Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I support the Order of Business as outlined by the Leader. I wish to put two issues on the record. At 3 p.m., on behalf of the Fianna Fáil Party, I will launch the women's health policy. It is a culmination of ten months of work by me, other female Oireachtas Members and councillors. We have made over 103 recommendations, engaged with more than 30 organisations, conducted two national surveys and held a national conference on women's health. A huge amount of work has gone into putting this policy document together. The launch will take place at 3 p.m. in Buswells Hotel and I invite all colleagues to attend so they can hear some of the issues.

One of the things that arose very strongly and clearly in our surveys, and at our conference, was that many women feel that they are not listened to, that they are not an equal or active partner in the provision of their healthcare, and that they are often disrespected or dismissed when it comes to raising genuine health concerns. A huge amount of work has been done in the space of women's healthcare. I acknowledge that the Minister for Health published the safe access zones legislation earlier today. He has committed to providing free contraception to 17- to 25-year-olds, and that legislation is going through the House today. He has also committed to publicly fund IVF treatment. A great deal of work has been done by the Minister for Health in the area of women's healthcare. I acknowledge his great work in that regard.

Why is it important to have a women's health policy as opposed to just a general health policy? We, as politicians, all know that policy informs everything we do in public life. It is how we get things resourced, funded and committed to by Government. I hope that other parties will follow suit. Fianna Fáil is the first party in the State to have a stand-alone policy on women's health. This initiative will lead to greater investment and focus on all aspects of women healthcare, ranging from menstrual health to reproductive years, pregnancy, menopause and everything in between. There are many aspects that must be dealt with. I sincerely thank all of the Fianna Fáil councillors who contributed and who worked with me on this policy over the past ten months. I also thank all of my colleagues in Leinster House. More importantly, I thank the citizens who engaged in our surveys and conference. I thank all of the organisations that worked with us, met us as a group, and contributed so positively to the policy. Everyone is more than welcome to join the launch of the policy document in the hotel across the road.

I acknowledge that the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Coveney, along with all of his Cabinet colleagues, and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Michael McGrath, will seek approval at Cabinet to increase our defence spending from the current €1.1 billion to €1.5 billion by 2028, which is two years earlier than recommended by the Commission on the Future of the Defence Forces. I welcome increased spending, but we are still not on a par with other European countries. We still spend far less. Our citizens want to see us do more to protect the State and its assets, and protect a lot of the companies, businesses and citizens who are here and who need protection for many reasons. We are long overdue a discussion on the Defence Forces. Perhaps we will have one in the autumn session when we get an opportunity in order that we can discuss the increased spending, where the money will be spent and the Commission on the Future of the Defence Forces and the recommendations it made.