Tom Clonan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire go dtí an Teach. Déanaim comhghairdeas leí. I have not seen her since her appointment. I am delighted for her. I know she will be very good in the role.

I wish a happy International Women's Day to all of our colleagues and all those watching. I owe so much to the women in my life, including my mother for giving birth to me. "Thank you, mum". May she rest in peace.

I want to talk about a concern that has been raised with me specifically in the context of women's health by two paediatric surgeons. It relates to the urological waiting lists at Children's Health Ireland. This is an issue that impacts predominantly disabled girls and young women.People will be aware of the issues around the scoliosis waiting lists, and the fact that we have children, boys and girls, who are not getting the surgical interventions they need within the therapeutic window. There are hundreds of boys and girls on the urological waitlist list and 40% of the girls and young teenagers and, in fact, young women on that waitlist qualify for or need what is called the transitional urology programme because for certain disability issues and certain diagnoses like cerebral palsy, for example, although there are other issues, young women and girls experience congenital anatomical changes in their genitalia and reproductive organs. This is a cohort of young disabled girls and Irish teenagers who have to go through all the pathways of adolescence. Members all remember when they were teenagers and how difficult that can be, but to be a disabled girl, adolescent or young woman, it is even more difficult.

Compounding that is the lack of the transitional model of care that is commonplace in other jurisdictions. For example, it has been in the NHS for 23 years, since 2002, and it has been rolled out in the United States since 2005, so it is international best practice, and it is long recognised. It is not happening here. These girls and teenagers need to have a consult with a urological surgeon and then to have surgery within two and a half years at an absolute maximum to have vaginal reconstruction. If they do not get that, they will suffer from higher cancer risks - I am talking about multiples - of bowel, ovarian and bladder cancers, infertility, incontinence and all the psychosexual problems that go with not having these key interventions. Within the lifetime of this Government, this is an area in which the Minister could really make a difference with regard to our disabled women and girls.