Pauline O'Reilly (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

It is good to be here in the convention centre again, where Deputies have been sitting. Contrary to some perceptions, it is not costing the State any more money. It is being paid for today because Deputies are in later today.

Often I stand up here and speak about breastfeeding, periods and the different stages in the lives of women. One thing I have not spoken about is something I was alerted to yesterday. There is a conversation ongoing in Irish society about the menopause. The fact is that we do not talk about it in this Chamber despite the fact that it has been on "Liveline" for several days. This shows that people are afraid to speak about some things relating to the health of women. It is not only mothers who go through the menopause. Fully 50% of the country are impacted. It is time we had a proper conversation about it. It is time we brought it into all our healthcare debates. People are joining a particular Facebook group in droves. They are saying they do not understand fully what is happening to them for many years. They say general practitioners are not fully educated around hormone replacement therapy or anything else for that matter. A high proportion - up to 10% - of women who are suffering symptoms actually leave work as a result of the menopause. When then go to the doctor, this is not really recognised. They may need a sick certificate for a certain period. Do their employers recognise the impact this is having on them? The impacts range across mental and physical health and can be really debilitating. I would like those of us making up the Chamber to speak about it more. There are many recommendations we could put forward to the Minister for Health to take on board and recognise what so many women are going through.

I wish to make another point about reproductive health and abortion. I agree wholeheartedly with Senator Bacik. I am stunned that Senator Mullen continues to say we should have a conversation where it is 50:50. The people have already voted on this issue. We have abortion in this country. It was very much needed and people looked for it for a long time.

I look forward to the review of the legislation but we have to put stakeholders front and centre. These include those who had been leaving the country for a long time and those who continue to leave the country because they do not have everything they need here. Let us have stakeholders - those who are actually impacted by terminations - front and centre when it comes to reviewing this legislation.