Mary Moran (Labour)

In a 50-year period from 1944, more than 1,500 of these operations took place. There are currently approximately 150 survivors. Some 15 survivors have died since these women commenced looking for justice. Many of the survivors have been left permanently disabled, incontinent and in constant pain. I was shocked to learn that many of the women were not even told these operations would be carried out on them during childbirth. Many of them only learned of it some decades later. It is the intention of the Oireachtas committee to highlight the anguish and unnecessary suffering which these women endured. I ask the Leader to call on the Minister to agree to a debate on this issue and to ask him when we can expect receipt of the report commissioned last year and due in September but then deferred to November. I would welcome an update in regard to when we can expect receipt of that report and in regard to the health benefits and entitlements which these women were promised in 2003.