Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I support the Order of Business as outlined by the Leader.It will give me great pleasure, on my behalf and on behalf of Senator Ardagh, to move that leave be given to introduce the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2023, "a Bill entitled an Act to provide for the establishment of a body, to be known in the Irish language as An Coiste Comhairleach um Chóireáil Atáirgthe Dhaonna Chuidithe or in the English language as the Assisted Human Reproduction Treatment Advisory Committee, to advise on criteria for eligibility for financial assistance with assisted human reproduction treatment and to provide for related matters." I move that this Bill, No. 23 on the Order Paper, be taken before No. 1. This is important legislation on which Senator Ardagh and I have been working on for the past two years. We all have family or friends who have struggled with infertility and we all know the huge emotional and financial cost that has. Senator Ardagh and strongly believe the least the State can do is to help support the financial cost, which is what the Bill aims to do.

I have come from facilitating a meeting with a group in the audiovisual room around the whole area of dementia human rights. I congratulate St. Joseph’s Shankill, a leading butterfly model centre for those living with dementia. It undertook research with five other countries into human rights for people with dementia and the need to respect people with dementia and have a value-based approach to treating them. We must always remember the person first and not look at the dementia first. The work the centre has done is incredible. As policymakers, we need to take this on board. Communities and society need to have a value-led approach towards treating people who have dementia with respect and dignity and listening to their voices.

Some of the asks have been on the need to produce adult safeguarding legislation. There is none in place and it is important that the House work on that. The terms of reference of a care commission are being drawn up. It cannot come soon enough and, likewise, the referendum. I ask Senators to note that.

With regard to the Women of Honour report, the documentary programme on the Women of Honour sent shock waves throughout the military and defence community, in particular, in south Kildare where many members of that community reside. It was a damning account by female soldiers on active duty and retired. The Tánaiste and Minister for Defence, Deputy Micheál Martin, met the group to discuss the upcoming report yesterday. I understand that was a productive and constructive meeting. I pay tribute to those who acted as whistleblowers. I do not want to pre-empt the findings of the report but it is important that the Seanad take note of it and have a discussion on it.