I thank all of the Members of the House for their contributions to the debate and I look forward to their support for the Bill as it is considered further on Committee Stage. All of the points raised by the various speakers will, of course, be considered in due course. It is wonderful to have the potential to deliver a scheme that promises to widen the scope of what community pharmacies can deliver, add convenience for many patients and deliver cost savings. We also hope the scheme, along with the common conditions service, will pave the way for wider development of pharmacy services in the years to come. Given our growing and ageing population, continually delivering additional capacity is a key challenge that we, as a Government, are determined to meet. Our population has risen by more than 800,000 people since 2015, many of whom are in the key 17 to 55 age range most in need of reproductive healthcare. New schemes such as this will help us to meet demographic demand. The Minister is determined to continue with her significant progress on supporting wider women's health in recent years. Since 2020, we have invested over €180 million in women's health; opened six specialist menopause clinics and a network of 18 see-and-treat ambulatory gynaecology clinics; opened regional and two supraregional endometriosis hubs and launched a national endometriosis framework; launched and expanded the free contraception scheme; launched the free HRT arrangement; launched a State-funded assisted human reproduction treatment scheme; provided period dignity grant schemes to support community measures; and delivered nine postnatal hubs and perinatal mental health teams in all maternity hospitals and units. The Minister was honoured to launch phase 3 of the women's health action plan yesterday in Tallaght hospital. Our new plan includes commitments to broaden delivery of our existing women’s health supports, while deepening our research base, enhancing prevention and social inclusion, and, of course, prioritising care for more serious conditions, including endometriosis. It also includes further expansion of the free contraception scheme and its integration into wider sexual and reproductive health supports is a key element of the third action plan, and this Bill is a key part of its delivery. The Minister looks forward to further debate on Committee Stage and, ultimately, to enacting this very important legislation.
Sentiment score: 0.51