Mary Fitzpatrick (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Murnane O'Connor, for coming to the House. Déanaim comhghairdeas leis an Aire Stáit on her appointment. I am sure she will be very successful in her new position. I am disappointed that the senior Minister is not here to take this matter. but I genuinely appreciate the Minister of State's time and the support from the Department.

I am seeking two things. First, I am seeking clarity on what actions the Department and the Minister are taking to resolve the supply side shortages relating to hormone replacement therapy, HRT. Second, I am looking for an update on the provision of free HRT, which has been promised by the Government. It is not an overstatement to say that the supply side shortages relating to HRT are giving rise to significant issues for patients, doctors and pharmacists. This is causing significant distress, worry and expense for those who depend on HRT, for the physicians who prescribe it and for the pharmacists who dispense it. HRT is a lifeline for women. It is not an overstatement to say that it saves women's lives, protects their mental and physical health and saves their social and professional lives. In addition, HRT salvages and saves long-term relationships for many women and men. The importance of HRT cannot really be overstated.

Women comprise half the population. As a result, half of the population will go through menopause at some point in their lives. It is only right that this Government has committed to provide HRT free to those women. It is also right that the Government, the State and the Department take action to ensure there are sufficient supplies of HRT.

When women are prescribed HRT, it is not the case that one size fits all. Every woman's physiology is different. It can be an iterative process. Women who do not have medical cards have to pay for GP visits and prescription fees when it comes to HRT. The dosage can change. When a woman goes to her local pharmacy and the pharmacist does not have the prescribed dosage, there is then a need to try to make up the difference. The cut patches and prescribe gels instead of patches or tablets instead of gels.

It is creating great uncertainty, distress and expense, all the while undermining women's health and their ability to enjoy full and happy relationships, participate fully in the workforce and participate fully socially and culturally.

I hope the Minister of State has been sent to this House with an answer on the actions that are being taken to address the supply-side shortages, but also to ensure that free HRT is made available to everyone. The previous Minister, Stephen Donnelly, and the previous Government must be commended. The Minister of State and I worked on this and Fianna Fáil was the first political party to bring forward a women's health policy. We are very proud to have the proposals we made in that policy adopted by the previous Government, including free contraception and free IVF and fertility treatments and the establishment of menopause and gynaecological clinics. All of those were groundbreaking and historic innovations which were revolutionary for women's health. This Government must continue that work. I hope the Minister of State has been sent here today with word from the senior Minister in the Department that work is under way to address supply-side shortages and ensure the free roll-out of HRT takes place promptly.