Fiona O'Malley (Dún Laoghaire, Progressive Democrats)

It is poignant that the House is discussing the Lourdes Hospital inquiry on International Women's Day, given that so many women, the victims and focus of this inquiry, were deprived of the essence of what it is to be a woman. As the Tánaiste noted, anyone who reads the Lourdes hospital inquiry report will be deeply moved. Patient Focus deserves much credit and we could all learn lessons from its tenacity, resilience and sensitivity.

Judge Maureen Harding Clark has produced an outstanding report which has met with universal approval. Despite having been published for just a short period, the Tánaiste has already taken action. We must learn from this case to ensure the events which took place in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda cannot recur.

It is also important that the question of redress has been quickly addressed. While the victims are not necessarily concerned about money, they need to have the hurt and deprivation visited on them recognised in some way. The Government has responded in a responsible manner and it is appropriate that it should seek to obtain moneys from insurers as the financial burden arising from such cases should not always be placed on taxpayers. It is important that the women affected are looked after and compensated quickly and sensitively.

As the report indicates, an isolated hospital and practitioner breeds ignorance and puts patients' lives at risk. In this case a consultant was able to operate in isolation. It is alarming that the practices referred to in the report continued until very recently. I hope the culture change in hospitals will result in people being prepared to question procedures and practices.

We need to learn from best international practice and the announcement by the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children that a national perinatal epidemiology centre will be established in Cork University Hospital is an important step. The new centre will hold records on all births and operate a database or information bank which will ensure there is no repetition of this case. This is evidence of the Tánaiste's style of dealing immediately with problems and it represents the appropriate response.

It is worrying that files were stolen because there will now be no opportunity for 44 women to establish the facts in a court of law. Given the theft was known about for some time, I am sorry the Garda did not move sooner. It is incumbent on the Garda to investigate the matter and people will watch its reaction closely. It is a serious matter that people colluded in a cover up and the perpetrators must face the rigours of the law.

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