Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)

I also thank Judge Harding Clark and all those involved in putting together a very important report. It tells a story of criminal abuse, although it does not tell the entire story. Questions still remain regarding the motivation behind these practices. This is work that remains to be done.

The report also holds up a very important mirror to a culture of unaccountability, power and deference to those in positions of power. When one reads in the report that the nuns thought Mr. Neary walked on water it highlights how flawed our health system has been to allow this type of unquestioning attitude towards people in authority to prevail. During questions to the Taoiseach, I stated that we needed to address this tendency to see consultants as gods. In my constituency of Dublin North, Meath, Drogheda and the rest of Louth, I still meet people who will not hear a bad word said against Mr. Neary. I ask people who have any doubts about Mr. Neary's culpability or an interest in the matter to read the report. Although not every action of consultants named in the report, including Mr. Neary, was wrong, the report uncovered a considerable amount of very bad judgment and very serious malpractice. This must be dealt with and people must read the report to come to terms with it.

I congratulate Patient Focus, which was forced to face counter-campaigns. It was forced to face the fear within the medical profession, particularly among midwives who initially did not want to become involved but were invaluable to the inquiry once they did. State inertia was crippling at the beginning and people needed to pull the Government up by its bootstraps.

The scandalous theft of medical files must be investigated by the Garda. The report's recommendations, many of which are long overdue, must be put into practice. One of the report's recommendations is that medical practitioners be required to attend training on governance, which is very important. It also recommended that junior doctors be enabled to voice complaints. Whistleblowing legislation must apply to junior doctors. At the moment they believe they will put their career path at risk if they voice complaints. The training of nurses also needs to be reformed.

It is very significant that Dr. Michael Maresh came over from Manchester to take the lid off this scandal and that it was a midwife trained outside this jurisdiction who brought the necessary information into the professional domain. The matter of a redress board must be dealt with expeditiously. I take on board what the Tánaiste said. The Government has, at last, tried to make up ground. However, much ground must be made up because the neglect in this area over 25 years is scandalous.

See this speech in context