The Taoiseach called it that.

It is understaffed.

Did the Taoiseach discuss with Donald Tusk the fact the European Union's credibility is in absolute shreds because of the blatant double standards that are being displayed between its attitude toward legitimate resistance by the Ukrainian people against the brutal Russian invasion and the wholly different attitude to Palestinian people resisting a brutal, genocidal assault on Gaza and decades of apartheid, ethnic cleansing and illegal occupation? Did he discuss that it is tearing apart any credibility the European …

A new international team of researchers has just established that 2023 was the hottest year ever recorded and critically that land-based carbon absorption has collapsed completely, going way beyond the worst-case scenarios of previous research. Forests, lakes, soils and so on that are supposed to be absorbing carbon are not doing it anymore, such is the level of deforestation, the poor quality of a certain type of forestry, wildfires and so on. This research is terrifying because it means all the models are out the…

Earlier I made the point to the Taoiseach that I think games or deceptions are being played with regard to what is happening to recruit the staff we need in various areas of the health service. The Taoiseach did not like it when I spoke about deception. This question is about children. I want to refer the Taoiseach to the figures, which are the HSE's figures and not mine. If we ask detailed questions, we get some of the detailed information. This is with regard to children's disability network teams. It is a very s…

"Laya profits soar to €36.55 million". That was a headline in the newspapers earlier this year. Its profits were up by €14 million. For AXA, I do not have the figure for its profits, but it had €2 billion coming in from premiums. It has 30% of the Irish market, while Laya has 28%, and I think AXA is now underwriting Laya premiums. This is big business and big profits, and those profits are generated through the fear that about 50% of working people in this country have regarding what will happen to them if they get…

Yes, and we could not come up with a response to that in a year.

That is why people are driven into the private health insurance market. People make money out of it but it perpetuates an unfair two-tier system and perpetuates the problems in the public health system.

Out of deference to your good self, a Cheann Comhairle, I will do that.

No, I did not. I did not say that.

Yes, I did say that.

The healthcare workers are great.

They sure are.

That was a very good programme by the way.

Never let it be said, but I am happy to support this positive development. It is an important step forward for women's healthcare. Making products that help alleviate the symptoms of menopause, such as HRT, free to women is a very welcome development. It points in the direction we want to go, which is that all healthcare should be free for all who need it. I refer not only to women's healthcare, but all healthcare, based on a person's needs and not what a person can afford or what a Government is willing or unwilli…

I am all for that.

It is not.

I want to hear the Minister's response about the charging and the margin.

Who will pay the margin?

I have a question. Is it free or is it not free? Will the Minister explain because it is not coming across very clearly? The State is covering the costs of the products and the HRT.