Maria McCormack (Sinn Fein)

On behalf of the Sinn Féin, I welcome back our comrade Senator Andrews and say how proud of him we all are. It is really important that we keep the focus on Gaza and the peace deal that it is hoped will happen. We remember the ongoing mission and the five other Irish citizens who are in an Israeli prison.

I will address endometriosis today. Over the past few months, there has been an unbelievable turnout at public meetings on endometriosis we held across the country. Women have been coming out in their hundreds to share their stories, pain and determination to be heard. This campaign has shown the real strength and courage of women who have been ignored for far too long. A few weeks ago, the Minister for Health indicated that she was listening and might finally take action, so I was gobsmacked to discover that there was no funding allocation in the budget for endometriosis specialist care. This disease affects one in ten women, yet there are women who are still waiting over a decade for a diagnosis, travelling abroad for surgery and paying out of pocket for private treatment because the public system simply does not provide the care they need. We need to see specialist multidisciplinary centres established and properly funded, clear referral pathways so women are not bounced from one doctor to another, training for GPs and front-line staff to recognise and respond to symptoms, and investment in research and public awareness so that this condition is finally treated with the seriousness it deserves. I am calling for an urgent debate in the Seanad on women's health, especially endometriosis, because women's health must be prioritised and not pushed aside once again.