Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his reply. The Fast-Track Cities initiative, which he mentioned, is an important part of what we are trying to achieve in our fight against HIV and AIDS. The interesting thing is that the funding has been approved, notwithstanding the remarks of the Minister of State. The key point I want to make is there is a need to have a resolution to the post being filled. As the Minister of State said, the service has been closed to new PrEP users since 4 October and will remain closed. I hope the Minister of State will impress upon the HSE the urgency and importance of this service and this facility. I hope this will be prioritised in real time, not in HSE time because that can go on forever, as we know. I do not mean to be rude or disparaging when I say that, but there is a need to progress the good work being done to ensure we meet our commitments in the sexual health strategy. Our second city is not open as a PrEP facility for men who require this service, and we cannot allow that to continue. I appeal to the Minister of State to use his powers to fast-track the recruitment of a new clinical nurse manager. As he knows, the HSE can take forever to fill a post. I hope it will not be that way in this case. I thank the Minister of State for his commitment and support and for being here this morning. I appreciate the work he is doing in the Department.