Ms Deirdre Duffy:

Obviously, I do not wish to speak on behalf of SoS, Survivors of Symphysiotomy, but I believe it has been engaging quite extensively with officials and Ministers as well as parliamentarians. It is obviously a political decision to move this on, but it is political as well as legal in the sense that these women have rights under the ICCPR to an effective remedy. By signing up to that treaty the State has a duty and obligation to provide that remedy. My understanding is that, at present, the redress schemes that are being suggested do not meet the requirements under ICCPR in terms of independent valuation and other matters.