Member's statement: Endometriosis
Member's statement by Mrs Ciara Ferguson on .
- MLA
- Mrs Ciara Ferguson
- Party at the time
- Sinn Féin
- Date
- 3 March 2026
- Type
- Member's statement
- Business
- Members' Statements
- Heading
- Endometriosis
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5434417
Read the official Assembly record
Text
Women across Ireland deserve access to timely, accessible and good care for endometriosis. Endometriosis has, for too long, been misunderstood and misaddressed. I was pleased, therefore, to secure confirmation from the Health Minister that plans and investment for endometriosis services will commence in 2026. Delays in diagnosis and treatment for endometriosis can lead to chronic pelvic pain, infertility problems, fatigue and lasting damage to women's health due to long-term complications. That does not even cover the significant impacts of endometriosis pain on women's daily lives and activities and the toll on their mental health and well-being. Endometriosis can affect multiple organs and cause complex symptoms. Multidisciplinary specialist services and coordinated care must be urgently provided. Access to gynaecologists, fertility specialists, incision and colorectal surgeons, urologists, pain management services, pelvic health physiologists and others are fundamental to helping women living with endometriosis. That will improve symptom control, reduce the risks of repeated surgery and support long-term quality of life. Sinn Féin has consistently advocated compassionate, informed care for endometriosis and worked to tackle systemic failures, stigma and inequality in access to women's healthcare. I commend the work of the Derry Well Women endometriosis support group for its consistent and strong advocacy over the years. As we approach International Women's Day on Sunday and in this endometriosis awareness month, I reiterate our party's support for closing the gender health gap and ensuring that all women have access to the care that they need, no matter where they are.
246 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Assessment
Jev’s structured answers met the documented threshold for “not flagged”.
- Overall probability that the activity is being used to promote, exploit or escalate an identity-based controversy: 0.03 (flagging needs at least 0.70; at or below 0.30 is not flagged).
- None of the five culture-war criteria was met (each was below 0.60).
- Assessed as legitimate policy scrutiny (0.92).
- No identity-based framing was identified (1.00).
- Subject area: Gender, sexuality, abortion and related social issues.
- The overall probability was at or below the not-flagging threshold.
This is an AI-generated assessment of the text, made against published criteria. It is not a finding of fact about the MLA or their intentions. The Assembly record itself is the fact.
Jev’s structured answers
| Question | Probability | Met? |
|---|---|---|
| Identity framing | 0.05 | No |
| Sectarian or communal antagonism | 0.02 | No |
| Cultural grievance politics | 0.01 | No |
| Dog-whistle messaging | 0.01 | No |
| Controversy escalation | 0.02 | No |
| Legitimate policy scrutiny | 0.92 | Yes |
| Overall judgement | 0.03 | At or below not-flagging threshold |
| Option | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-based framing (chosen) | 1.00 |
| Reports or questions it | 0.00 |
| Criticises or condemns it | 0.00 |
| Adopts it | 0.00 |
| Subject | Probability |
|---|---|
| Gender, sexuality, abortion and related social issues | 0.73 |
| Sexism, misogyny, ageism and other equality groups | 0.27 |
| No identity-related subject | 0.00 |
| Flags, emblems, symbols, names and memorials | 0.00 |
| Parades, bonfires and commemorations | 0.00 |
Assessed 21 October 2026 at 15:01 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.
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