Irish Aids Day 2026: Statements
Seanad Éireann — 2026-06-17
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Teresa Costello (FF), Agricultural Panel

I thank the Minister for being here today. She generously gives a lot of her time to the Seanad and it is very much appreciated. I welcome the opportunity to speak on Irish AIDS Day. Following on from many of the other speakers, I want to remember those we lost and reiterate that we stand with those who are living with HIV and that we are renewing our commitment to ending new HIV transmissions and tackling the stigma. I have listened to people speaking, especially Senator Clonan. The thing about shame is that I hate the word "shame". Shame is a killer and embarrassment is a killer. When people are made to feel shameful or embarrassed and they do not reach out and cannot be who they are, it is so wrong. I hope we have moved on. I think we have moved on to a certain extent. I have very little time for anybody who puts shame on people for being who they are. I really have no time for that. We have said today that for too long, HIV and AIDS were surrounded by fear and silence. People's real stories never got to be told because of that and the silence kind of spoke. It is good that modern treatment has transformed this and that people can live long and healthy lives.
I want to touch on the latest figures I could get when I was doing a little bit of research, which show that in 2024, 239 people received a first-time HIV diagnosis and 41% were receiving late-stage treatment. Even though it is late-stage treatment, this treatment is still effective. I would not have thought this because we are always told about early diagnosis. Early diagnosis can prevent it being passed on, so early diagnosis is always best, but late-stage diagnosis is hopeful as well. What particularly jumped out at me was that the highest percentage of people who received late-stage diagnoses were over the age of 50, which would lean into the generation who were reared on shame, fear and embarrassment. That is what really frustrates me because it does not have to be like that. I met with the HIV Prevention Alliance whose representatives spoke about women being affected. I met a lady who had HIV. She only got diagnosed over the age of 50, which, again, in my lack of education, did not occur to me. There is definitely more of an education piece because I remember being younger and there was so much education and awareness. Things kind of went quiet. I have seen the odd interview on “The Late Late Show” and there are some amazing advocates, but the whole message, rightly so, is that if it is undetectable, it is untransmissible. That is so important.
I am glad that we talk about stigma and shame, and that we are not allowing it and are pushing back against it. Progressive Ministers, like the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, do so much work on that. I know she and her team are working tirelessly. We have all the tools in Ireland. We have PrEP, we have condoms and we have access to testing, but we have to be timely and people have to be able to feel like they can access it without being judged. I do not think anybody should be afraid, whatever their status, to seek care or speak about their life.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-06-17/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:55:04+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-06-17