There were women in the Public Gallery tonight. I spoke with some of them earlier and listened to their stories. A few weeks ago, I attended a meeting in Cork where people told their horrific stories. Here I am a 6 ft 5 in. man talking about women's health and women's period pains. I have no idea. I believe the Minister is a decent person so I ask her not to let the bureaucracy, the Department or the men in this Government tell her to put down an amendment. She should be backing this motion wholeheartedly. She should be leading the way.

Sentiment score: -0.15

These people want her to lead the way. As a woman and as Minister for Health, she has the ability to do that. I implore her to do it. There are girls who have given up sport and who cannot go to school. Education is needed here. There are girls and women who every month cannot go to work or are out of work for long periods. They have lost their jobs and lost their friends, because they have not been able to go to things. They have not been able to socialise. They have been trapped in their rooms in pain. For all these girls and young women, what we are proposing tonight does not come from Sinn Féin but from all these people up in the Public Gallery and their families who live this every day. I ask the Minister to withdraw her amendment and to run with this motion.

Sentiment score: -0.05

In politics, we politically disagree on many issues. Can we not come together on this issue? Can we not park the politics and for once let the women of Ireland be listened to? For far too long, they were sent home to suffer in silence, but no longer.

Sentiment score: -0.25