Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

When she goes to her GP, she should be able to avail of whatever he or she recommends as the best form of contraception. Not being able to do so because she does not have the resources should not be an option.

It is very welcome that this measure has been introduced up to the age of 25. Perhaps we could look at increasing the age in future budgets. The initiative is very welcome. It is a vote of confidence in the women of Ireland. It is creating the type of equality that we all strive for, namely, equality of access to healthcare. It is on the back of what the Minister has done in terms of period poverty and in other areas as well. Even during the pandemic, we were in here introducing legislation that sometimes went under the radar but made a real difference to the lives of people, in particular women on the margins. We heard some horrendous stories about people who suffered from period poverty prior to the measures being introduced. No citizen should have to be in that situation. Similarly, no female should be in a situation where she cannot avail of the best form of appropriate contraception. That is very welcome.

While I am on my feet, I commend what has been done in terms of the human papillomavirus, HPV, vaccine. I raised it on many occasions with the Minister and I pushed hard to ensure that the HPV catch-up programme would be free of charge. It is very welcome that this has happened. Again, it is another incremental step in support of women and creating equality. Some people who were hesitant about their young girls getting vaccinated in first year in school, regretted it, but then they could not access the programme. I spoke to one woman who is known to both the Minister and I, who ended up having to pay €1,200 to get her three daughters vaccinated because she did not avail of the catch-up programme. Luckily, she was in a position where she could afford it, but there were many who could not. Numerous people contacted my office when I previously raised this issue publicly. We were able to get back to all of them and say that hopefully by September there will be a catch-up programme in place. I commend the Minister on that.

We are always advocating on behalf of citizens and sometimes it can be difficult and challenging, but when things are done I will be the very first one to stand up and commend them, because we are all here to try to do the right thing. The ultimate aim of all of us is to achieve the ambition of Sláintecare, which is free healthcare for all. I am pleased the Bill is not being opposed because in this House our Sinn Féin colleagues, and all our other colleagues, are committed to what we are committed to, which is ensuring that we will eventually have the best healthcare service in Europe, if not in the world.