Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)

At the outset I wish all the women who have unfortunately found themselves at the centre of this debacle well. I hope those who have been diagnosed make a full recovery. I cannot over-emphasise in the House tonight the hurt and betrayal felt by the women I have met in the past few months, who have found themselves victims of this appalling mess. I share their anger and dismay at how they have been treated.

I accept that the Minister, Deputy Harney, took on the health portfolio with idealism, determination and the best of intentions. She gave a robust defence of her tenure in office tonight. Nobody would deny that she is a great speaker and, whether she speaks about herself or her party, she always has a great knack in talking about taking the hard decisions, not being afraid to take on the vested interests and sorting out the health service, but it is just talk and the people saw through that talk in the general election in most instances.

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