Yesterday, the Minister for Health announced that IVF will be funded by the public system in 2023. For many couples, of course, that is a very welcome announcement. If it happens, it will mean that Ireland is no longer the only country in the EU without any public funding for IVF. It would mean that access to this fertility treatment will no longer be reserved for those who either have enough money or for those who are willing and able to go into substantial debt.

However, I do not want to hold my breath about it, because we have heard this before from the then Minister for Health, Deputy Varadkar, in 2016. It is in Sláintecare, it is in the programme for Government, and there has been precious little progress. I am asking the Taoiseach for a guarantee that this will actually happen in 2023 as well as for a timeframe for when that will be within that year. I am also asking for a commitment that sufficient funding will be provided for the public system to ensure it can be done publicly as opposed to being outsourced to private, mostly for-profit, providers.

To be fair to the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, in the area of women’s health, he allocated €31 million in the previous budget for new developments to support women's health. There was additional funding for the national maternity strategy into 2022 and beyond, access to contraception for women between 17 and 25, further developments in menopause care by an increase in the number of specialist menopause clinics from one to four, and increased investments in sexual assault treatment units and a range of other developments. Therefore, the Minister has form in showing his commitment by securing funding. He intends to roll out a model of care for infertility that will see the introduction of advanced assisted human reproduction treatments, including IVF, in the public health system. The Minister plans to commence this in 2023. That is his commitment.

The Taoiseach is aware that the next round of national wage negotiations is likely to get under way shortly. He is also aware that the Commission on the Defence Forces recently recommended that both PDFORRA and RACO should be permitted to associate with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, ICTU, should they wish to do so. I note PDFORRA has been calling for this for years. Last week, RACO balloted its members, 85% of whom indicated this is something they wish to pursue. Will the Government allow PDFORRA and RACO to associate with ICTU before the next round of pay talks? If so, when are we likely to get that permission?

That matter will be considered by the Minister and subsequently overall by the Government. We also need to think it through as to what is in the best interests of the Defence Forces in terms of pay and conditions. The commission has finished its work. In keeping with the commitment in the programme for Government, the Minister for Defence will now consult the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform on the establishment of a permanent pay review body. I would like to discuss further with Deputy Berry the best way that would be optimal for the rank and file in our Defence Forces. Just joining may not necessarily result in that in the short term. We need to look at that base and so on and make sure we can create a better situation for overall pay and conditions for the Defence Forces.