John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)

The Supreme Court used the same phrase in its judgment. That is the phrase I used, and it is a phrase also used by the Supreme Court. The most vulnerable people in Irish society are not at the top of the Progressive Democrats' agenda. There are times when the party does not even believe in society. Instead, like Margaret Thatcher, it believes in individuals. The Tánaiste's speech is disingenuous because this legislation was not designed to help these people; it was designed to minimise the State's liability. The Tánaiste knows that. She rushed it through in the same way as her parliamentary colleague, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, has rushed legislation through here time and again. I once referred to him as a binge legislator, and the Tánaiste could also be called one. That is not the way this House should do business, and the Tánaiste has come a cropper as a result, rightly so. I referred to this on Committee Stage when we were considering the role of the Health Service Executive. That legislation was also rushed through. I have no doubt the flaws in it will eventually come to light.

The sum of €500 million going back to 1999 is quite small in the overall context of the situation, especially when considered by comparison with the amount of money spent on spin doctors by the Minister for Transport, Deputy Cullen, or the amount spent to store electronic voting machines. Will the Tánaiste invoke the Statute of Limitations? Many of us remember the manner in which victims of Dr. Michael Neary were treated, as well as victims of episiotomy and infected blood products. They have all been put to one side, and the Department of Health and Children has dragged out the situations. It has not given a single thought to the victims. It has always been about minimising liability to the State.

The message is clear today: the honeymoon is over. The Tánaiste has enjoyed a honeymoon. She has enjoyed a very good relationship with the media and many on this side of the House have given her the benefit of the doubt. However, the record is clear——

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