Robert Troy
Longford-Westmeath · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“Only last weekend, I had the honour of representing the Taoiseach at the commemoration of those who had lost their lives at the Battle of the Somme. The presence of the deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland was a very positive development. I understand that it was the first time she was present in Dublin for that commemoration.”
“People deserve to know and understand not just the aspiration but the implication for their livelihoods, public services and future. Transparency is something I have tried to foster during my term as Minister of State in the Department of Finance. People expect it and are savvy enough to find it themselves.”
“I welcome the opportunity to contribute on this debate on the financial implications of Irish unity. It is fair to say that it is an important discussion and one that deserves to be approached with seriousness, honesty and respect.”
“If we are serious about unity - I believe we all are - we must be equally serious about preparation. That includes asking the difficult but necessary questions, including about the role of the UK in supporting any transition, whether financial contributions over a defined period would form part of any agreement and how the EU could be inv…”
“While many will view these as barriers so as to delay and misinform, we need to realise that our island has overcome its fair share of barriers in the past and we have the capacity to overcome any barriers in the future. What we should be looking at are the opportunities that a united Ireland presents.”
“It can be secured through reassurance, actions and compromise. Deputy Lahart indicated some of the compromises that may need to be considered. From a financial perspective, we need to look for clarity. Some fundamental questions need to be addressed. What would happen to public services? How would taxation be structured?”
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“Outreach at career fairs at both secondary and third level, and public advertising for career opportunities, including on social media, have also been a focus and have been successful. I assure the Senator this outreach will continue. We are committed to ongoing engagement and building close relations with the Irish in EU institutions, including a regular programme of outreach in Brussels and events such as the annual SNE conference in Dublin which took place earlier this month. I will also take back some of the suggestions made today to my colleague, Minister of State, Deputy Byrne.”
“I reiterate once again this Government’s commitment to increasing the number of Irish officers in EU institutions, as outlined in the programme for Government. We have maintained a strong focus on the implementation of the career for EU strategy to support Irish officials working in EU institutions. The strategy was published in 2021. It was not a to-do list that we are doing now. It was renewed in 2024 through the launch of a new EU recruitment portal for Irish applicants. The Government has dedicated significant resources to supporting Irish representation in the EU institutions, including through central funding for seconded positions and a range of training supports and information sessions for those seeking careers in the institutions.”
“Currently, there are more than 40 officials from almost all Departments as well as a number of agencies whose placements are supported under the SNE programme. We aim to increase this to 50 in the next year or so. The Department also facilitates the annual seconded national experts return conference to discuss the work of Irish SNEs and to support them in engaging with their home Departments and to update them on current Irish Government priorities. The national experts in professional training, NEPT, programme and the Erasmus for officials programme are short-term training schemes that provide officials with first-hand experience of working in the European Commission and other EU institutions. I will provide the Senator with the remainder of the reply.”
“The Government invests significantly in the support of EU representation through central funding for seconded national experts and the EU jobs campaign. We are backing our ambitions with concrete support. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade offers candidates assistance at all stages of the recruitment process, including assistance with preparing for preliminary tests and the provision of training packs for EPSO competition reasoning tests in partnership with EU training and the Irish language supports. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade also facilitates secondments under the seconded national experts, SNE, programme when vacancies for positions in the European Commission and across the various EU institutions arise.”
“The Minister of State raises the issues regularly with senior EU officials to see what more can be done to increase the Irish uptake of positions in the EU institutions. In a recent meeting with the Commissioner with responsibility for these issues, Commissioner Serafin, the Minister of State raised the issue and discussed options for increasing the level of Irish staffing. In recent months, he has met with the director general for human resources of the European Commission and the director of the European Personnel Selection Office, EPSO. He has engaged with Irish staff working across the institutions to update them on the Government strategy and to hear from them on how Ireland can further assist them in their careers. The Minister of State will continue to champion this issue in meetings with EU counterparts.”
“It also offers direct assistance for competitions, including dedicated training for assessment centres. The strategy aims to significantly increase the number of Irish officials in both permanent and temporary positions within the EU. This is done through increased promotion and outreach to secondary and third level students to raise awareness of EU career opportunities. A dedicated EU careers portal accessible on ireland.ie/en/eu-jobs provides information on EU jobs and the supports available to all Irish applicants. The Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs, Deputy Thomas Byrne, who leads on the EU jobs strategy working with officials in the Department, has been proactive in driving this agenda forward.”
“In fact, the programme for Government commits to deliver on plans to increase the number of Irish people applying for positions in the institutions of the EU, including through a communications campaign targeted at school leavers and graduates highlighting the opportunities available and a partnership with third level providers to do the same. In recognition of this dual challenge, a strategy to increase Irish representation within the EU institutions and agencies, A Career for EU, was launched in May 2021. Through this strategy, the Government actively promotes EU jobs and aims to increase the number of Irish people employed within EU institutions. The strategy, which is managed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, includes a number of elements aimed at encouraging Irish citizens to apply for posts in the EU institutions.”
“I thank the Senator for highlighting our home area and the beautiful villages of Ardagh and Colehill. While he may have left those areas, I can report that they are ably represented by Councillor Mick Cahill and Senator Joe Flaherty. I thank the Senator for raising this important matter. Ireland faces a challenge at present in maintaining its internal influence in the EU. The reasons for this include but are not exclusive to recent and upcoming retirements of Irish officials at the most senior levels within the institutions. While I thank the Senator for raising this issue, I refute the statement that the Government is doing nothing.”
“The Department keeps animal welfare legislation under review with respect to developments in the area of animal welfare and with regard to the practical lessons from operating the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013. The Deputy has asked a very fair question tonight with regard to when we can expect the conclusions and findings of a public consultation that has been closed for more than 12 months and whether that public consultation will feed into the legislative changes the Deputy is asking for. The honest answer is that I do not know. The Deputy has asked a fair question, which I will relate back to the Minister who has asked me to deputise for him this evening. I will ask for the Minister or his officials to come back directly to the Deputy with an answer to that fair question.”
“On the behalf of the Minister, Deputy Heydon, I thank the Deputy for his dedication to this topic. The Minister agrees that more can be done in this regard. Both he and his Department are fully committed to progressing this work. I have to admit that I honestly was not aware of this practice until I was asked to cover this Topical Issue Debate this evening. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has lead policy responsibility within the Government for animal welfare and takes its role most seriously. There is a strong commitment to the policy that animal welfare standards are vigorously applied in a fair and even-handed manner. We know why such improvements had to be introduced in recent years, but they have been introduced.”
“The system provides a mechanism to ensure that racing greyhounds are properly registered and traceable throughout their lives up to the point of rehoming or retirement. At the track, Rásaíocht Con Éireann makes a considerable effort to minimise the risk of injury by investing considerable sums of money each year on track maintenance and improvements. Veterinary surgeons are present at race times to ensure that only fit dogs run and that injured dogs receive prompt treatment.”
“In addition to its care and welfare programme, Rásaíocht Con Éireann has a comprehensive range of activity in the areas of regulatory, integrity and laboratory functions. This includes activity on welfare inspections and investigations, testing regimes, veterinary services and financial support for the Irish Retired Greyhound Trust and contributions to private rehoming agencies. These care and welfare initiatives ran by Rásaíocht Con Éireann are a key priority. A key element underpinning the welfare in any sector is traceability. The provision of a full IT traceability system for racing greyhounds is important in this respect. The Rásaíocht Con Éireann traceability system came into operation on 11 January 2021.”
“Rásaíocht Con Éireann continues to operate an ever-expanding greyhound care fund, utilising income from the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund towards the implementation of the highest possible welfare standards at kennels and racing facilities throughout the country. To facilitate the Department of agriculture in monitoring expenditure on welfare, quarterly reports on progress regarding the continued implementation of the care and welfare programme are required from Rásaíocht Con Éireann. Provisions in the Greyhound Racing Act 2019 support Rásaíocht Con Éireann in strengthening greyhound welfare. This legislation strengthens the legal basis for the industry, with a view to fortifying the integrity of the greyhound racing sector and improving provision for greyhound traceability.”
“There is a strong commitment to improve animal welfare in the greyhound racing sector in the programme for Government. The Government’s support is contingent on a guarantee of welfare standards being upheld by Rásaíocht Con Éireann on an annual basis to ensure Rásaíocht Con Éireann continues to provide financial support for the Irish Retired Greyhound Trust and contributes to rehoming greyhounds. Since 2020, the Department of agriculture has ensured that a minimum of 10% of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund allocation to Rásaíocht Con Éireann is ring-fenced for welfare, including integrity. Rásaíocht Con Éireann has confirmed that from 2019 to the end of quarter 1 of 2025, it spent €19.3 million on traceability, care and welfare.”
“The report of the working group on control of dogs, which was approved by the Cabinet in March 2023 and has been published online, includes a recommendation that surgical artificial insemination in canines be prohibited, where the word "canine" encompasses all breeds of dogs, including greyhounds. In 2024, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine held a public consultation on whether the practice of carrying out surgical artificial insemination in greyhounds should be banned. This public consultation has now closed and will contribute to the legislative process. The results of the public consultation will be published in due course. The Department of agriculture is closely examining this issue and will be providing advice on an appropriate course of action in the near future.”
“I am taking this important issue, which the Deputy set out so passionately, on behalf of the Minister for agriculture. The Veterinary Council of Ireland announced in April 2024 that it had updated its code of professional conduct for veterinary practitioners to prohibit veterinarians from carrying out surgical artificial insemination in dogs due to ethical and welfare considerations. However, this new prohibition does not apply to greyhounds as the practice is provided for in legislation under the Artificial Insemination of Greyhounds Regulations 2005.”
“Food Vision 20230 provides a vision of a dynamic, sustainable and innovative agrifood sector ready to adapt and embrace change for a more sustainable future. It is a strategic framework that enables Ireland's agrifood sector to work to achieve its ambition as a world leader in sustainable food systems. The Deputy has a made a number of points. He will appreciate this is not my area of expertise. I will relay his points to the Minister and Ministers of State at the Department of agriculture. The Deputy has a direct line to one of the Ministers of State and I have no doubt he will raise the matter with him.”
“The Government continues to support farmers under the €9.8 billion CAP strategic plan and via specific sectoral supports. It is very positive to see the Teagasc national farm survey preliminary results estimating that the average farm income in 2024 rose by 87%, with the 2025 income forecasts also positive. These are real present-day figures.”
“Food Vision 2030 looks to protect and build on Ireland's global reputation as a trusted supplier of high-quality, safe and sustainable food to consumers both at home and abroad. As I noted, 90% of what we produce is exported. Irish agrifood has been successful in accessing and developing new market opportunities both locally and in the international markets. Diversifying and developing markets will continue to be a priority. Our new Ministers are working very hard in this area. Food Vision 2030 aims for the sector to reach €21 billion in exports by 2030, with this growth driven by a steady growth in export value rather than volume. The strategy recognises the challenges but also the opportunities and has a clear vision of Ireland being a world leader in sustainable food systems.”
“It recognises that healthy environments, ecosystems, communities and economies go together. Irish agrifood exports reached a record €19.1 billion in 2024, which is an increase of over 5% by value on the €18.1 billion achieved in 2023 and an increase of a third by value, that is, €4.8 billion, on the €14.3 million achieved in 2020. This represents 40% of all exports from Irish-owned firms. With highly competitive global markets, the agrifood sector works hard to protect its reputation and continuously strives to innovate and maintain a level of competitiveness and resilience that has enabled it to prosper and develop in a globalised trading environment.”
“Ireland's approach to delivering sustainable agriculture and food is set out in Food Vision 2030, our shared stakeholder-led strategy for the continuing development of the agrifood sector in Ireland. Its vision is for Ireland to be "a world leader in Sustainable Food Systems", encompassing environmental, economic and social sustainability. It was designed using a food systems approach, recognising the requirement to have greater policy coherence across agriculture, food, and the environment and the involvement of all of the food system stakeholders. The centrality of primary producers in Food Vision 2030 recognises economically sustainable farmers, fishers and forest owners are an integral part of our rural and coastal community and of our natural environment and landscape.”
“It includes primary production in farming, fishing and forestry and the processing and manufacture of food, beverages and wood products. Agrifood is Ireland’s largest indigenous exporting sector and accounts for 6% of modified gross national income and 8.6% of merchandising exports in value terms. The sector employs 169,300 people, representing 6.1% of total employment, which translates to one in every 16 jobs, and of course a far greater proportion in rural constituencies like mine and the Deputy's. While the last few years have been challenging for the sector, as significant energy price rises and supply chain disruption fuelled inflation and contributed to increased input prices and decreases in output prices, our farmers, fishers, processors and food businesses have demonstrated the resilience of the agrifood sector.”
“The EU is largely self-sufficient for many agricultural products but is a considerable net importer for specific products. The current geopolitical situation is challenging established assumptions on food security. The EU communication, Safeguarding food security and reinforcing the resilience of food systems, sets out actions in the three areas of security, stability and sustainability. The EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council of Ministers will continue to focus on these core areas and to support the work of the European food security crisis preparedness and response mechanism. The agrifood sector drives economic growth in every rural parish in every county in Ireland, as the Deputy alluded to. It reaches out from every corner of the country to global markets.”
“I thank the Deputy. Ireland is among the most food secure countries in the world and, according to the latest Global Food Security Index, ranks second of 113 countries assessed for food security. The resilience of the food supply chain was clearly demonstrated over the past number of years when dealing with the effects of Brexit and Covid-19. Currently Ireland produces significantly more food than we consume. The Irish agrifood sector is globally orientated, with approximately 90% of Irish beef, sheepmeat and dairy produce exported each year. As the Deputy is aware, Ireland is part of the EU Single Market and participates in the Common Agriculture Policy, which is the key mechanism for ensuring food security throughout Europe.”
“This is an important scheme to help people buy a home, as the Deputy alluded to, and with affordability, especially for - unfortunately I cannot say my generation any more - the Deputy's generation in terms of their ability to get on the property ladder. The Government is determined to continue to support people into homeownership. The Deputy made some very valid points and I undertake to refer them to the Minister, Deputy Browne, and his departmental officials for direct reply back to the Deputy.”
“He made that point quite forcefully. I give an undertaking that I will bring it back to the Minister to see whether that can be taken into the next review. The one positive here is that it is a six-monthly review so we will not be waiting indefinitely. The first home scheme commissions periodic research by KPMG to assess the extent, if any, to which the State has contributed to house price inflation. KPMG reports in both 2024 and 2025 concluded there was no evidence the scheme materially contributed to price inflation in new homes. It was also stated it remains critical the first home scheme monitors this risk on an ongoing basis. These regular price ceiling reviews will help to ensure that it does not contribute to new home price growth as the uptake of the scheme grows.”
“I assure the Deputy that the price ceiling review being undertaken on the first home scheme is done so in a considered manner. To minimise the risk of price distortions in the first-time buyer market, the first home scheme introduced the concept of price ceilings and six-monthly reviews of the ceilings from the outset of the scheme. I understand that all local authorities, including Tipperary and its surrounding local authorities, are considered in these reviews. The reviews reflect local market conditions by taking into account a number of factors, including the median price and the volume of new builds purchased by the first-time buyers. The Deputy made a valid point that if there is a distorted number of new homes because of affordability, that will distort one of the key factors taken into consideration.”
“The most recent review concluded at the end of last month and 16 local authority areas had their price ceilings increased. When the scheme was first launched in July 2022, the price ceiling for the Tipperary local authority area was €250,000. This has been raised following two subsequent price ceiling reviews to €325,000 on 1 January 2023 and then again to €350,000 on 1 July 2024. The first home scheme DAC will continue to monitor the price ceilings, including in Tipperary, as part of any future review. More information on price ceiling reviews is available on the website of the first home scheme.”
“We want to expand on this success and help more people get their own home. In May, the Government approved an additional €30 million for the scheme bringing the total State commitment to €370 million. This is matched 50:50 by the participating banks and brings the total commitment to the scheme to €740 million. The first home scheme designated activity company, DAC, is fully responsible for the operation of the first home scheme on behalf of all shareholders, including price ceiling reviews. The first home scheme board conducts a review of price ceilings at six-month intervals. I am advised that the board takes into account a range of factors as part of these reviews, including the median price and volume of new builds purchased by first-time buyers in each local authority area.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. I am taking this debate on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. I am glad to have the opportunity to discuss the first home scheme. The scheme, which was launched in July 2022, is a shared equity scheme for eligible first-time buyers, eligible home buyers and self-builders. The scheme is designed to help bridge the gap between their deposit and mortgage and the price of their new home. The price of the new home must be within price ceilings established across the country. This has been a very successful scheme that has helped thousands of individuals and families buy a home. Over 7,600 approvals have been issued since the scheme launched to the end of last month with 3,691 homes already bought or built using the scheme.”
“They have started to increase again and that is why we are determined that the new action plan will build on the progress of the past and we will hopefully see premiums reduced further.”
“I compliment the Deputy for the work he is doing and his engagement with the SME sector as a spokesperson on SMEs for the party. When I met RGDATA with the Deputy last week, we listened jointly to the challenges facing the industry, which are not just about insurance but the whole competitiveness area. The Minister for enterprise is bringing forward an action plan on competitiveness. One of the key decisions taken by the Government was not to impose the recommended price increase with regard to personal injuries awards and to park that decision. I ask SMEs to look at the track record of the Government with regard to the action plan the last time. It did deliver results. The actions were meaningful and we did see premiums decrease at a rate unlike across the water in the UK or across the EU.”
“On the high profits of insurance companies, we need greater transparency with regard to how premiums are set to ensure that insurance companies' feet are held to the coals and they are passing on the savings being delivered by the reforms introduced by the previous Government.”
“The Deputy is right. Despite the reforms introduced, premiums are too high and are higher than where we would like them to be. International inflation can account for some of those reasons but there are two other reasons: legal fees are too high, and insurance companies, in certain years, are making profits that are too high. With regard to the legal fees, the Injuries Resolution Board is a tried and tested mechanism by which people can submit their claims and have their compensation paid out in a timely and cost-effective manner. We need more people with legitimate claims going through the resolution board, ensuring that the legal fees are radically reduced.”
“There are also a number of priority actions focused on areas where the greatest impact on cost and availability can be achieved. The Government has shown its firm commitment to insurance reform by re-establishing the subgroup on insurance reform within the Cabinet committee on the economy, trade and competitiveness, chaired by the Tánaiste. The subgroup will meet on a regular basis to drive this action plan forward, taking a whole-of-government approach. I am pleased to say that the Cabinet subgroup’s first meeting on 9 July considered the draft action plan and it is the intention that the final action plan will be agreed at Government level. After that, I would expect to be in a position to publish the new plan.”
“The new action plan will build on the significant achievements of the 2020 action plan, including reforms to the duty of care, enhancements to the Injuries Resolution Board and the implementation of new personal injuries guidelines. These reforms have contributed to a more stable and competitive insurance market, helping to attract new providers such as OUTsurance Ireland, Revolut and Fastnet Underwriting. As part of the development of this action plan, I launched a wide-ranging public consultation that received over 70 detailed submissions from a broad spectrum of stakeholders. The action plan will advance reform under six key themes: transparency and affordability, competitiveness and availability, legal reform, fraud, climate protection, and innovation and skills.”
“I thank Deputy McCormack for raising this issue. Insurance reform, including increasing the affordability and accessibility of insurance, remains a key priority for the Government as outlined in the programme for Government. Many reforms have been introduced, yet it is regrettable that the level of savings and the supply of cover for consumers and businesses has been subsequently eroded due to the rise of international inflation and consequential damage costs. A key focus for me in my role as Minister of State with special responsibility in this area is the development of a new action plan for insurance reform.”
“We need to see greater transparency regarding the prices set by the insurance companies. A lot of good work has been done, and when we compare how premiums have increased across the UK and the EU, we have been able to modify that increase by the good work that has been done in the last five years. We will publish a new action plan later this summer-----”
“Again, I highlight the work the Government has done in the last number of years. It has rebalanced the duty of care and enhanced the role of the Personal Injuries Resolution Board. I take the opportunity to once again highlight the positive effect that has had. We are aware that claimants who are going through the Personal Injuries Resolution Board have their claims dealt with twice as quickly as claimants who go through litigation. The cost of legal fees going through litigation is 22 times the cost of going through the resolution board. The critical point for claimants who have a legitimate claim is that they are getting only a marginal difference. We need to see more people going through the Personal Injuries Resolution Board to ensure the cost, the legal fees, is not exorbitantly high.”
“I also accept, and I agree with the Deputy, that we do need to see greater transparency and greater accountability in how insurance companies are setting the prices, and he will see action in the action plan in this regard.”
“Let us be clear. Insurance premiums increased proportionately by about 65% in the UK from 2016 to 2024 and by around 20% across the eurozone. In contrast, Ireland saw a 34.3% proportional reduction in the average motor insurance premium over the same period. I accept that in the last number of years we have seen the change going the other way and that is why there is a commitment in the programme for Government to establish and carry on the work of the Cabinet subcommittee on insurance reform. In the next number of weeks, we will bring forward a new action plan that will build on the work of the previous action plan and will deliver further reductions in the cost of premiums for our consumer.”
“The forthcoming action plan will build on this progress, identifying greater accountability and transparency in pricing practices and promoting consumer trust. My officials also work closely with the Department of justice on the proposed amendments to the personal injuries guidelines and the Deputy will be aware that the decision taken that they will be laid before the Houses, as required, but that they will not be approved. Our aim remains clear: to support a competitive and sustainable insurance market that delivers fairer outcomes for consumers, businesses and communities across the country.”
“Thanks to the introduction of the personal injuries guidelines and related reforms, that figure has moved closer to a 50:50 split between injury and material damage. This significant shift has helped shield Ireland from the full extent of global inflationary pressures in the motor insurance sector. To put this in perspective, from 2016 to 2024, motor insurance premiums increased proportionally by approximately 65% in the United Kingdom and by around 20% across the eurozone. In contrast, Ireland saw a 34.3% proportional reduction in the average motor insurance premium over that same period. This reflects the impact of sustained reform and a co-ordinated, cross-government approach. These reforms are supported by the national claims information database, which continues to enhance transparency and help identify cost drivers.”
“I thank the Deputy for once again raising this issue and giving me an opportunity to put on record the work that has been done by this Government and the previous Government and the work that is ongoing and, indeed, to thank him for his advocacy in this area. The Government remains fully committed to delivering a fairer, more transparent and affordable insurance market. Substantial progress has been made under the Action Plan for Insurance Reform 2020–2025, which we are building on, and we are finalising a new action plan for 2025 to 2029. This will include a number of targeted actions across a number of key themes. A key focus of our reform agenda has been on addressing personal injury costs, which historically accounted for about 70% of overall motor insurance claims costs.”
“In recent years, there has been significant investment to improve, reform and stratify our gynaecology services. This process is ongoing and includes the development of gynaecology clinics, specialist menopause clinics, regional fertility hubs and endometriosis clinics. Through the continued implementation and establishment of these services, our model of gynaecological care and the focus on women’s health is being changed for the better to meet the needs of women accessing these services.”
“The HSE is also developing a comprehensive patient information resource that will be made publicly available online. As the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, advised, the programme for Government is committed to continue to expand specialist service in this area. There has been investment of more than €5 million in the provision of these specialised services to build up a national framework and model of care for endometriosis. This is very much the beginning but it is clear from listening to the contributions tonight that more work needs to be done to continue to broaden the support for women suffering from the impact of this life-changing condition. The Government is committed to promoting and improving women's health outcomes.”
“Training of medical specialists in the management and diagnosis of endometriosis forms an integral part of the specialist medical training programme provided by the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. The Irish College of General Practitioners also provides education regarding endometriosis to its members, including delivering a blended modular course in community gynaecology in which endometriosis is included as a mandatory topic. Endometriosis is also listed as a core component of the women’s health portion of the postgraduate GP training curriculum. The HSE is planning an awareness campaign following the publication of the framework. This campaign will focus on highlighting the wide range of signs and symptoms of disease and promote the services available and the associated care pathways.”
“Eighteen gynaecology see-and-treat clinics are already operational, with more in development. Six specialist menopause clinics are currently operational for those women who require complex specialist care in menopause. A total of six regional fertility hubs will provide support to the estimated 47% of women with endometriosis who will also experience related fertility issues. To support the implementation of the national framework, the HSE has established an endometriosis professional network to help drive a standardised approach to endometriosis service delivery and care. The HSE national clinical guideline for management of endometriosis was also published in March 2025.”
“There are now six regional public fertility hubs across Ireland accepting referrals from GPs directly and from consultants. The system ensures early access for women with suspected or confirmed endometriosis, who are exempt from the standard referral criteria. This integrated model allows for streamlined cross-referrals between fertility and endometriosis services, thereby ensuring women receive timely and appropriate care based on individual needs. The HSE has identified a holistic care package for women suffering from endometriosis. Multidisciplinary teams, including clinical nurse specialists, dietitians, physiotherapists and psychologists, are being funded to provide a holistic service. Other developments in the provision in gynaecology service will support healthcare provisions.”
“I accept what previous speakers said about this not being the case. The Minister has taken on board the views that were expressed this evening and will look into them further. The services are being continuously expanded as recruitment continues with the funding provided this year. I acknowledge that many of the posts that have been funded are not yet filled. Most of these unfilled posts relate to new funding allocations in 2024 and 2025 to expand our existing endometriosis services. The HSE recruitment process is in progress for those 18.6 recently funded whole-time equivalent posts. A total of 47% of women impacted by endometriosis will have fertility issues related to the condition. Fertility care has really benefited from targeted investment by the Government.”