Will the Taoiseach and the Minister for Health make the HPV vaccine available to women over the age of 25? We all welcomed the decision that women under the age of 25 could get it free of charge from May. Will the Taoiseach ask the national immunisation advisory committee, NIAC, to look at this? I am asking only for those women for whom it has been deemed necessary that they get the vaccine by their GPs or clinicians, that is, those who have been clinically approved to have it and for whom it is recommended. There are too many women, particularly women on medical cards but also women who do not have medical cards and are on low incomes, who cannot afford the €600 to be able to get that vaccine. Would the Taoiseach and the Minister be able to do that? It would be very good if the Taoiseach could do that before he leaves office. If the vaccine could be made available, at a minimum, under the drugs payment scheme, that would in some way ease things.

I thank Deputy Conway-Walsh. Dr. Scally and I met this morning in the context of his report. One of the things we talked about is our absolute commitment to the goal of eradicating cervical cancer in this country, and the HPV vaccine is part of that. As the Deputy will be aware, we are rolling out the Laura Brennan HPV catch-up programme. The NIAC advice I have at present is to provide the vaccine to those aged 25 years and younger but I am more than happy to go back to NIAC and ask for updated advice for those over 25 years of age.