Ms Michelle Gildernew:

The witnesses are very welcome. Ironically, we discussed the issue in January 2012. I will be taking the lift today because I broke my leg in this building following the last meeting. I will not take any chances today. Since the last meeting two pieces of legislation have been introduced North and South to further discriminate against political prisoners. Things seem to be moving backwards instead of forwards. It is a double whammy for women who spent their reproductive years in prison. Martina Anderson can be a Member of the European Parliament but she can never be a mother. She is a fabulous daughter who looks after her own mother but she can never know what it feels like to have a child of her own because of the discrimination against political prisoners. It is a huge injustice that any woman would not be given such an opportunity. Adoption and fostering need to be on a par with insurance. Unfortunately, for many women demographics are now working against them and time is against them. Fifteen years on from the Good Friday Agreement it is a sin that the situation is maintained. It is immoral and women in particular are being punished as a result.