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Vol. 273 Wednesday, No. 6 9 December 2020 DÍOSPÓIREACHTAÍ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES SEANAD ÉIREANN TUAIRISC OIFIGIÚIL—Neamhcheartaithe (OFFICIAL REPORT—Unrevised) Insert Date Here 09/12/2020A00100Gnó an tSeanaid - Business of Seanad � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 348 09/12/2020A00300Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 349 09/12/2020A00400Hospital Waiting Lists � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 349 09/12/2020B00600County Development Plans � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 352 09/12/2020C00500Maternity Leave � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 354 09/12/2020D00700Urban Regeneration and Development Fund � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 357 09/12/2020E00450School Accommodation� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 359 09/12/2020F00400School Accommodation� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 361 /2020K00100An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 363 09/12/2020Q00300Finance Bill 2020: Second Stage (Resumed) � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 378 09/12/2020S00400Sittings Arrangements: Motion � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 380 09/12/2020S00700Fourth Report of the Committee of Selection: Motion� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 381 09/12/2020U00100Deportation Moratorium (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Second Stage � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 381 09/12/2020HH00100Annual Transition Statement on Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015: Statements � � � � � 405 SEANAD ÉIREANN Dé Céadaoin, 9 Nollaig 2020 Wednesday, 9 December 2020 Chuaigh an Cathaoirleach i gceannas ar 10�30 a�m� Machnamh agus Paidir. Reflection and Prayer. 09/12/2020A00100Gnó an tSeanaid - Business of Seanad 09/12/2020A00200An Cathaoirleach: I have received notice from Senator Erin McGreehan that, on the mo- tion for the Commencement of the House today, she proposes to raise the following matter: The need for the Minister for Health to provide an update on plans to increase capacity and reduce waiting times for gynaecology services� I have also received notice from Senator Victor Boyhan of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to make a state- ment on the process for making submissions on proposals for inclusion of buildings and oth- er structures in the record of protected structures in the current Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown county development plan� I have also received notice from Senator Aidan Davitt of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to make a state- ment on the introduction of maternity leave for county councillors� I have also received notice from Senator Micheál Carrigy of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to allocate urban regeneration and development fund, URDF, funding for the Camlin quarter in Longford town� I have also received notice from Senator Seán Kyne of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Education to provide an update on the delivery of new school buildings for Scoil Mhuire, Maigh Cuilinn, Contae na Gaillimhe� I have also received notice from Senator Ivana Bacik of the following matter: 348 9 December 2020 The need for the Minister for Education to make a statement on the status of an ap- plication by Harold’s Cross Educate Together Secondary School for the construction of a permanent school building� I have also received notice from Senator Mary Fitzpatrick of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to make a state- ment on the supports to be given to Dublin City Council to deliver social and affordable housing and community facilities on public land at Oscar Traynor Road, Dublin 5� I have also received notice from Senator Fiona O’Loughlin of the following matter: The need for the Minister of State with responsibility for community development and charities to make a statement on the cy-près scheme in respect of O’Modhrain Hall, New- bridge, County Kildare� I have also received notice from Senator Sharon Keogan of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to establish a scheme of funded apprenticeships through local authorities� I have also received notice from Senator Paul Gavan of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to make a statement on the difficulties being faced by persons working as content moderators. Of the matters raised by the Senators suitable for discussion, I have selected Senators Mc- Greehan, Boyhan, Davitt, Carrigy, Kyne and Bacik and they will be taken now� I regret that I had to rule out of order the matter raised by Senator O’Loughlin on the ground that the Minister has no official responsibility in the matter. The other Senators may give notice on another day of the matters they wish to raise� 09/12/2020A00300Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters 09/12/2020A00400Hospital Waiting Lists 09/12/2020A00500Senator Erin McGreehan: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, to the House� Before I address my Commencement matter directly, I welcome the announcement from the HSE this morning that women will be able to have their partners present at anomaly scans� I have been one of those women who has received the worst news from one of those scans� It is coming up to the fourth anniversary and there is not a day when I do not think about that little person� It is great that women going through similar experiences, and who will get similar news today and in the future, will not be alone� I submitted this Commencement matter issue mainly from frustration and impatience� From personal experience over many years, I have wondered if women are being listened to in the Irish healthcare system� In all the history of our public health system, we have not seen waiting lists like this before for gynaecology services. The latest figures from the National Treatment Purchase Fund, NTPF, show that there were 4,446 patients on inpatient day case waiting lists 349 Seanad Éireann for gynaecology procedures at the end of October, and around 1,200 of the patients waiting nationally have been waiting for longer than a year� This number has increased by 200 in 2020, and by more than half in the last five years. The number of people waiting for more than a year to see a consultant almost doubled in 2020 and has increased by more than 1,000 in five years. These waiting lists are causing Irish women, young and old, to be exhausted� I wish to highlight a specific illness called endometriosis. The lack of care, diagnosis and treatment for this illness is atrocious� Women can wait for up to nine years for a diagnosis, and that is if they persevere and do not give up and think that what they are experiencing is just normal� It is not normal to be in pain at any time of the month and endometriosis does not just cause difficulty during menstruation, it can cause difficulties and pain all month long. I suffer with this illness. I am standing here in absolute agony, as it happens, but many women around the country are in the same position as me and go through their daily lives in pain which is usually untreated� There is not enough awareness and there is not enough training� I have heard horror stories from women who have been told that they have imagined this and to take painkillers or go for a run. That advice is all very well and good if one is fit to go for a run and not crippled in pain� Such advice is very insulting to say the least and something drastic must be done� Women are being ignored, women’s chronic pain is being ignored, and illnesses are not being diagnosed so, therefore, are not treated� I am very aware of the HSE’s national women and infants health programme that seeks to help the majority of patients with endometriosis and other gynaecological problems by im- proving their access to gynaecological services. However, from the previous figures that I have stated, serious efforts must be made to meet the demand for gynaecological services. We cannot help diagnose patients if there is an outstanding demand for gynaecological services� I look forward to hearing the details and actions, hopefully, from the Minister of State about the Department of Health’s plan to increase capacity, reduce waiting times for women awaiting gynaecological appointments, update us on phase 1 of the model of care and a timeline for the opening of new clinics� 09/12/2020B00200Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Anne Rabbitte): I thank the Senator for raising this matter� I am replying on behalf of the Minister for Health so the answer I will articulate is directly from his Department� The