Margaret Conlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

I also welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate. As the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney, said last night, the assault on patients which is at the heart of the Medical Council's decision to strike Mr. Shine off the medical register was truly a betrayal of his patients' trust. It attacked the special, privileged relationship between doctor and patient which should never be compromised, as patients allow themselves and their vulnerabilities to be placed in the confidence of doctors. We all expect such trust when we visit a doctor. It betrayed the culture of assumed and expected responsibility which is needed in certain professions.

I welcome the fact that the Minister met with the support group, which gave her a comprehensive document and requested an independent inquiry. The Minister indicated that she will be discussing the issues raised with her Government colleagues and will revert to the group in July. I commend her on the compassionate and humane manner with which she dealt with the people concerned and listened to their tragic stories.

We live in a culture and environment which is totally different from that in 1995-96 when these issues first came to public notice. The deference to religious orders in that era was nationwide - not only in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda. This was a hospital run by a religious order and deference was shown to consultants who could do nothing wrong. Nobody was prepared to criticise them. Mr. Shine betrayed his patients and broke that vital link of trust which is absolutely necessary in our hospitals. I encourage the Minister to contact the group as soon as possible after she discusses the issues involved with the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy Dermot Ahern, and the Attorney General.

The length of time that Dr, Shine ruled is horrendous. He ruined people's childhoods and they, not to mention their families, are still suffering the effects today. The ramifications of that are still being felt. Protect, deny and circle the wagons seemed to be the policy that ruled the roost in hospitals all around the country. However, as Deputy Johnny Brady said last night, this culture pervaded all sections of society from parishes to churches to hospitals and everything in between. It was wrong.

The health service is now committed to promoting a culture of openness and accountability in order that employees can report any concerns they may have about their workplaces. That is to be welcomed. Part 14 of the Health Act 2007, which amends the Health Act 2004 by inserting a section which allows for the making of protected disclosures by health service employees, commenced with effect from March this year. The purpose of this new section is to facilitate employees to disclose matters of concern to them to an authorised person and to provide statutory protection against penalisation in their employment and against civil liability. This procedure applies to all employees of the HSE and agencies funded by the HSE, as well as bodies established under the Health (Corporate Bodies) Act 1961, such as the Crisis Pregnancy Agency and the Women's Health Council.

It is important to recognise that Dáil Éireann is not politically divided on this issue. The Minister's interest in this matter is genuine and I look forward to her reporting back to the group as quickly as possible. I acknowledge the challenge that Dignity 4 Patients had in highlighting this important issue. I can only imagine how difficult it is for abuse victims to tell their stories to anyone privately. It must be tougher to have to do so publicly, and worse again to try to put them on paper in chronological order. I truly admire and salute the victims in this case for doing what they have done. It is obvious that many of them are continuing to suffer, and the Government must respond with due care and diligence.

We are discussing this matter very soon after the Ryan report, the effects of which are still very raw. These two debates underline the fact that it is not that long ago when certain things were hushed up and swept under the carpet. We will have the Archdiocese of Dublin's report soon, which will focus again on another period when these activities were allowed to take place. We continually say "Well, it can't get any worse" or "We've heard it all", but then something new and more gruesome is revealed. Let us hope that era is well and truly over.

The victims need and deserve answers to their unanswered questions. I am satisfied the Minister has listened attentively to their stories with compassion. She will give their request the detailed consideration it merits. I understand the Minister will revert to the victims' group as soon as possible.

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