was the decisive feature in access to service. I certainly hope that it is not.

I also commend HIV Ireland, which has been to the forefront in our battle and response to HIV and AIDS for more than four decades. In reflecting, as many of us do, and remembering our many friends we have lost, we recognise today that we are in a better place as a country because in the furtive early years, a social policy was being led and changed by NGOs and activists. Today, this is now Government-led. That is why the red ribbon, the symbol of HIV-AIDS awareness, is one that we should be proud to wear. I thank the Minister of State for being present and I look forward to his response. Our journey continues and I am very proud to see that he is present to wear the jersey in this battle and quest. I genuinely believe that we are lucky to have him as Minister of State as I know him a long time as a person with a genuine commitment to people.