Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I spoke here yesterday on the number of people on trolleys on the hospital in Limerick. It was 97 yesterday and it is 111 today. The call I made yesterday for an immediate independent investigation has been strengthened by the sad news of 111 people on trolleys in Limerick.

January is cervical cancer awareness month. We all know how important the HPV vaccine is. Thankfully, there is a greater culture in this country of taking vaccines as a result of Covid-19. If greater numbers of people are embracing vaccination as an result of Covid-19, that is a good thing. Over the years there has been a certain hesitancy around the HPV vaccine. Good people were hesitant, had concerns and did not allow their children to be vaccinated. Now that they have changed their minds, they are being charged between €400 and €600 for a catch-up vaccination. That is totally unacceptable. I tabled a Commencement matter on this about six months ago. The Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, following discussions with the Minister for Health, replied to the question by saying that they were going to abolish the catch-up fees. Sadly that has not happened yet. I ask the Leader to contact the Minister of State and the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, to establish when there will be a free catch-up programme for those who want to get the HPV vaccine. It is critical. There has been a commitment to it in the House but unfortunately it was not followed up. I ask the Leader to find out when the commitment that was made in this House in good faith will be delivered on.