Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I want to speak about an issue I have been discussing recently with Noelle O'Connor, the brand creator of The Kind Brand Company. She has been working with Kelsey O'Donnell, the head clinical nurse, and Dr. Shirley Potter from the Mater hospital skin cancer unit in relation to skin cancer. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in Ireland. A total of 13,000 cases are diagnosed every year, which is expected to double by 2040. We have a high rate of diagnosis and, sadly, a high mortality rate. The situation is alarming. We need proactive preventative measures. The recognition of sun protection factor, SPF, as an essential item and exempting it from VAT would make it more affordable and more widely used and would play a crucial role in combating skin cancer. It is an important ask. The UK did that relatively recently. As we approach election time, I call for support to make SPF moisturisers and different types of product VAT-free. We rightly did the same with period products. It is time to look at this now.

I also raise an issue of public safety, policing and our wider judicial system in Kildare. I recently attended a community gardaí meeting in Newbridge. We had almost 200 people there. I did not have to go to the meeting to know and understand that people do not feel safe in their communities in Newbridge, on the streets or in their own homes. We need to look at a wide range of different interventions that we can make. Looking at the judicial system, we only have one judge for the District Court in Kildare, who has to deal with thousands of cases every single week. Some relate to family law and there are significant delays. I know from discussing this with gardaí that they are frustrated with the system. I have called before and am calling again for another judge to be assigned to County Kildare with its growing population. We also need to have new legislation to reduce the bar of what antisocial behaviour is defined as. It is difficult for the gardaí and for others to deal with that.

Lastly, as spokesperson for education, it is important to state that Fórsa is rolling out a good call about extending permanency to school caretakers and looking for pension rights for caretakers and secretaries in schools. It is important that we support that.