Teresa Costello (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for coming to the House. In the week that we celebrate International Women's Day, I am glad to say that we are witnessing a shift. Women are rising up and finding their voices, and no longer accept a substandard approach to their healthcare. We are demanding and achieving better services and care. Above all, we are demanding to be heard when it comes to our health.

For far too long, certain aspects of women's health were not discussed openly. This may have been due to embarrassment or an ingrained belief that such issues were private matters, topics to be whispered about or not spoken of at all. The more we speak out, though, the more we push back against the circle of silence and break the silence. For example, menopause was simply referred to as "the change" for generations, a term that barely captured the emotional and physical toll it takes on a woman. Many women suffered through this difficult phase of life without understanding what was happening to their bodies, without any resources and without anyone to talk to. They often felt alone, isolated and uncertain. Thankfully, things are changing. Conversations are happening. There is more information available now and the stigma is slowly being erased. The introduction of menopause hubs is a positive step, but we need more of these initiatives. We need to continue to ensure that women have the support and care they deserve during this stage of life.

In the previous Dáil term, under the former Minister, Stephen Donnelly, significant steps were taken towards improving women's healthcare. The introduction of the first ever women's health action plan, the delivery of essential services such as menopause clinics, free contraception, fertility hubs, same-day see and treat gynaecology clinics, specialist endometriosis centres and postnatal hubs. These are incredibly important steps, but they are just the beginning. More is needed and we must keep pushing for further improvements.

One area I am particularly passionate about is breast cancer care. I welcome the recent standardisation of access to post-mastectomy and hair loss products. Lowering the age for free breast cancer screening and improving diagnostic services for young women presenting with signs of breast cancer is something I will fight for and I will not stop until we achieve it. I do not want any more women in their 20s and 30s being diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer because they had to wait for months on end for a simple scan, giving cancer the time to progress to a terminal illness.Every woman, regardless of her age, deserves timely and accurate diagnosis because early detection saves lives. Women are no longer silent. We are standing together demanding the changes we deserve and we will not settle for anything less. We also know that the work is not finished. Too many women have been let down by the lack of education, screening and diagnostic services and that must change.

As someone who has faced a serious illness that predominantly affects women, I want to share a piece of advice with you all. You only get one body. Mind it, know it and take care of it. Do not be embarrassed or shy about going to your GP if you notice that something is wrong. If you feel something is off and you are not being listened to, speak louder. Shout, if necessary. Never ever be afraid to seek a second opinion. Your health is too important to ignore.

We will continue to speak out, to advocate for the women who are often overlooked and to demand a healthcare system that serves us all equally and fairly.