Nikki Bradley (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for her time. I am conscious that she has covered some of the things I am going to mention but I will cover them anyway.

This week, we celebrate the strength, resilience and achievements of women across Ireland, but as we take pride in our progress, we must also confront the gaps that have a profound impact on women's lives. Today, I am addressing the gaps in women's healthcare. Women in Ireland are more likely than men to experience delays in diagnosis and longer waiting times for treatment. Conditions that predominantly affect women, such as endometriosis, autoimmune disorders and certain rare diseases, often receive less research funding and clinical attention. For women with disabilities, the barriers are even steeper with inaccessible clinics and a system that sometimes fails to understand their unique needs. Although the issue of rare diseases may seem abstract, the term is a misnomer.With thousands of diseases classified as rare, the total number of individuals - I say "individuals", as it is not just women - estimated to be afflicted with these conditions is one in 17. That is 300,000 men, women and children in Ireland, so not so rare after all. There is growing evidence that women with rare diseases are offered less comprehensive care than their male counterparts. Historical biases and a lack of gender-specific studies contribute to delays in diagnosis and fewer treatment options tailored to women. We must do better. We must ensure that healthcare providers are fully equipped to recognise and treat rare diseases in women just as effectively as in men.

As a Donegal woman – I always like to throw that in – the impact of an under-resourced healthcare system is especially clear in the north west. While Letterkenny University Hospital boasts dedicated and skilled professionals, resource limitations mean that women in the region face longer waiting times and fewer specialist services. Whether a woman lives in Donegal, Dublin or Kerry, her health should be prioritised equally without geographic bias.

Today, I call for a greater investment in women's health research to ensure that conditions affecting women receive the attention they deserve. I also call for stronger support for women with disabilities, by making healthcare facilities accessible and inclusive. In addition, I call for a commitment to rare disease care so that the roughly 150,000 Irish women affected are provided with timely expert treatment. Last, I call for equitable resource allocation across all regions so that no woman's quality of life is dictated by where she lives. Healthcare is not a privilege, it is a right. On this day, let us commit to building a system that truly works for all women because when women are healthy, our families communities and societies thrive.