Garret Ahearn (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for the response, but this is the response I would have received a year ago. There are women listening to the debate today to hear what answer is going to be given from the Department. Basically, the response today is a load of rubbish. How many Ministers are there in the Department of Health? People will ask me today why no Minister from the Department of Health was here. Of course, it is no reflection on the Minister of State, Deputy Collins. He is a great Minister of State in his Department. How many Ministers do we need in the Department of Health for one of them to come here and answer a question on why women cannot receive the same treatment? What they tell me is that if this was a men's condition, one could be damned sure that the issue would be resolved. Why can women not receive the same treatment and respect, at least in this Chamber, for Ministers from the Department of Health to come here and answer genuine questions from people who are actually in Government with them?